Public opinion is sharply divided regarding the US military strikes on vessels accused of drug smuggling. While a segment of commenters expresses strong support for these strikes as a necessary measure to combat the drug crisis, a significant number criticize the actions as unlawful and a potential violation of human rights, raising concerns about due process and the legitimacy of government justifications. The overall sentiment reflects deep apprehension regarding extrajudicial actions and the ethics of military engagement.

US Military

US Government

What’s even more insane is the case of a few days ago, we struck a boat of Colombians and Ecuadorians and there were survivors. We then took those survivors into custody, and then repatriated them to their countries of origin. During the Global War on Terror, if we captured a terrorist (which is what these drug cartels are supposed to be considered now), we would detain them, interrogate them, and then put them away in some prison in order for us to try them in court or they would be tried in the country they were captured in. You didn’t see us capturing Jihadis and then a few days later deporting them to Jordan or Yemen or whatever.

Abject-Helicopter680

Ask yourselves why are we not boarding and arresting these "cartel narco terrorists"

FYI, theres no death penalty for selling drugs.

ngroat

Complete Headline: "US military strikes *alleged* drug vessel in the Pacific *in another violation of international law and democratic practises*"

northernwind5027

I always laugh, when i read people comments up here, how they say that US Army would always stand up to a illegal orders and all, when in reality, they're out there bombing fisherman's boats right now

Onlypizzafans69

Suspected. 

But now they're dead. No trial, no investigation presented to the  people for us to decide. 

These are acts of treason. We have law &amp; order for a reason. Innocent until proven guilty. 

So that when they come for someone that vaguely looks like you, you don't have to worry about being killed. 

It used to be a cowardly act to shoot someone in the back or bomb them from afar. But now they have so many guns &amp; bombs that they don't need to buy more often enough. So they're finding reasons to use them and send them to other countries. 

For their own profit.

These people all swore oaths and they are breaking them. 

Our government is carrying out terrorist attacks with our money.

Arrest Trump &amp; the rest. Right now.

WriterWri

The press is complicit with how they are taking these strikes at face value.

loglighterequipment

The story here is that this is either a Colombian or Ecuadorian boat, not Venezuelan.  The United States is now openly attacking and killing citizens of Colombia without providing any evidence or proof of illegal activity.

kissmewatson

“Suspected” these politicians need to get their heads out of their asses and reign this mf in!!

micluvin27

VIDEO:  https://youtu.be/7cB_YCVe6tM?si=rJZL30tgopdpM3Dy

JKlerk

Any other country doing this would be an act of war

blackmobius

JtassleJohnny

"suspected" doesn't get you due process these days

bwolf180

I think it is an American tabu to talk about the network of cartels, politician, and officers you need to bribe to enter and operate in the country. Even in movies they are portrayed mainly as gangs that act in an anarchist way.

Kutuhala

What the fuck are we doing?? 

Fuck Cheeto pedo trump and Hesgeth and this entire administration.  They have destroyed our democracy, are currently in the process of destroying capitalism(hate it or love it it's needed until a different better system can be put in place) , and now literally destroying whatever boat they want to shoot at that particular day. 

I keep thinking things can't get worse but every day I am proven wrong.

rizzyrogues

So another speedboat fully loaded with drugs that needs to fill up with gas 15 times to reach Miami?

Ditka85

When you kill someone and then accuse them of a crime without benefit of trial, there's a word in the English language for that. It's murder.

wardog1066

I may not agree with killing drug smugglers, but you can bet your ass that the military knows exactly who they are blowing up. I know a friend who knows a friend who knows knows a friend who knows. Edward Snowden also commented on this 10+ years ago. Being sarcastic, but not really.

Speedy059

nick0tesla0

I never wanna hear MAGA talk about Obama drone strikes again.

CrispyHaze

&gt;The trump administration has murdered yet another group of fisherman in International waters, adding to the list of war crimes commited by Trump.  

Ftfy.

TRex_Chef

The coward’s show of force is always to attack the unarmed.

Rhoeri

Getting closers to US so he can eventually shoot “suspected drug dealers” on the street with any consequences.

Oliver-Snow24

SO like-- bear with me-- Even if these drugs were packed with cocaine, the punishment for drug trafficking isn't death-- so why would this be remotely okay to just nuke random boats from orbit? Like what fucking world is this?

eulynn34

These boats should be stopped and searched. Blowing them up is just not right. Something pooptin would do!

Crazy_3rd_planet

Here's the whitewashing by headlines coming into effect. Soon they won't even report them because why bother? Just another event like a school shooting that only deserves a small section of local news.

timbit87

I used to be angry when China harassed ships in international waters. Now I wish on my own countrymen what I wished on our enemies.

GargamelTakesAll

Jokesmedoff

Headline should be "Trump Administration Murders Boaters."

GoatmilkerNed

More un-American activity from this administration. War Crimes 'R' Us it its motto.

Pladohs_Ghost

why even pretend they are actually suspected of anything?

