US Senate blocks debate on ending military action against Venezuelan vessels

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Reuters

October 8, 2025 8:52 PM EDT Updated 10 hours ago


WASHINGTON, Oct 8 (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate on Wednesday blocked a preliminary move to terminate President Donald Trump's use of the military to destroy boats carrying alleged Venezuelan drug traffickers, unless he gets authorization from Congress.

The effort, spearheaded by Democratic Senators Adam Schiff of California and Tim Kaine of Virginia - and with the backing of Republican Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky - was stopped by a vote of 48-51. One other Republican, Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, joined in the effort, which was a procedural step to bring up the legislation for a vote on passage by the full Senate.

"Using the U.S. military to conduct unchecked strikes in the Caribbean risks destabilizing the region, provoking confrontation with neighboring governments and drawing our forces into yet another open-ended conflict without a clear mission or exit strategy...because of one man's impulsive decision-making," said Senator Jack Reed of Rhode Island, the senior Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Senator Tom Cotton, an Arkansas Republican who chairs the Senate Intelligence Committee and sits on the Armed Services panel, said the president is simply following through on a campaign pledge.

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-senate-blocks-debate-ending-military-action-against-venezuelan-vessels-2025-10-09/

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Senator Tom Cotton, an Arkansas Republican who chairs the Senate Intelligence Committee and sits on the Armed Services panel, said the president is simply following through on a campaign pledge.

So a "campaign pledge" means that he can wantonly violate the law and usurp the authorities given to the U.S. Congress in the Constitution.

His cotton-brained ass should have have his law license revoked and he should be disbarred.

[Lonestarblue]

1. So having the US military murder people in international waters is now just fine with Republicans.

No one has released any evidence that I’ve seen that these boats are being used to smuggle drugs. The primary route for smuggling drugs into the US is Mexico, not Venezuela. Trump is having people murdered for his political posturing.

Edited to add that under past administrations the US Coast Guard frequently boarded boats suspected of smuggling drugs and arrested people if drugs were found. That is the legal way of handling this problem, not the illegal way Trump has chosen.

[Bayard]

2. If he had gone the legal route he wouldn't have been able to see the susplosions

There is no evidence these boats were running drugs. Its simply murder for its own sake.