Trump Declares War on 'Narco-Terrorists'—Congress Optional
Donald Trump, as reported by Al Jazeera, plans to expand US strikes on 'narco-terrorists' to land, explicitly stating no declaration of war or congressional approval is needed. This conveniently echoes a pattern of executive overreach, perfected in post-9/11 'wars on terror' where the Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) became a blank check for endless global conflict. (Remember
Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Syria, and Yemen? All without proper declarations.) The shift from 'terrorists' to 'narco-terrorists' merely rebrands the eternal enemy, ensuring a continuous supply of targets and justifying a burgeoning military budget. One might wonder if this new front will also create a new wave of 'unintended consequences' or simply extend the 'forever war' into new territories,
conveniently without the democratic input of the legislative branch. How many 'wars' can one nation fight without a single actual declaration of war?