Pennsylvania Democrat Sen. John Fetterman assured NewsNation’s Chris Cuomo that strikes on alleged drug smugglers in the Caribbean are “not random” and compared them to the drone assassination program under President Obama. He also expressed support for seizing oil tankers suspected to be violating U.S. sanctions on Venezuela and/or Iran and said he sees no indication of a “plan to do a land war and invade Venezuela.”

CHRIS CUOMO, NEWSNATION: Topic switch. What did you learn, Senator, that gave you any comfort that we’re not heading into some kind of extended military exercise around Venezuela or in Venezuela? SENATOR JOHN FETTERMAN: Absolutely. I thought it was pretty comprehensive. And this idea-some things out in the media-it’s kind of putting out that the military’s just picking off, you know, anybody that comes across. That’s just not true. I mean, there’s extensive intelligence, and they know exactly who’s on that boat, and they know what’s actually on that boat right now. And quite frequently, they decline to take it in, to move on those things. When they move on these kinetic kinds of strikes, you know, they have absolute confidence in who’s on it and what’s on it. And that’s exactly what it’s about. They’re not just going around randomly shooting boats. That’s just not the fact. CHRIS CUOMO: We heard from the president today. He kind of expanded the circle here and said it’s not just about drugs, it’s about oil. He said the whole regime-the whole country-is a foreign terrorist organization. “A total and complete blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers going in and out until they return what they stole.” What did they steal, and what do you make of this? SENATOR JOHN FETTERMAN: Yeah. Make sure that Iran is involved in that, and Russia is involved in that, and China as well, too. I mean, a lot of things. I mean, that’s sanctioned oil right now. And those are the kinds of funds that support regimes like Iran as well, too. And absolutely right now it’s not a plan to, like, a land war and invade Venezuela and that. But seizing those kinds of oil tankers-and it’s undeniable that that’s oil that’s going to support Iran. And those are kinds of funds that are used for all kinds of illicit things with terrorism. So, for me, it makes a lot of sense, these-but what I’ve seen. CHRIS CUOMO: Senator, why were you not willing to go along with Senator Rand Paul, Republican, obviously, and other Democrats, with his War Powers Resolution to require the president to come to Congress before continuing with unilateral military plans and actions? SENATOR JOHN FETTERMAN: I think it’s-I think what’s happening right now is consistent. I think that, to me, it’s not unreasonable to compare that to what President Obama was doing during his presidency. He was using drone hits, and he took out thousands of people in terrorism. Of course, if I was in the Senate that time, I would have supported those as well, too. You know, that’s the president, and you have some kind of discretion in the kinds of things. Now, I don’t think anyone in the Senate would support, like, a full-on land invasion or putting American boots on in Venezuela. But currently, right now, that’s not what’s happening. And there is extensive cooperation with nations in the region. And these are not just random strikes. They know exactly what’s on it, and that’s not-and again, it’s been very clear that they decline on often kinds of boats when they can’t be absolutely sure exactly what’s on it and who’s on it, including no women and children or anything. CHRIS CUOMO: I get you with what you’re saying-that you have more comfort that they’re following the evidence right now. Of course, the problem is they haven’t been making any show of evidence until very recently. With President Obama-and my personal opinions about how that war was prosecuted aside-he did have the 2001, 2002 Authorization for Use of Military Force. There is no such thing here that gives power to the president to do what he’s doing. SENATOR JOHN FETTERMAN: Again, well, what I’m saying is, at least for me, what I’ve heard, these are very specific targeted boats, and they know exactly who’s on it and what’s on it there as well, too. And this also involves oil tankers. Now that’s oil, and that’s supporting the Iranian regime. Listen, I get it, and I wouldn’t want to be in the debate on the side of, I want to protect the drug dealers, or I want to protect Iranian oil. CHRIS CUOMO: But it is essentially sending a message from the president of the United States that you get a death sentence if you are trafficking in drugs. That’s certainly not the sentence or punishment if you’re convicted domestically. But isn’t that what we’re saying here-that, hey, we think you’re trafficking drugs, we’re going to kill you? Are you okay with that? SENATOR JOHN FETTERMAN: Yeah. I mean-and right now, I think if you do-if you would describe when, you know, 75,000 Americans are dying, overdoses, man. They really have absolutely no-that what’s on those boats and who’s on those boats as well, too. And those are organizations and gangs designed as essentially terrorist organizations for that. Now, I know it’s different kinds of definitions here. But right now, you know, I emerged from that, and I feel comfortable where they are not just blowing up random boats and it doesn’t matter. If there’s a boat there, they’re going to get it. They’re actually-you know-very, very careful to make sure they’re hitting the right people that have the right kinds of cargo.

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