Bipartisan Concern Emerges Over US War – In Venezuela, That Is
The Intercept reports that a bipartisan group in the House is moving to block a potential Trump war with Venezuela. It's heartening to see Congress remember its constitutional duty to declare war. But let's be clear: this sudden legislative vigor is suspiciously selective. Where was this bicameral courage when, say, the US was facilitating a humanitarian catastrophe in Yemen, providing
intelligence and munitions to Saudi Arabia for years, with Congress often providing cover (HR 7177, 2018; S.J.Res 7, 2019)? Or when the Democratic-led White House greenlit cluster bombs to the current Israeli government (publicly confirmed May 2024)? Perhaps the difference is that Venezuela isn't a primary recipient of hundreds of millions in foundational AIPAC lobbying (OpenSecrets.org: $2.6M in
2022, $3M+ in 2023 cycle, aimed at influencing US policy). It seems some wars, some regions, and some foreign policy agendas receive far more scrutiny from 'bipartisan' lawmakers than others. Strange how that works, isn't it?