US Strikes Against Civilian Boats Reach New Heights in Pacific Ocean, Raises Questions About Lawfulness.
A deadly trend of US military strikes against civilian boats has escalated to the Pacific Ocean, killing dozens of people. Seven weeks ago, President Donald Trump authorized a strike that killed 11 people on a boat in international waters, with no evidence presented to justify the operation. The White House claimed the targets were smuggling drugs destined for the US market, but this claim was met with skepticism from lawmakers and experts alike.
Since then, five more strikes have taken place, each resulting in significant loss of life. In late Tuesday's strike, two or three people were killed off the coast of Colombia in the eastern Pacific Ocean. The total death toll is now estimated to be around 32, but some question whether this figure is accurate and if there have been other unannounced strikes.
Critics argue that these operations are a blatant disregard for international law, as civilians are being deliberately targeted even when they are not directly participating in hostilities. A broad range of legal experts have weighed in, stating that the US military's actions fall under international law and that such deliberate targeting is considered an act of war.
The White House has largely ignored calls from lawmakers to provide evidence to justify these operations, further fueling concerns about the legitimacy of the strikes. In one notable case, Ecuador released a man who was targeted by Trump in exchange for $4 million in aid, sparking accusations of a quid pro quo deal.
The lack of congressional oversight on this matter is alarming, as lawmakers are unable to launch thorough investigations into these operations. The Republican majority has allowed President Trump to operate with impunity, even going so far as to allow him to serve as both judge and jury for civilians in international waters.
As the death toll continues to rise, it remains to be seen how long this trend will continue without any meaningful accountability from the White House or Congress.
A deadly trend of US military strikes against civilian boats has escalated to the Pacific Ocean, killing dozens of people. Seven weeks ago, President Donald Trump authorized a strike that killed 11 people on a boat in international waters, with no evidence presented to justify the operation. The White House claimed the targets were smuggling drugs destined for the US market, but this claim was met with skepticism from lawmakers and experts alike.
Since then, five more strikes have taken place, each resulting in significant loss of life. In late Tuesday's strike, two or three people were killed off the coast of Colombia in the eastern Pacific Ocean. The total death toll is now estimated to be around 32, but some question whether this figure is accurate and if there have been other unannounced strikes.
Critics argue that these operations are a blatant disregard for international law, as civilians are being deliberately targeted even when they are not directly participating in hostilities. A broad range of legal experts have weighed in, stating that the US military's actions fall under international law and that such deliberate targeting is considered an act of war.
The White House has largely ignored calls from lawmakers to provide evidence to justify these operations, further fueling concerns about the legitimacy of the strikes. In one notable case, Ecuador released a man who was targeted by Trump in exchange for $4 million in aid, sparking accusations of a quid pro quo deal.
The lack of congressional oversight on this matter is alarming, as lawmakers are unable to launch thorough investigations into these operations. The Republican majority has allowed President Trump to operate with impunity, even going so far as to allow him to serve as both judge and jury for civilians in international waters.
As the death toll continues to rise, it remains to be seen how long this trend will continue without any meaningful accountability from the White House or Congress.
! The US military strikes against civilian boats are not just a breach of international law, they're basically war crimes in my opinion 
. I mean, what's next? Just because someone has a boat doesn't mean they're smuggling drugs or whatever the latest excuse is. And now we have these countries releasing people who were targeted for ransom money 
... it's disgusting. The lack of transparency and accountability from the White House is infuriating 
. We need more oversight, like, ASAP 
. This isn't just about politics, it's about basic human rights and the rule of law. Can we trust our leaders to make rational decisions without resorting to vigilante-style policing? 
this is getting out of hand! I'm seriously worried about what's going on with these US military strikes against civilian boats in the Pacific Ocean 
. First, they're killing people and claiming it's for smuggling drugs, but now it sounds like just an excuse to take out anyone who gets in their way 
. 
. We need to hold our leaders accountable for these actions 
. This lack of oversight is a major red flag 
. I just hope someone starts asking more questions and putting pressure on the White House to come clean about what's really going on 
.
. And the lack of evidence presented is just mind-boggling - if I'd made claims about someone being involved in some shady business without proof, I'd be in serious trouble with the law 
. The international law thing is clear: you can't just go around targeting civilians unless they're directly participating in hostilities 
.
. I mean, if my child was involved in something even remotely questionable, I'd want to know all the facts before they faced any consequences 
. Why can't the same apply to these civilians on those boats? It's just not right 
We need more transparency and accountability here! 
. The fact that they've ignored Congress's calls for transparency is even more disturbing 
. It's like they're above the law, which is just not cool 
. We need to see some real action taken here, not just empty words from the White House 
. The people of Colombia and the Pacific Ocean deserve better 
.
. And can we talk about how sketchy the whole situation is with Ecuador getting $4 million in aid for releasing a guy targeted by Trump? 
And what really gets me is that Congress is supposed to be holding the President accountable, but they're basically just letting him get away with it.
maybe they're necessary? I mean, if people are really smuggling drugs and posing a threat to national security, then shouldn't we be taking action? 
and what's with the lack of evidence presented by the White House? shouldn't they be more transparent about their motives? 