‘Editor, Press Democrat: Jon Duffy wrote that Donald Trump’s arrest of dictator Nicolás Maduro lacked “judicial process, international authorization, collective defense (and) congressional consent …” (“With attack, Trump cut last restraints on presidency,” Jan. 11). This retired Navy officer is wrong on all accounts.
The judicial process was acted upon since a legitimate warrant for Maduro’s arrest was issued long ago.
Secondly, international authorization was not required, nor sought, although numerous foreign governments, predominantly allies, said Maduro was not elected and would never be recognized as Venezuela’s legitimate leader.
Thirdly, no collective defense has ever been sought by America as NATO, for example, did not defend the Venezuelan people from narco-terrorist thug leaders.
Lastly, congressional consent is not required in the Constitution. Congress has the right to declare war but not make war. The executive controls U.S. intelligence and military assets and has the power to make war.
Duffy needs to learn about our country that he once served and stop spreading misinformation in his writings. How can he legitimately write about leadership and democracy when he is illiterate in the basic facts?
— RK, Cloverdale’
[These are all interpretations of judicial process, international authorization, collective defense and congressional consent, not justifications of intent]