Jetta5371

GotchUrarse

On one hand, trump is killing innocents.

on the other hand, he's destorying america while revealing that 99% of americans are either evil or tolerant of evil.

So I think him winning will be net positive for the world. Like what easier illustration of how cancerous america has been for the planet could you ask for?

Ok-Repeat-2334

At least it is not water cannons shot by the chinese right?

Otherwise-Sun2486

He really is a Clear and Present Danger to us all. 

burner46

China will 100% be referencing this whem they start bombing boats themselves.

floorshitter69

Attention Americans. The price of cocaine is about to skyrocket. The demand won’t change though.

Concentrateman

Fuck this admin for doing this but also fuck the people going along with those orders.

fjtblessed

madeanotheraccount

twat69

Just to protest Trump you all scream over very obvious open hull speed boats loaded with drugs getting eliminated? Remove Trump from the equation. The USA stopped another load of drugs from reaching the shores of our country or somebody else's. Fook them and the perceived rights you think they had. You think any one on any of these boats gives a shit about the people that stuff may kill? No they don't. I certainly don't feel sorry for them nor do I care how they are stopped. Better than some 19yr old seaman or CG getting shot by a smuggler.

Intelligent_Trichs

Murdering some more fishermen today, Fat Hitler?

Iobserv

If we're killing everyone on a boat, shouldn't we have a higher bar than "suspected?"

And also, can someone show me where in our criminal code it says that punishment for drug smuggling is execution without trial?

Rowan6547

if you're dead, you were guilty

if you're alive, its too much paperwork so we'll just let you go

DDmikeyDD

Seems to be a daily occurrence as of late

Rinbox

Every time they do this it’s an international crime

OMG_A_TREE

Trump just claimed, from the White House, that now "drug usage is way down".

What agency has gathered stats and data and  determined this in just the past 6-8 weeks?

Is the number of drug arrests also \*way down\*?

Is the number of DUIs \*way down\*?

Are the number of people sent to court ordered rehab \*way down\*?

Are the number of people on probation/parole getting violated for failed drug tests \*way down\*?

Dapper-Sandwich3790

frustrated_futurist

Weird way to say 'murdered some fishermen'.

cugeltheclever2

This damn administration is trying to make the war on drugs the actual war that keeps us from being able to elect new people. To be fair, the drugs have been winning for a long time now.

doobjank

They're just straight up murdering migrants, aren't they?

SuperSilver

I mean, why not spend several millions of dollars just to take out "alleged" drug runners? ugh. Our tax money isn't worth shit.

ehandlr

It never gets old man, obliterate every last one of those bastards

LineDry6607

I wonder what clowns in the U.S. military are following these orders, and I mean even to the 18 year old recruit that pushes the button. They know they're violating domestic and international law. I guess they think they will operate with immunity? Only the orange man gets that.

eatmynet

The US is doing its part to help the money roll in for the cartels with moves like this. They sell protection, sell their more secure routes of trafficking after crackdowns like these. You want to get your product into the country? Look at how dangerous things are! Use our resources and our people and we'll make it happen. For a large fee, of course.

The war on drugs is GREAT for the drug business.

WordsMakethMurder

Fuck it, we just shooting everyone out of the water now!

sirrogue2

‘Suspected’



we just blow shit up and ask/answer questions later

noice_velociraptor

MBbellevue631

Can anyone say what responsibility the personnel has that presses the launch button? They have to follow orders, but “just following orders” is not a get-out-of-jail-free card.

Ordinary-Length4151

I didn’t think they had the legal right to unless they could prove it was a drug boat.  Can someone explain how this is legal?

MclovinBuddha

Boooyahhh, another narcoterrorist down. Time for them to rethink their career choices.

Mysterious-Guest-716

[deleted]

Let me guess, still not a container ship like the types that's *actually* carrying the bulk of our imported street drugs?

TobysGrundlee

Has there been ANY evidence that these boats are part of anything? The few survivors from an earlier strike were just let go back to their country. Wouldn’t the US want them extradited if they were drug runners or Interpol would have them arrested by a country. This is just violence porn. Look we blew up a boat with some people on it.

Notloudenuf

Truly Independent US journalists:  “US performs another illegal execution in international waters.  Congressional and Judicial government entities responsible for balance of power to prevent such blatantly illegal acts neglect their constitutional responsibilities in holding executive branch accountable.  Corroborating info on News at 4.@


Actual US media:

InteractionLittle668

US soldiers are following illegal orders and extrajudicially murdering foreign nationals.


We're the bad guys.


The idea that these people are smuggling drugs is a smokescreen used to distract from the fact that *even if that were true, it's illegal to just kill people.*

WhereasParticular867

aGrlHasNoUsername

Drone striking South American fisherman. That’s just fantastic. The drugs from there enter the US in shipping containers not small boats. Does anyone with any remote knowledge of outboard motor boats actually think they’re bringing drugs all the way from South America on fucking outboard motor boats?!

