During a segment on CNN's "The Lead," Leon Panetta, who once served as Defense Secretary, expressed concerns regarding President Donald Trump's military maneuvers in Venezuela.
Panetta cautioned that the deployment could inadvertently lead to conflict, highlighting the potential for an accidental escalation into war.
As reported by Breitbart, host Jake Tapper inquired about the gravity of the situation, questioning whether the United States might engage militarily within Venezuela or even deploy ground troops. Panetta responded, "Well, look, theres no question, Jake, there were dealing with a very serious deployment of our forces right now. Weve had B-1 bombers going near Venezuela. Weve had B-52s and F-35 squadrons now in place. I think theres also a submarine in place, eight warships, Reaper drones, and now this carrier group. Thats a lot of American men and women in uniform that are being put in harms way."
Panetta emphasized the necessity for President Trump to articulate a clear strategy to both the American public and Congress, questioning whether the objectives pertain to regime change, combating narco-trafficking, or other motives. He stated, "Because when youre deploying that many men and women in harms way, you are, in fact, putting their lives at risk, and you better have a good explanation for that."
He further warned against impulsive actions, noting, "You cant just do this by the seat of your pants. Thats too much firepower. And one accident, one misplaced target could result in a small war with Venezuela." The deployment of such significant military assets underscores the need for a coherent and transparent policy, ensuring that American lives are not jeopardized without a justified cause.
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