The proper time to end most wars is before they start. This is especially true of regime change wars, wars of choice or opportunity.

It’s always the same playbook the hawks use for war — use some other, more popular pretext, while keeping their ultimate plans hidden from view for fear the public will not go along.

The 9-11 bombings somehow led to occupying Iraq, a country that had nothing to do with the terrorists. But the hawks had long wanted a second shot at Iraq, so the pretext was used, the lies told, the wars expanded. 

There are members of the Trump Administration who have wanted regime change in Venezuela for years now, most notably Secretary of State Rubio, who advocated for this while on the Foreign Relations Committee in the Senate. 

Of course, knowing that would never happen on its own, plans were hatched. We would begin by naming Venezuelan drug gangs as terrorists, then illegally bombing their boats near the coast of South America. 

At the time, I stood up and said: “No, you can’t do that.” That’s an act of war, and an offensive one, and it requires a vote of Congress to authorize it. I was alone in my party.

So the administration launched its missiles, killed some alleged drug dealers, and continued down their path to war. 

The strikes themselves were a problem constitutionally, but even if you do not agree with me on that point, we should have debated and voted on a war authorization, because then perhaps the right questions would be asked: What happens next? What if Venezuela retaliates? Are we seeking regime change in Venezuela, something opposed by an overwhelming number of Americans?

If this was really about drugs, why aren’t our drones in Mexico and our troops REALLY sealing the border where most drugs come in? A few speedboats thousands of miles away surely were not the greatest threat in the war on drugs?

So why them, why now? Regime change in Venezuela.

Why are we suddenly, belatedly holding hearings and preparing new resolutions in Congress in December? Because too many of my colleagues dismissed this situation back in September. 

It isn’t always easy being a sometimes lone voice at the beginning of a brewing problem. From Fauci to Covid Shots, Afghan refugees to Venezuelan boats, eventually people seem to catch on and join, but it’s often too late to do the most good and save lives. 

I welcome hearings, and I will sponsor a new resolution this week to restrict the administration from going to war, a war the American public does not want. 

But I will not do so without saying I tried to warn you months ago. We should not allow unchecked power in this or any other administration. It is our job in Congress to declare war or not, and we have for too long allowed administrations to wield a power they do not have.