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In 1964, the Johnson administration claimed U.S. destroyers — the USS Maddox and Turner Joy — were attacked in the Gulf of Tonkin. Declassified intelligence later showed the second attack likely never happened. That misrepresented incident gave President Lyndon Johnson sweeping war powers in Vietnam without a formal declaration. History warns how dangerous it is when leaders act on uncertain evidence.

Today, U.S. naval forces are again operating aggressively near Venezuela. The Trump administration frames the buildup as counter-narcotics operations, but many analysts note its resemblance to the opening posture of past conflicts. Critics warn that a misstep — a skirmish blown out of proportion — could justify wider military action against Carac

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