US Military's Brutal Attack on Wounded Survivors Reveals Dark Truth About War on Drugs Campaign
Lawmakers who viewed footage of a US military attack on wounded and helpless survivors of a supposed drug boat incident have described it as "deeply disturbing". The video, which was previously only seen by edited clips posted on social media, shows the second strike on the wreckage of the vessel, killing the remaining survivors.
The footage was shown to lawmakers during closed-door briefings with top military officials, including Admiral Frank M. Bradley and General Dan Caine. Rep. Jim Himes (D-CT) called it "one of the most troubling scenes I've ever seen in my time in public service".
Himes said that the unedited video clearly shows the US striking helpless people, contradicting a narrative that emerged in recent days suggesting the survivors were combatants rather than defenseless individuals. The Pentagon has argued that it is at war with undisclosed drug cartels and gangs, but Himes questioned this claim.
"This is not hyperbole," said Himes. "Court orders are being ignored. MAGA loyalists have been put in charge of the military and federal law enforcement agencies. The Department of Government Efficiency has stripped Congress of its power of the purse. News outlets that challenge Trump have been banished or put under investigation."
Experts in the laws of war have described the strikes as "extrajudicial killings" because the military is not permitted to deliberately target civilians, even suspected criminals. The Pentagon's Law of War Manual states that persons who are incapacitated by wounds or shipwreck are "hors de combat" and should not be targeted.
The US military has carried out 21 known attacks, destroying 22 boats in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean since September, killing at least 83 civilians. The strikes have been described as "tantamount to murder" by lawmakers and experts.
As the investigation into the incident continues, it remains to be seen how far-reaching the consequences of this attack will be. One thing is clear: the truth about the US war on drugs campaign is much darker than previously thought.
Lawmakers who viewed footage of a US military attack on wounded and helpless survivors of a supposed drug boat incident have described it as "deeply disturbing". The video, which was previously only seen by edited clips posted on social media, shows the second strike on the wreckage of the vessel, killing the remaining survivors.
The footage was shown to lawmakers during closed-door briefings with top military officials, including Admiral Frank M. Bradley and General Dan Caine. Rep. Jim Himes (D-CT) called it "one of the most troubling scenes I've ever seen in my time in public service".
Himes said that the unedited video clearly shows the US striking helpless people, contradicting a narrative that emerged in recent days suggesting the survivors were combatants rather than defenseless individuals. The Pentagon has argued that it is at war with undisclosed drug cartels and gangs, but Himes questioned this claim.
"This is not hyperbole," said Himes. "Court orders are being ignored. MAGA loyalists have been put in charge of the military and federal law enforcement agencies. The Department of Government Efficiency has stripped Congress of its power of the purse. News outlets that challenge Trump have been banished or put under investigation."
Experts in the laws of war have described the strikes as "extrajudicial killings" because the military is not permitted to deliberately target civilians, even suspected criminals. The Pentagon's Law of War Manual states that persons who are incapacitated by wounds or shipwreck are "hors de combat" and should not be targeted.
The US military has carried out 21 known attacks, destroying 22 boats in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean since September, killing at least 83 civilians. The strikes have been described as "tantamount to murder" by lawmakers and experts.
As the investigation into the incident continues, it remains to be seen how far-reaching the consequences of this attack will be. One thing is clear: the truth about the US war on drugs campaign is much darker than previously thought.