Rand Paul says Trump boat strikes ‘prelude to war’ with Venezuela

[mystery-ak]

Rand Paul says Trump boat strikes ‘prelude to war’ with Venezuela
December 3, 2025 | Adam Pack And Caden Olson

Republican Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul said Tuesday that the Trump administration’s strikes on alleged drug boats are bringing the United States closer to war with Venezuela.

Paul, a leading critic of foreign intervention, has sharply criticized Trump’s continued strikes on alleged drug traffickers and warned the president against pursuing regime change. Trump declared Venezuelan airspace to be closed over the weekend, ratcheting up his pressure campaign against dictator Nicolás Maduro, whom the White House views as an illegitimate leader.

“I think most of this is a prelude to war with Venezuela. All of this is a lead-up,” Paul told reporters in the Capitol.

“I hope it’s not a prelude to war, but I feel like they’re building up towards war,” the senator continued. “Hopefully this second bombing of survivors … which is clearly illegal, hopefully there’ll be enough of an uproar over this, that will slow down the drumbeats.”

His comments on Tuesday came in response to Sept. 2 strikes on an alleged drug vessel in the Caribbean Sea, which sparked outrage over concerns that a follow-up strike on two survivors violated the laws of war.

more
https://www.bizpacreview.com/2025/12/03/rand-paul-says-trump-boat-strikes-prelude-to-war-with-venezuela-1607682/

[mountaineer]

Congressman Tim Burchett pushes back on regime change and troops on the ground in Venezuela, instead opting for an economic approach to deal with the Venezuela problem.

I believe if Trump wants to hang on to his "peace president" moniker, he should lay off the saber-rattling.

https://twitter.com/TimcastNews/status/1996202763005358104

[DefiantMassRINO]

Was the vessel flying a Venezuela flag?  Was the vessel registered in Venezeula?

If a vessel is not flying a flag nor registered, it's a pirate ship.

[catfish1957]

If even one American was saved by this operation (more than obvious), it was welll worth the munitions. 

Wish Paul would stick to his wheelhouse....   Controlling governmental expenditures. 

[BobfromWB]

If even one American was saved by this operation (more than obvious), it was welll worth the munitions. 

Wish Paul would stick to his wheelhouse....   Controlling governmental expenditures.

Time for Paul to retire or join the Democrats

[cato potatoe]

I remember when Trump insisted that we loot Iraqi oil reserves.  "to the victor belong the spoils"

Is there any chance this latest military adventure would be underway if there were no proven oil reserves in Venezuela? 

"drug caliphate"    

[libertybele]

Time for Paul to retire or join the Democrats

I've always been a fan of Rand, but most of his ideas on foreign policy stinks.