US Congress Moves to Block Trump's War with Venezuela Amid Rising Tensions.
In a surprising display of bipartisanship, lawmakers in the House of Representatives have introduced a war powers resolution aimed at blocking military strikes against Venezuela. The measure, sponsored by Democratic Rep. Jim McGovern and co-sponsored by Republican Rep. Thomas Massie, would prohibit President Donald Trump from launching hostilities within or against Venezuela without congressional approval.
The introduction of the resolution comes as tensions between the US and Venezuela continue to escalate. President Maduro's regime has been a focus of Trump's aggressive rhetoric, with some lawmakers calling for military action against the country.
However, the proposed legislation is seen as a bid to rein in Trump's hawkish tendencies. Cavan Kharrazian, senior policy adviser at Demand Progress, said that the measure sends a clear signal to President Trump and his supporters that Congress is prepared to stand against any reckless march to war. "The prospect of members being subject to a public, on-the-record vote on whether to block a new war carries significant political weight and can help deter escalation," he added.
While the resolution has bipartisan support, its chances of success are uncertain. A similar measure in the Senate failed last month due to opposition from Republican senators. However, the lead sponsor of that measure, Sen. Tim Kaine, plans to reintroduce another war powers resolution in the coming days.
Meanwhile, a separate resolution introduced by Democratic Rep. Gregory Meeks aimed at blocking further boat strikes against Venezuela is set to come up for a floor vote by mid-December. The move reflects growing opposition within Congress to Trump's hardline stance on the country.
The timing of the resolutions raises questions about whether they can have any impact on the situation in Venezuela before President Trump takes any decisive action. As one analyst noted, Americans oppose taking military action in Venezuela by a 70-30 percent margin, according to a CBS News poll conducted last month.
In a surprising display of bipartisanship, lawmakers in the House of Representatives have introduced a war powers resolution aimed at blocking military strikes against Venezuela. The measure, sponsored by Democratic Rep. Jim McGovern and co-sponsored by Republican Rep. Thomas Massie, would prohibit President Donald Trump from launching hostilities within or against Venezuela without congressional approval.
The introduction of the resolution comes as tensions between the US and Venezuela continue to escalate. President Maduro's regime has been a focus of Trump's aggressive rhetoric, with some lawmakers calling for military action against the country.
However, the proposed legislation is seen as a bid to rein in Trump's hawkish tendencies. Cavan Kharrazian, senior policy adviser at Demand Progress, said that the measure sends a clear signal to President Trump and his supporters that Congress is prepared to stand against any reckless march to war. "The prospect of members being subject to a public, on-the-record vote on whether to block a new war carries significant political weight and can help deter escalation," he added.
While the resolution has bipartisan support, its chances of success are uncertain. A similar measure in the Senate failed last month due to opposition from Republican senators. However, the lead sponsor of that measure, Sen. Tim Kaine, plans to reintroduce another war powers resolution in the coming days.
Meanwhile, a separate resolution introduced by Democratic Rep. Gregory Meeks aimed at blocking further boat strikes against Venezuela is set to come up for a floor vote by mid-December. The move reflects growing opposition within Congress to Trump's hardline stance on the country.
The timing of the resolutions raises questions about whether they can have any impact on the situation in Venezuela before President Trump takes any decisive action. As one analyst noted, Americans oppose taking military action in Venezuela by a 70-30 percent margin, according to a CBS News poll conducted last month.