The Chamberlain Network Condemns Unilateral U.S. Military Action in Venezuela and Calls for Congressional Oversight

Atlanta, GA - The Chamberlain Network condemns the U.S. military attack on Venezuela and the reported removal of that country’s head of state. An attack against another nation without Congressional authorization for the use of military force is likely unconstitutional and undermines civilian control of the military. If a president seeks to initiate hostilities abroad, the Constitution requires congressional approval and defined limits on the use of force.

This action reflects a dangerous disregard for core democratic principles. While Nicolás Maduro governed as an autocrat and likely retained power through a stolen election, removing a leader by external military action does not advance democratic self-determination. Democracy rests on the consent of the governed, lawful process, and internal legitimacy. This attack does nothing to promote democracy in Venezuela and leaves underlying power structures and armed loyalties intact, increases the risk of resistance and escalation, and invites prolonged instability, while pulling U.S. forces into an open-ended conflict without clear objectives or the consent of the American people.

The United States has an abysmal track record of bringing representative democracy through military might. Time and again, it has produced violence, humanitarian harm, and long-term instability rather than durable political outcomes. Declaring military dominance does not resolve internal political crises, and it does not create governments that are accountable to their own people.

Veterans, especially those of us who served in the wars after 9/11, understand the costs of wars launched without legal clarity, congressional oversight, or a credible plan for what follows. We have seen how quickly missions expand, how civilians bear the consequences, and how service members are placed at risk when force is used as a substitute for diplomacy and lawful process.

Congress must act immediately to assert its constitutional authority to demand transparency from the executive branch and conduct rigorous oversight of any military action already underway. The use of American military power must be lawful, accountable, and restrained. Anything less undermines democratic norms at home, destabilizes the region, and erodes public trust in the military as a nonpartisan institution.