AOC Calls President Trump's War Against Drug Cartels 'Reckless Interventionism'

WASHINGTON— With the Trump administration continuing its 'War on Drugs' by using kinetic military action against criminal drug cartels off the coast of Venezuela, the U.S. Congress is torn over supporting or not supporting President Donald Trump's effort to stamp out the illicit drug trade that has killed tens of thousands of Americans.

Republican lawmakers in Washington support the military action against cartels in international waters, with some taking a little pause over the idea of targeting these drug cartels on Venezuelan soil.

House Democrats like Reps. Greg Casar (D-TX) and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) are completely opposed at the use of force against drug cartels.

"I think that overwhelmingly, Americans are opposed to this reckless interventionism," said Rep. Ocasio-Cortez during an interview with The Floridian. "Democrat, Republican, Independent—people are sick of these endless wars, and every time we wind down in one area, there seems to be an excuse to start hostilities in another."

Rep. Ocasio-Cortez called the "drug crisis" in the U.S. as being a large one here in the country," adding that the Trump administration was making enemies of U.S. allies in the Western Hemisphere or Latin America.

"Of course you know that the drug crisis has been a large one here in the country, but to begin engaging in, and making enemies of our allies in Latin America, and threatening the lives of servicemen in this process is just reckless, and frankly the intelligence has not been shared from this administration to Congress to authorize such activity," she said.

When asked if here feelings would change if the administration provided Congress with proof or intelligence to justify the use of military action against drug cartels, Rep. Ocasio-Cortez said that only Congress had the power to "authorize military use of force" and that the administration's refusal to share intelligence with congressional committees was "a huge red flag for everyone."

"It is the responsibility of Congress to declare, authorized military use of force. Congress has not authorized and had a vote on a military use of force, and so the case needs to be made against what actors...it has to be a case that's made, but again, the lack of one really speaks volumes. and the fact that this administration has not even shared their case with the committees of jurisdiction, not with the Intelligence committe, defense, etc, I think its a huge red flag for everyone," Ocasio-Cortez concluded.

Texas Rep. Greg Casar recently told Texas Politics that while he was “extremely concerned with the activity of cartels,” he was opposed to President Trump “unilaterally declaring war without consent of Congress.”

Florida Rep. Anna Paulina Luna was quick to dismiss Rep. Casar’s assertion that President Trump had declared war against anyone.

“He's not declaring war, and frankly, I mean, who's going to be on the side of traffickers except for people who hate the Republican brand,” said Rep. Luna.