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Draft war powers are circulating in Washington that would let President Donald Trump use force
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against drug cartels he labels terrorists and against countries he says harbor or aid them
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The White House says sharing the draft for comment is routine, not an endorsement
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This follows two U.S. strikes on boats in the Caribbean that killed 14 people
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accused of drug smuggling. Trump says his commander-in-chief powers cover those attacks
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Legal experts and some lawmakers say they were unauthorized and unlawful. Typically, drug smuggling at sea is handled through interdiction and arrest, not lethal force
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On Capitol Hill, Senators Adam Schiff and Tim Kaine filed a resolution to halt unauthorized hostilities and reassert Congress's role, arguing drug trafficking isn't an armed attack
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Legal experts note Congress can authorize force against non-state actors. Critics call it a blank check for open-ended conflict
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The authority would run five years, has no geographic limits, and doesn't define terrorist tactics
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