US Democrats Demand Pentagon Release Video of Alleged Drug Boat Strike Amid Accusations of War Crimes.
The Trump administration is facing increasing pressure to release footage of a recent strike on an alleged drug boat in the Caribbean, where 11 people died, including two who clung to wreckage for an hour before being killed. The incident has sparked intense scrutiny and accusations of war crimes, with some lawmakers calling it "one of the most troubling scenes" they have ever seen.
Despite President Donald Trump's statement that he has no problem releasing the video, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has refused to commit to doing so, citing concerns over sensitive information being compromised. However, Democrats are pushing for transparency and accountability, with Senator Adam Schiff urging the Pentagon to release the footage to let the American people decide for themselves.
The strike has been met with skepticism by many, including Representative Jim Himes of Connecticut, who says that two individuals in clear distress were killed without any means of locomotion on a destroyed vessel. Ranking Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee Adam Smith agrees, stating that it's difficult to justify the attack and that the Pentagon doesn't want to release the video because it's hard to justify.
Not all Republicans are opposed to releasing the footage, however. Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas says that he trusts Defense Secretary Hegseth and his team to make the decision about declassifying and releasing the video, but even he acknowledges that there's nothing remarkable or unusual on the footage.
The Pentagon has defended the legality of the strike, disputing that the two men killed in the second strike were helpless. However, experts say the defense is legally shaky, and the lack of transparency from the Trump administration only adds to the concerns.
The Trump administration is facing increasing pressure to release footage of a recent strike on an alleged drug boat in the Caribbean, where 11 people died, including two who clung to wreckage for an hour before being killed. The incident has sparked intense scrutiny and accusations of war crimes, with some lawmakers calling it "one of the most troubling scenes" they have ever seen.
Despite President Donald Trump's statement that he has no problem releasing the video, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has refused to commit to doing so, citing concerns over sensitive information being compromised. However, Democrats are pushing for transparency and accountability, with Senator Adam Schiff urging the Pentagon to release the footage to let the American people decide for themselves.
The strike has been met with skepticism by many, including Representative Jim Himes of Connecticut, who says that two individuals in clear distress were killed without any means of locomotion on a destroyed vessel. Ranking Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee Adam Smith agrees, stating that it's difficult to justify the attack and that the Pentagon doesn't want to release the video because it's hard to justify.
Not all Republicans are opposed to releasing the footage, however. Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas says that he trusts Defense Secretary Hegseth and his team to make the decision about declassifying and releasing the video, but even he acknowledges that there's nothing remarkable or unusual on the footage.
The Pentagon has defended the legality of the strike, disputing that the two men killed in the second strike were helpless. However, experts say the defense is legally shaky, and the lack of transparency from the Trump administration only adds to the concerns.