Democrats revive effort to check Trump’s military powers against Cuba
by Mary McCue Bell · The Washington TimesA trio of Democratic senators is pushing a measure forward yet again to reel in President Trump’s ability to use military force against Cuba without congressional approval.
The bill from Democratic Sens. Adam B. Schiff of California, Tim Kaine of Virginia and Ruben Gallego of Arizona seeks to “direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against the Republic of Cuba that have not been authorized by Congress.”
The three senators previously introduced a similar measure relating to Cuba in March, but it was shot down by Republicans.
The new measure comes on the heels of the Justice Department announcing the indictment of 94-year-old former Cuban President Raul Castro for murder and conspiracy in the 1996 shoot-down of civilian planes. Congressional Democrats fear that the prosecution lays out the potential for U.S. military action against Cuba.
Mr. Trump said the U.S. is “freeing up Cuba,” adding that “we will be there to help them out.”
The president and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have intensified their “maximum pressure” campaign to isolate the Cuban regime. The Trump administration has choked off Cuba’s energy supply, enacted an effective oil blockade and sanctioned high-level officials to pressure the island’s communist regime.
SEE ALSO: DOJ indicts Cuba’s Raul Castro on murder, conspiracy charges
Mr. Rubio was negotiating with the country’s leadership, Mr. Trump said earlier this month. CIA Director John Ratcliffe also visited Cuba this month to urge leaders there to adopt economic and security reforms.
“The repressive Cuban regime has suppressed its population and stifled the economic progress of its people for decades,” Mr. Schiff said in a statement. “Much as I wish the regime gone and a better future for the Cuban people, there is no indication that Cuba poses a significant national security threat to the United States.”
Advertisement Advertisement
The resolution, filed Thursday, would require the president to remove U.S. forces from any hostilities or unauthorized military operations involving Cuba.
The deployment of the USS Nimitz Carrier Strike Group into the Caribbean this week represents a calibrated show of force amid escalating pressure on Cuba.
Mr. Kaine, a member of the Senate Armed Services and Foreign Relations Committees, said that sending service members to Cuba shows “no clear benefit” to the U.S.
“The last thing that our country needs right now is a regime change war in Cuba based on imaginary threats to the homeland that would devastate the Cuban people and generate a man-made migration crisis,” he said in a statement.
Because the president’s polling numbers are hovering near historic lows, Mr. Gallego said Mr. Trump is “ginning up a reason to invade and looking for a quick win to feel tough.”
Advertisement Advertisement
War powers resolutions have become increasingly popular this session of Congress, as Democrats attempt to check the president’s power to use the military against Iran and Venezuela. One was advanced by the Senate this week with the help of Sen. Bill Cassidy, Louisiana Republican, who recently lost his reelection primary.
Contact the author
Mary McCue Bell
Follow author updates Follow Click to follow. Manage followed authors