In recent times, the political scene has become something akin to the circus, where the performers have truly lost their sense of reality. It seems like some members of Congress have been caught up in an alternate universe, one where rationality and common sense have taken a backseat. They are making baseless accusations against the President, declaring him a warmonger, while encouraging the military to disobey his commands. It’s as if they’ve decided to shirk their responsibilities and engage in the fantasy that they’re starring in an epic drama movie with fantastical plots.
The ongoing debate appears to pivot around the President’s authority to use military force without Congress’s explicit approval. Last time anyone checked, the Constitution grants the President the role of Commander-in-Chief. Yes, history is quite clear on this point; from Truman to Clinton to both Bushes, presidents have exercised this authority. Yet, in today’s political environment, some members of Congress are acting as if history and the Constitution are mere suggestions to be disregarded at whim.
The core of this issue, though, goes beyond the mere legality of the President’s actions. It also touches on a moral question: Should the President target narco-terrorists and drug dealers using military force? With the rampant drug crisis affecting communities across the nation, many Americans certainly think so. Our nation is battling an influx of deadly drugs like opioids and fentanyl, and to believe that those running around in speedboats are simply out for a joyride or fishing is not just naive but downright foolish. Military intelligence has confirmed these are not mere suspicion-infused witch hunts but actions based on indisputable evidence.
What strikes a deeper chord is the seemingly selective outrage and feigned innocence of some political figures, who seem intent on denying that these drug cartels pose any threat to national security. This notion is, quite frankly, laughable. They are killing American children, and somehow suggesting that these smugglers deserve the same due process as ordinary criminals is nothing short of shocking. When three former presidents each had their own civilian-targeted military actions with nary a Congressional squeak, the current, lopsided critiques come off as hypocritical theater at best.
If rational questions from colleagues are entirely welcome, what stands out is how far some have gone to publicly scorn the President. Accusations akin to treason without a shadow of proof and blithely slinging around terms like “war crime” only further cloud the waters of sound policy-making. It’s high time for Congress to step back from the hysteria and remember the importance of sanity in leadership, lest the people deciding policy forget they’re supposed to be real-life senators, and not auditioning for “The Shining: The Sequel.”
