US lawmakers question legality of military strikes in Caribbean Sea

Senior Democratic members of the U.S. House of Representatives have written to President Donald Trump demanding that he provide a list of designated terrorist organizations (DTOs) and evidence supporting recent U.S. military attacks in the Caribbean Sea.

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In their letter, the lawmakers referenced the administration’s previous reports to Congress, stating that “per your administration’s sparse reports to Congress, you’ve determined that certain cartels were ‘nonstate armed groups,’ that you’ve ‘designated them terrorist organizations,’ and that you’ve ‘determined that the actions of these cartels constitute an armed assault against the United States.’”

However, the representatives said that neither the administration nor the criteria used to make such determinations had identified any specific organizations that had been designated as terrorist groups.

“You have failed to specify under what authority the administration can designate affiliates from certain drug trafficking organizations as enemy combatants in order to conduct lethal strikes,” they wrote. “We request you to immediately provide a complete list of all terrorist organizations designated by the United States government, along with any associated criteria or methods used in making that determination.”

The members of Congress noted that the flow of illicit narcotics into the United States had caused a “horrible public health crisis” that must be addressed.

“Stopping that flow is a vital mission that has no solution in the military,” they said. “Congress has authorized the executive to interdict, prosecute and support law enforcement-led efforts in interdiction of drug trafficking.

“At the same time, interdiction must be paired with serious efforts to reduce demand,” they added, referencing Trump’s recent order of four lethal strikes on boats in the Caribbean Sea “based on the determination that they were affiliated entities you have designated for drug trafficking organizations and narcotics trafficking.”

The representatives stressed that Congress holds the sole constitutional authority to declare war and authorize the use of force, adding that Trump had failed to secure such authorization for the strikes.

The letter stated that “further, the administration’s severe intransparency and failure to share crucial information with Congress prevents Congress” from conducting its constitutionally mandated oversight of the Executive Branch.

It also said the President has not provided Congress with any details about the intelligence behind the strikes or the legal justification for them “beyond the vague assertions made under Article II powers.”

“The President’s Article II power is significant, but not unlimited,” the letter continued. “We understand that the Department of Defense determined that strikes against designated terrorist organizations are legal based on a legal opinion provided by the Department of Justice.

“We ask you to provide this legal opinion to Congress as soon as possible,” it added. “We are looking forward to receiving both the Department of Justice’s legal opinion and the list of terrorist organizations.”

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, the Republican-controlled Senate blocked a measure introduced by Senate Democrats that would have prohibited Trump from using military strikes against suspected drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean Sea. The measure failed in a 51–48 vote.