1. United States
2. Ill.
3. Letter

I am deeply concerned about the recent U.S. military strikes in the Caribbean, particularly the 10th strike announced by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that resulted in six fatalities. These actions, conducted without Congressional authorization, raise serious questions about the legality and ethics of our military operations. The Trump administration's increasing pace of strikes, with three occurring in a single week, demonstrates a troubling escalation. While the stated goal is combating drug trafficking, the comparison of smugglers to Al-Qaeda terrorists by Secretary Hegseth is an alarming conflation that could lead to disproportionate use of force. The timing of these strikes, coinciding with increased U.S. military presence near Venezuela, including flights of supersonic bombers, suggests potential ulterior motives beyond drug interdiction. Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino's claim that these actions aim to force regime change cannot be dismissed without thorough investigation. I urge you to support renewed efforts for a war powers resolution that would require presidential authorization from Congress for further military actions in the Caribbean. The recent Senate vote against such a resolution is deeply disappointing and undermines our system of checks and balances. These strikes may violate international law and are being conducted without proper oversight. The potential for escalation and unintended consequences is significant. We must ensure that our military actions align with our values, respect international law, and receive proper scrutiny from our elected representatives. I implore you to take immediate action to halt these unauthorized strikes and initiate a full Congressional inquiry into the legality and strategic objectives of these operations. Our nation's integrity and the rule of law are at stake. Please respond with your plan to address this urgent matter.