1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

The United States should not be the world’s judge, jury, and executioner. I urge you to support any upcoming War Powers Resolutions to oppose Donald Trump’s unlawful military actions in Venezuela and prevent any further escalation in the region. It does not matter if President Maduro was a dictator, or falsely declared himself winner of the last presidential election in Venezuela. The United States does not have the legal right to invade another country and kidnap their leader, especially without congressional approval. This whole operation is a national disgrace. The so-called “Donroe Doctrine” that is currently being used to threaten many other countries in the region with potential military intervention is a slap in the face to us Americans who value freedom and do not want to intervene in other countries right to govern themselves, just as we do not want them to interfere with us. It is further disgraceful that President Trump is attempting to seize oil production in Venezuela and reserve it for American oil companies, a move that will enrich the companies and people who have donated millions of dollars to Donald Trump. The United States is not a pirate nation, but that seems to be the message we are sending to the world. This whole months-long operation, culminating with the kidnapping of President Maduro, has been tantamount to declaring war on Venezuela, a power reserved for Congress, not the President. We should be spending Americans’ hard-earned tax dollars here at home, not on illegally intervening in the sovereignty of other nations. Please do everything in your power to prevent further escalation and oppose Trump’s unlawful military actions in Venezuela.