Congress 'Steps In' After Authorizing First 1,000 Strikes at Sea
NPR's story on Congress 'investigating' a second strike at sea by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth paints a picture of bewildered lawmakers just discovering their own military. This 'investigation' comes after years of Congress routinely granting broad war powers and astronomical defense budgets, often with little scrutiny. Remember, this is the same legislative body that has consistently passed
defense appropriations, including those providing billions to military interventions abroad, after robust lobbying from defense contractors—companies like Lockheed Martin, which spent over $15 million on lobbying in 2023 alone ( OpenSecrets ), ensuring continuous funding for the very 'strikes' now under 'scrutiny.' It’s a peculiar charade: lawmakers approving the blank check, then clutching pearls
when the executive writes on it. Perhaps they're just surprised Hegseth bothered with a second strike; usually, the first one, or the initial declaration of open-ended conflict, draws crickets. One might wonder if their sudden interest is genuine concern for legality, or simply a performative dance for the cameras now that a drug boat attack has captivated public attention, contrasting sharply
with the silent approval of countless strikes that never make it to primetime.