Trump dispenses with trials, orders military strike on alleged Venezuelan drug-trafficking boat (Now up to 2)

[wing2000]

Two armed Venezuelan F-16 fighter jets flew over the USS Jason Dunham on Thursday, according to multiple Defense Department officials who described the action as a "show of force."

Under the new US rules of military engagement, those F-16 fighters could target vessels leaving U.S. ports that are suspected of smuggling firearms destined to Venezuela.

 

[Oompa Loompa]

Intent is a necessary, but not sufficient, condition.

So what is the intent of the cartels when one seizure from law enforcement contains enough fentynal to kill millions of people?

 

[Oompa Loompa]

It absolutely blows my mind how liberals are defending narco terrorists on top of ms-13 rapist and murders. This is exactly why the DNC is failing so horribly and how Trump's approval rating is almost twice that of the DNC.

 

[wing2000]

I wonder if the strike is in relation to drug cartels and some other transnational criminal organization being declared Foreign Terrorist Organizations by the US State Department. I know two Ecuadoran gangs have recently been added to the list (Los Lobos and Choneros).

This is the State Department's list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations, if anyone is interested.

Yes, the administration claims the boat was operated by "Tren de Agua" (on the list you reference) at the direction of the Venezuelan government...an unsubstantiated claim Trump has made before.

 

[Oompa Loompa]

Under the new US rules of military engagement, those F-16 fighters could target vessels leaving U.S. ports that are suspected of smuggling firearms destined to Venezuela.

If those weapons are being transported by narco terrorists, sure.

 

[wing2000]

It absolutely blows my mind how liberals are defending narco terrorists on top of ms-13 rapist and murders. This is exactly why the DNC is failing so horribly and how Trump's approval rating is almost twice that of the DNC.

Does it "blow your minde" that some of defend the rights of all people and believe our military should not be put in the position of judge, jury and executioner?

 

[Sif]

Yes, the administration claims the boat was operated by "Tren de Agua" (on the list you reference) at the direction of the Venezuelan government...am unsubstantiated claim Trump has made before.

Ah, yes, TDA. Not much of a gang. Peru, Chile, Ecuador, and even Venezuela have eliminated much of its leadership. More of a brand name than a gang now. A brand name for other gangs to "flex" with now. I am sure there are some diehards out there loyal to TDA. But, sadly, none of that fits the narrative du jour.

 

[essentialsaltes]

It absolutely blows my mind how liberals are defending narco terrorists

We are protesting what appear to be extrajudicial killings. One again, under the Constitution, no person is to be deprived of due process.

 

[Chesterton]

Nope, he did that at the start of his first term, he killed an 8 year old girl who was a US citizen during a strike in Yemen.

Nope. How Team Obama Justifies the Killing of a 16-Year-Old American

 

[wing2000]

Nope. How Team Obama Justifies the Killing of a 16-Year-Old American

...not sure what relevance an action taken under the "war on terror", actions that were authorized by Congress, has on the current event.

 

[wing2000]

If those weapons are being transported by narco terrorists, sure.

...and if the people are American citizens suspected of running guns by the Venezuelan government?

 

[Oompa Loompa]

We are protesting what appear to be extrajudicial killings. One again, under the Constitution, no person is to be deprived of due process.

Foreign declared enemies of war doesn't deserve due process. You are talking as if we ought to send an Army of police officers to arrest our enemies as opposed to just killing them. Should we start arming our soldiers with rubber bullets and tasers when they are sent to war? This is insane.

 

[Oompa Loompa]

...and if the people are American citizens suspected of running guns by the Venezuelan government?

Nope. They are not declared enemies of war.

 

[wing2000]

Nope. They are not declared enemies of war.

Nor are the alleged Venezuelans on the vessel that was attacked.

 

[RocksInMyHead]

Nope. How Team Obama Justifies the Killing of a 16-Year-Old American

No one claimed that Obama didn't order strikes that killed American citizens. You, however, claimed that "at least [Trump] hasn't killed Americans like Obama did" - which is false. During his first term, Trump ordered a strike in Yemen that killed an 8-year-old girl who was an American citizen.

 

[Chesterton]

...not sure what relevance an action taken under the "war on terror", actions that were authorized by Congress, has on the current event.

There has never been a formal declaration of "war on terror".

 

[iluvatar5150]

It absolutely blows my mind how liberals are defending narco terrorists on top of ms-13 rapist and murders. This is exactly why the DNC is failing so horribly and how Trump's approval rating is almost twice that of the DNC.

It blows my mind how easily conservatives have abandoned their valuing of due process and reading comprehension.

Nobody here "defending narco terrorists on top of ms-13 rapist[sic] and murders[sic]". You imagined that.

 

[Aryeh Jay]

Fun fact, I just returned from a short deployment to that area of the Caribbean and don't recall seeing any of the posters who are calling for war there.

 

[Vambram]

...the problem is not the intent of the military personnel. I suppose one could argue they were following an illegal order...but that's a separate argument.

The fact is, their superiors (Hegseth, presumably with Trump's approval), ordered the execution of 11 people without providing any opportunity for them to:
a) Surrender
b) Defend themselves in court

[Normally, the Coast Guard, or the US Navy operating under Coast Guard direciton, would interdict such a vessel.]

At this point, we can't even assume all 11 invididuals were "narco terrorists". It's highly unlikely they would choose to many a 40' boat with 11 operators....

I cannot believe that it looks like the liberals are defending the rights of the narco terrorists cartels.

 

[GoldenBoy89]

I cannot believe that it looks like the liberals are defending the rights of the narco terrorists cartels.

I can’t believe the right have completely abandoned due process altogether. All they need is a label “terrorist” and the person can be executed.

Actually, no. I totally believe it. I’ve been watching this descent for months now. They’ve abandoned all critical thought, reason, ethics, morality, shame, humanity.