By Matt Underwood Trump Didn’t Notify Congress About a High-Stakes SEALs Mission. That Could Be an Issue.
So, the headline says “Trump Didn’t Notify Congress About a High-Stakes SEALs Mission. That Could Be an Issue.” And honestly, that’s the understatement of the century, isn’t it? You know, the whole idea behind checks and balances is that the President doesn’t just get to operate in a vacuum, especially when it comes to military actions involving highly trained special forces. We’re talking about potentially life-or-death scenarios, and the fact that the Commander-in-Chief allegedly kept Congress in the dark about such operations is, well, it’s a pretty big deal.
And the context here is important too, right? Apparently, the Biden administration decided to brief key members of Congress on the findings after taking over, which raises the question of why the Trump administration didn’t do the same. One can’t help but wonder about the reasons behind this decision, and what the contents of those un-briefed missions may have been. We’re talking about potentially sensitive information that involves our military. And the absence of information is a massive red flag. This isn’t just about paperwork; it’s about accountability, transparency, and the separation of powers that are fundamental to our system of government.
Plus, the specifics of what these missions entailed are where things get even more concerning. There’s mention of a mission in North Korea, a botched mission in Yemen, and other classified details that, according to the New York Times report, led to some very unfortunate consequences. We’re talking about potential mistakes, civilian casualties, and a lot of unanswered questions, which makes the lack of congressional oversight all the more troubling. I read where the Biden administration’s investigation found some things that were best kept private, so what was hidden? The details and circumstances surrounding these operations, and the fact that Congress wasn’t informed, could very easily lead to significant problems.
But here’s the rub, and it’s something that people keep pointing out, and I think it’s worth acknowledging: what are the actual consequences going to be? We know that the political environment is complex. There’s a fair amount of skepticism about whether anything will actually happen as a result. It’s a valid concern, because, let’s be honest, we’ve seen this before, and some people feel there is no accountability. You can talk about “shoulds” and “coulds” all day long, but if the necessary action isn’t taken, it’s a bit like yelling into the wind.
And there’s also the perspective that Congress itself isn’t exactly blameless. The sentiment seems to be, why should Trump be held accountable when the institutions designed to hold him accountable seem unwilling or unable to do so? It’s a troubling cycle, where the lack of action breeds further cynicism, and that erosion of faith in our democratic institutions only adds to the problem. The entire situation underscores how fragile our systems can be, and how much they depend on the willingness of individuals and institutions to uphold the rules.
Of course, this isn’t just about Trump, it’s a larger issue concerning the role of Congress in overseeing military operations and the balance of power in general. It’s about ensuring that the Executive Branch doesn’t operate unchecked, and that decisions of this magnitude are subject to scrutiny and debate. If the Executive Branch isn’t held accountable, and the appropriate actions aren’t taken, it could have a real negative effect on our democracy.
So, “that could be an issue” is, as the initial comment alluded to, a serious understatement. It is an issue, full stop. Whether it will be treated as such, and whether any action will be taken, remains to be seen. But the fact that this is even a question speaks volumes about the current state of our political landscape. Let’s hope the relevant parties understand that the failure to notify Congress about such critical missions is a serious offense that could weaken the government. And let’s see if they will make it right.