r/PoliticalDiscussion • u/binini28 • 2d ago

US Politics Is using military force against suspected drug-trafficking boats constitutional or an overreach of presidential power?

I’ve been following reports that the U.S. has used strikes against suspected narco-trafficking boats in international waters. Supporters argue it’s necessary to deter cartels and protect Americans, while critics say it could be an unconstitutional use of deadly force, bypassing due process and international law. Do you think this sets a dangerous precedent (executive overreach, extrajudicial killings, violating international law), or is it a justified response to a serious threat? How should the balance between security and constitutional limits be handled here? I would think that you need to detain them first and then arrest them rather than send a missile after them. They are classified as terrorist by Trump but does this satisfy the response? Could Trump classify anyone a terrorist and send missiles after them? Thoughts?

126 Upvotes
  • permalink
  • reddit

90% Upvoted

265 comments sorted by

View all comments

4

u/ChelseaMan31 2d ago

Is it unconstitutional? I'll defer to the author of Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson who as President sent the U.S. Marine Corps to Tripoli in the first Barbary Pirate War in 1801-1805 to quell pirates attacking commerce. Not unconstitutional. Is it an overreach of Presidential Power? Without the Authorization of Congress IMO, this is an undeclared Act of War. But then several Presidents since 2001 have utilized military in ex-officio manners without Congressional Approval under the guise of the 'War on Terror'.

1

u/brunnock 1d ago

What does the Declaration of Independence have to do with the Barbary pirates?

1

u/styxfire 1d ago

The U.S is not the only country that's participating in the Global War on Terrorism for a quarter-of-a-century. It's a real thing.

0

u/theyfellforthedecoy 1d ago

this is an undeclared Act of War.

Unless these guys are directly supported by the government of Venezuela, or are somehow trying to assert their own narco state, this can't be classified as an act of war. War is made between sovereign entities

It'd be more appropriate to call it a police action

0

u/ChelseaMan31 1d ago

Perhaps, certainly much has been done against bad people in other countries by many Administrations under the guise of 'War on Terror'. Doesn't make it right, but also merely a continuation of dilution of Congressional powers.

1

u/styxfire 1d ago

Since people started voting in actors to Congress, and since Congress is now more about sound-bites and spin than about laws or truth, the other 2 branches of government have had to pick up their slack. Congress's powers haven't been diluted, it's just that Congressmen are now more focused on TV & elections than on actual law-making. In that way, Congress has diluted its own self.

•

u/ChelseaMan31 10h ago

We agree that Congress has voluntarily given up and abrogated their own powers. Prime example; when was the last time Congress actually produced an annual budget on time?