Since the bombing of Venezuela, an important movement in defense of the country has mobilized inside of the United States. This movement is not yet fully anti-imperialist because it is not calling for a complete break from the Democrats or abolition of capitalism. However, its anti-imperialist features are strong, especially among young people radicalized by the genocide in Gaza and the pro-Palestine movement that emerged after October 7, 2023.

There is also a generalized sentiment against wars of aggression that is so widespread that even President Trump (ever the populist) tapped into it for his campaign. He even went so far as to call himself the anti-war candidate.

These sentiments are also a big part of why the Democratic Party has been publicly vocal and active in its opposition to Trump’s attack on Venezuela and detainment of Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores. With their eye towards the November midterm elections, the Democrats are eager to relate to voters who have expressed increasing dissatisfaction with them.

Of course, the Democratic Party is still an imperialist party who supported the sanctions against Venezuela and supported right-wing figure Juan Guaido (who was also supported by Trump). That is why they oppose Trump’s attacks on Venezuela on the grounds of his unilateralism. In other words, the problem isn’t imperialism — it’s the way the administration is carrying out the policies. This is why Democrats are urging the growing movement for Venezuela to demand that Trump seek congressional approval for the attacks.

But the United States Congress shouldn’t actually have that right — especially since it has repeatedly declared war on semi-colonial and oppressed nations, and continued to fund Israel’s genocide against Gaza.

War Is Politics By Other Means

The Democratic and Republican Parties represent the interests of U.S. capital and its imperialist interests. So when Congress approves for wars, it is pushing for a physical defense and imposition of its economic and political interests. Those interests do not align with the interests of the working class and oppressed, who are forced to give up their tax dollars, labor, and lives for the interests of capitalism. As communities continue to see cuts in social services and resources, the military budget continues to grow. This is one of the reasons why the growing opposition to war intersects with growing anti-capitalist sentiment among the youth, workers, and oppressed communities.

Of course, the cost of war weighs heaviest on the workers and oppressed in countries attacked by U.S. imperialism. The vast difference in resources and military capacity between the United States and Venezuela reveals the lopsided nature of “war” launched by U.S. imperialism against semi-colonial countries negatively impacted by other economic and political policies of U.S. imperialism.

What happened in Venezuela is a lopsided assault on the country by U.S. imperialism, which, among other things, openly challenges Venezuela’s sovereignty. There is no scenario that justifies the assault on the country, which is why workers and the oppressed should oppose these attacks and demand the release of Maduro and his wife, even if Congress had backed the invasion.

If the growing anti-war movement wants to defend Venezuela, then it cannot be part of any effort to prop up Congress — or the Democrats. It has to oppose U.S. imperialism’s presence in Venezuela and all of Latin America with the collective, independent power of the working class through strike actions and mass mobilizations. As the Current for Permanent Revolution (CPR), which has multiple organizations in Latin America, we are calling for a continental strike against imperialism where the working class all across America fight and mobilize as one.

The post Actually, the U.S. Congress Should Not Get to Declare War Either appeared first on Left Voice.

From Left Voice via This RSS Feed.