1. United States
2. Iowa
3. Letter

Article 2(4) of the United Nations Charter provides that a UN member state cannot threaten or use force against the territorial integrity or political independence of another state. Both the United States and Venezuela are member states. Trump has unilaterally decided to invade another member country, Venezuela. He has decided to target and kidnap the country's ruler, Maduro, and his wife. This is blatantly illegal under international law. There are a number of US laws that protect foreign citizens, let alone foreign leaders from kidnapping, or removal from office by force by US citizens and forces. Yet Trump has ignored them. You could have granted the president authority to begin a war against Venezuela, but there was no cause to do so, so he didn't ask. Trump, who professes to be a president for and of peace, has followed up his long list of international bombings and illegal murder of civilians in the waters off Venezuela by committing the more blatant crimes of regime change and kidnapping. One way to spot the break in the thin veneer of stopping illegal drugs that may have made it to the US is to listen directly to his own words. Immediately after the attack on Venezuela and the physical removal of the president of that country, Trump speaks of oil, of how our oil companies will take over the oil industry there. Immediately after the forceful removal of the ruler of Venezuela by US military forces not authorized by Congress to do so, Trump speaks of Mexico being run by cartels, echoing his own words about Venezuela. These are lightly veiled threats against Mexico and the rightful leader there with more of the same. Trump is emboldened by his own actions and your inaction. When will enough be enough? You have heard over and over again from me and from others that this blatant lawlessness must stop. Find a way to disentangle yourself from his lies, his threats, and do the right thing. Sanction this president any way you can to make it clear we have no king. We have the law, and the law is not with him. Checks and balances means you can stop him. You should stop him. Do your part.