From "Peace Candidate" to More War?

Are we on the threshold of war?

For months, the Trump administration has maintained a policy of destroying alleged drug smuggling boats off the Venezuelan coast. None of these boats are close to US waters. None seem to have been even remotely capable of crossing the Caribbean to Texas or Florida. Now we have also been told killing survivors of the initial strike with a follow-up attack is their policy.

Even if they were all absolutely smugglers with no possibility of misidentifying fishing or recreational boats, summary executions of accused criminals is antithetical to the concept of justice, and a blatant violation of the 4th amendment in the Bill of Rights. These amendments are restrictions placed upon government hubris, not a benevolent grant of privileges to the citizenry.

As if that simmering violence wasn't bad enough already, the jingos are rattling sabers and demanding more open hostilities. Trump recently moved to declare Venezuelan airspace closed. This is an act of war without a Congressional declaration, and against a country that has posed zero military threat. Allegations Venezuela is a "narco-terrorist dictatorship" do not justify this response.

Shortly after the election, I offered best- and worst-case scenarios for the new Trump term. Unfortunately, the latter is starting to look more and more prophetic with each passing day. We already saw a recklessly provocative bombing mission in Iran. Escalating the War on Drugs to military adventurism in the Caribbean is unfortunately not a surprise.

Part of Trump's victory in 2024 was his perception as the less belligerent of the two major party candidates. Many voters believed MAGA meant peace. Trump bragged he was the first president in years to not start any new wars. Nonetheless, many will fall in line the moment their Dear Leader insists this time war is necessary, just like every interventionist administration before. Reluctant acceptance of unavoidable war is always the act when they want more bloodshed and spending.

Tangent: did anyone else notice how campaigning on DOGE somehow became yet another bloated spending bill with the last budget agreement?

Even if Venezuela were a hotbed of drug smuggling, the best solution to address crime and addiction here is decriminalization, not punishment. Violent gangs are a direct consequence of black markets, which arise in response to oppressive government regulation, not freedom. Mitigating harm starts with repealing bad laws here, not waging war there. Good ideas do not require coercion. We must say no to this war. Our Venezuelan friends here on HIVE, and the rest of the citizens there, do not deserve further harm. A regime change war to install a puppet isn't progress toward their liberty, and more destruction will not bring them prosperity.