#####ARE YOU FUCKING SERIOUS

1Hakuna_Matata

What would keep them from doing this, to me or you, just driving down the road in our home state?

CrotalusHorridus

“Suspected”. Ok so we’re just executing people based on vibes now?

readysteadygogogo

Still zero evidence. Murder is the crime.

CurrentlyLucid

The cost to us as taxpayers is MASSSIVE compared to the value of the drugs being smuggled... and we don't know what kind of drugs they're bringing- that is, if there are even any drugs on board. Too bad any evidence is destroyed in the explosions.

Radiant_Television89

Guess the war against drugs is going hot.

AymRandy

Everyone involved needs to be prosecuted and it’s important to make that clear now because in the future they won’t want to do it

jhguth

After I read this article and it gave no details about where the strike happened (the Pacific Ocean is, you know, big)... I checked other news agencies. I cannot find a story that says anything more specific than "eastern Pacific Ocean."

This is an example of what happens when for-profit news agencies cut staffing. Instead of reporting the news, Reuters, CNN and others are quickly repackaging a government press release. It's dangerous.

StopSpinningLikeThat

Remember when this and 9/11 were just Tom Clancy plots

tangcameo

Trump wants to go for that drone strike high score.

Drekathur

The Philipines former President Duterte got elected by campaigning on extrajudicial killings of "drug dealers" to "solve crime." This is what these strikes are. Killing people without a trial, on the mere suspicion of wrongdoing, and destroying the evidence to prove it. Duterte is now in jail.

IamRick_Deckard

If we are killing civilians, could Pete Hegseth or others be arrested by the international court while overseas after they leave this administration?

johnqpublic81

Yes yes.  Kill first ask questions later, the hallmark of any advanced society...

thewalrusispaul

"US military intentionally strikes passenger boat in the Pacific"

arxaion

Can we stop giving them the benefit of doubt? Stop normalizing war crimes.

rg2004

So I'm confused. Do other countries just not care about America blowing up random boats of their's?

GeistMD

Laying the groundwork for "US military strikes suspected drug vessel Ford F-150 on US Hwy 32"

greed-man

The tons upon tons of drugs coming in are not in these vessels. They're in shipping containers.

rickabe

If there's actually drugs on these boats and they are being brought to America, wait until the boat crosses into US waters and then arrest them. Simple. Post a video online of the whole process of intercepting, detaining, and finding the drugs. I hate Trump like i hate cancer and that would be enough to convince even me that at least that particular boat was what they said it was. I wouldn't trust these morons to be able to fake something like that successfully.

And yet, they don't do this. Instead relying on the tried and true Trump method of saying "Trust me bro, the experts who say drugs come over on land or in much bigger ships are wrong."

NKD_WA

If only we cared about going after pedos with this much gusto.

scaredoftrumpwinning

Even if these were drug smugglers murder is a worse crime

The US government are literally terrorists

coltjen

Let me fix that for you: US military murders fishermen.

shapeofthings

Adventurous_Ad_7315

How many of these do we have to do until we are officially at war?

ACorania

I'm just waiting for the eventual day that they blow up some tourists who rented a boat to drink in the ocean while on vacation.

ChaosWolfe

How far can one stretch a “*campaign against alleged criminals*” before crossing into the shadow lands of extrajudicial killing? At what point does justice become vengeance? However much we may revile drug traffickers, we must ask ourselves: do we truly want to live in a society where accusation by one man alone determines one's fate? Where guilt is assumed and death is dispensed without trial? When do we, as a people, draw the line? If we kill first and ask questions later (every single time) what happens when the accused is our neighbour, our friend, or our child? I shudder to think that time will come. When that moment unfolds, where will we turn for justice: if we have already burnt the scaffold upon which justice once stood? Think, America, think! This is NOT good government.

dizzyhitman_007

Suspected.

That's all I needed to hear to know that it's just murder at this point.

FireInHisBlood

moordor

This is just extrajudicial murder at this point


We have fallen so fucking far as a nation, we are a menace

padizzledonk

USA is a rogue state and will soon be an international pariah.

PristineWatercress19

I really wish the article gave a general area that the boat was in.  There are a ton of recreational\fishing boats off the coast of Mexico and Baja.  Was it off Central American?  Venezuela doesn’t have access to the Pacific, does this mean we’re now committing crimes against another South/Central American country.  Why wouldn’t the just seize the boat and parade the drugs?

Luking2thestars

can we please not go with "suspected drug vessel" and rather just say "vessel"?

Nobody suspected that vessel to be carrying drugs. That's just the excuse.

runningoutofwords

“Suspected”. Murdering people on a hunch.

Realistic_Head3595

Well, if they were SUSPECTED, I guess that’s okay. 

Maybe we can look into who is suspected in the Epstein files and give them the same treatment/

anaugle

The United States has intensified its military campaign against drug trafficking in the Pacific Ocean, launching strikes on vessels involved in narcotics smuggling, resulting in multiple fatalities.

US Strikes on Drug Smuggling Vessels

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