US Foreign Policy & National Security - The US administration aims to dismantle narco-terrorism, drug trafficking, and criminal cartels originating from the southern border to South America [1] - Concerns exist regarding the legal basis and justification for strikes on alleged Venezuelan drug boats, with calls for interdiction and evidence presentation instead [3][4][7] - The administration has not adequately briefed Congress on potential actions regarding Venezuela, raising concerns about potential armed conflict without proper justification [5] - There are fears that actions related to Venezuela might be a distraction from domestic issues like a failing economy [8] - Allies are becoming unwilling to share intelligence with the US [13] Politicization of Intelligence & Data - Concerns are raised about the politicization of American intelligence, with instances of officials being fired for providing truthful but unfavorable assessments [9][10][11] - The administration is accused of potentially manipulating data, similar to tactics used in Eastern Europe under communism, raising concerns about the reliability of economic data like unemployment numbers [14][15][17] - Significant resources are being diverted from counterterrorism and counter-espionage to immigration enforcement [12][13] - Key leadership positions in intelligence agencies, such as the NSA and DIA, remain vacant [13]