OPINION:
President Trump’s armed attack against drug runners is hardly a new tactic for the U.S.
Over the past few weeks, we have witnessed U.S. naval forces acting under direct orders from Mr. Trump to launch attacks on boats allegedly ferrying drugs to the United States, resulting at least 43 deaths. The liberal congressional Democrats and left-wing, hand-wringing news media are having a fit, saying the attacks are illegal and require congressional approval.
This is totally untrue. There have been 193 instances in which we have used armed forces to protect our interests, beginning in 1806, with U.S. Marines going into the Barbary Coast to rescue American personnel and address pirates attacking shipping. Since then, the U.S. has pursued such policies worldwide (including 18 incursions into Mexico for a variety of reasons), all without declaring war.
The left’s outcry is unjustified, and history indicates that the majority of such policies were by Democratic administrations. The Vietnam conflict, which claimed the lives of more than 58,000 U.S. military personnel, was such an “undeclared” police action, and it was carried out by Democratic Presidents Kennedy and Johnson.
Such tactics are necessary and are the duty and responsibility of a sitting president. It is their responsibility to protect the security of our nation and the lives of American citizens. Failure to do so would be an unforgivable, impeachable offense.
Mr. Trump has indicated that his tactics will also include U.S. troops on the ground in Venezuela. Depending on his current success, Americans must be prepared for the U.S. to make incursions yet again into Mexico to clean up the drug cartel problem.
I applaud Mr. Trump’s actions and stand 100% behind him. I urge every American to do the same.
JAMES W. ANDERSON
Talladega, Alabama
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