US Dem Slams Reps' Discrepancy on Boat Strike Video, Calls for Release of Footage
Top Democrat Adam Smith has denounced Republican lawmakers' descriptions of a US military strike in the Caribbean Sea as "completely false", citing discrepancies in their accounts. The comments come after Smith and other Democrats viewed footage of the incident, which they claim contradicts how Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Republicans have described it.
Smith, one of the lawmakers who witnessed the video, stated that the footage shows the survivors trying to survive rather than continue fighting. He argued that any claims about drugs surviving the attack are "hard to square with what we saw". In contrast, Hegseth has said that the strike was necessary because the two survivors were still trying to flip the boat over and could potentially continue to fight.
The top Democrat also called for the release of the surveillance video, stating that it would show Republicans' accounts to be false. He emphasized that the footage shows the boat was adrift and the survivors were unarmed, making any claims about drugs surviving the attack difficult to justify.
Meanwhile, Republican Senator Tom Cotton has defended the administration's actions, saying he has no doubt about the legality of the strike. However, the issue remains a contentious one, with Democrats arguing that the strikes are unprecedented and potentially unconstitutional.
The controversy surrounding the boat strike highlights the ongoing debate over President Trump's military campaign against alleged drug trafficking in the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean.
Top Democrat Adam Smith has denounced Republican lawmakers' descriptions of a US military strike in the Caribbean Sea as "completely false", citing discrepancies in their accounts. The comments come after Smith and other Democrats viewed footage of the incident, which they claim contradicts how Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Republicans have described it.
Smith, one of the lawmakers who witnessed the video, stated that the footage shows the survivors trying to survive rather than continue fighting. He argued that any claims about drugs surviving the attack are "hard to square with what we saw". In contrast, Hegseth has said that the strike was necessary because the two survivors were still trying to flip the boat over and could potentially continue to fight.
The top Democrat also called for the release of the surveillance video, stating that it would show Republicans' accounts to be false. He emphasized that the footage shows the boat was adrift and the survivors were unarmed, making any claims about drugs surviving the attack difficult to justify.
Meanwhile, Republican Senator Tom Cotton has defended the administration's actions, saying he has no doubt about the legality of the strike. However, the issue remains a contentious one, with Democrats arguing that the strikes are unprecedented and potentially unconstitutional.
The controversy surrounding the boat strike highlights the ongoing debate over President Trump's military campaign against alleged drug trafficking in the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean.