1. United States
2. Maine
3. Letter

Killing civilians is a war crime. The attacks on small boats in the Caribbean and Pacific are extra-judicial murder and are war crimes. These attacks and killings violate both the US laws of war and International Law. Remember: only Congress has the power to declare war. Section 1542 of the War Powers Resolution requires the president to report to Congress and engage in continuous consultation whenever the military is engaged in “hostilities.” According to Section 1542: "The President in every possible instance shall consult with Congress before introducing United States Armed Forces into hostilities . . " Yet the New York Times reports: "Trump Says He Will Not Seek Authorization for Cartel Strikes The president said he would bypass Congress rather than ask for approval for his military campaign against drug traffickers, even as he said it would expand from sea to land." Blatant lawlessness from the president. The policy is not just criminal: it's also ineffective. Launching missiles at small boats will not stop drugs from coming into our country because the drugs come by land. Also, as you surely know, most fentanyl comes from Mexico not Venezuela. Moreover, no bags of drugs have been seized or documented on the boats Trump has ordered attacks on. Violation of our laws by the President who swore to uphold them is an impeachable offense. I ask you to conduct oversight and do investigations about these attacks. I ask you to take back the congressional powers you have ceded -- the war powers, tariff powers, and power of appropriations. I ask you to condemn the illegal attacks on small boats. Finally, it is time to impeach the president. America is becoming an authoritarian state of corruption and injustice and an international pariah. Impeach Trump now. Get a spine and condemn his crimes.