Where are the grownups?

I write out of alarm at the accelerating erosion of congressional oversight and constitutional checks and balances. A president who campaigned on avoiding foreign wars has now invaded another country under the guise of apprehending a so-called “narco-terrorist” and his wife, then followed that action with statements asserting control over that nation’s resources and governance. This is not law enforcement; it is unilateral military intervention.

Equally disturbing is the near-total absence of a meaningful response from Congress, Democrats and Republicans alike. You are not spectators. You are a coequal branch of government charged with restraining executive overreach, especially in matters of war, occupation, and resource seizure. Silence is not neutrality; it is acquiescence.

The president appears emboldened by this inaction. He has openly floated further territorial takeovers, including Greenland, branding these ambitions under a self-styled “Donroe Doctrine.” The message is clear: he believes no one can stop him. So far, Congress has proven him right.

The consequences extend far beyond our borders. The world is watching. Allies are reassessing their relationships with the United States. When we disregard international norms and the rule of law, we forfeit credibility and undermine decades of trust.

I am also gravely concerned by the actions of Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth toward Sen. Mark Kelly, a decorated combat veteran and former astronaut. Targeting Kelly for stating a foundational military principle — that service members may refuse unlawful orders — is retaliatory and dangerous. Attempts to censor him or punish him professionally are corrosive to the integrity and professionalism of the U.S. military.

This is a constitutional crisis in slow motion. Congress must act — through public oversight hearings, the use of funding and war powers authorities, and, if warranted, impeachment. History will not be kind to a legislature that failed to defend its own authority. The time for caution has passed

Kevin Cloonan

Round Lake