War on the Rocks Congressman Himes on Venezuela, Latin America & a Disordered World
9 snips
Oct 30, 2025 
Jim Himes, a Democratic Congressman from Connecticut and ranking member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, shares critical insights on national security and foreign policy. He discusses the legality of strikes on drug boats and the administration's failure to involve Congress. Himes emphasizes that these strikes are ineffective against U.S. fentanyl issues and critiques the performative nature of actions against Venezuela's regime. He also argues for a bipartisan approach to engage Argentina, and stresses the need for demand-side solutions to drug trafficking.
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Striking Boats Lacks Legal Authority
- The strikes on suspected drug boats are legally unauthorized and bypass Congress.
- Designating cartels as FTOs does not grant wartime lethal authority.
Fentanyl Flow Points Away From Venezuela
- The fentanyl crisis primarily traces through Mexico using Chinese precursors, not Venezuela.
- Striking Venezuelan boats yields little practical benefit against U.S. overdose deaths.
Performative Pressure, Not Full-Scale Invasion
- The Trump administration often pursues performative foreign policy moves to appear tough.
- Himes doubts the U.S. actually intends a full military invasion of Venezuela.
