A bipartisan group of U.S. senators has introduced a war powers resolution seeking to block the White House from launching an attack on Venezuela without congressional authorization, after President Trump said a land attack would start “very soon.”
The resolution was co-sponsored by Democrats Chuck Schumer, Tim Kaine and Adam Schiff, along with Kentucky Republican Senator Rand Paul, who wrote: “The American people do not want to be dragged into endless war with Venezuela without public debate or a vote. We ought to defend what the Constitution demands: deliberation before war.”
In Venezuela, President Nicolás Maduro on Wednesday confirmed he spoke by phone with President Trump about 10 days ago, calling the conversation a potential opening for diplomacy.
President Nicolás Maduro: “I received a phone call and spoke with President Donald Trump. I can say that the conversation was in a respectful tone, and I can even say it was cordial between the U.S. president and the president of Venezuela. I add that if this call means there are steps toward a respectful dialogue between states, between countries, then welcome dialogue, welcome diplomacy, because we will always seek peace.”
[ SOURCE: DEMOCRACY NOW and NEWS AGENCIES ]
