White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth ordered a second strike on an alleged drug vessel in the Caribbean back in September which killed two people clinging to the boat following the initial attack. Leavitt stated:
President Trump and Secretary Hegseth have made it clear that presidentially designated narcoterrorist groups are subject to lethal targeting in accordance with the laws of war. With respect to the strikes in question on Sept. 2, Secretary Hegseth authorized Adm. Bradley to conduct these kinetic strikes,
Adm. Bradley worked well within his authority and the law to ensure the boat was destroyed and the threat to the United States of America was eliminated. This administration has designated these narcoterrorists as foreign terrorist organizations. The president has the right to take them out if they are threatening the United States of America, if they are bringing illegal narcotics that are killing our citizens at a record rate, which is what they are doing.
For his part, Hegseth is still denying a Washington Post report which states he gave a verbal command to "kill everybody" in the attack. But then why attack the boat again for any other reason other than assure there were no survivors?
Of course, we have absolutely no idea if this was indeed a drug boat or not. But even if it were, the Trump Administration hasn't told us why they cannot simply intercept a boat and seize the drugs before arresting and charging the crew. Perhaps such things are too dull and tedious. Indeed, back in February, then acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove told DoJ officials the U.S. should "just sink the boats". In other words, the Trump Administration was setting the groundwork for arbitrarily killing people.
Which brings me to this point. How long will it be before Hegseth (or for that matter President Trump himself) orders the National Guard to give no quarter and kill American civilians for engaging in activity with which they disagree? Considering the tragic shooting last week in D.C. which claimed the life of a member of the West Virginia National Guard, it is only a matter of time before the National Guard will be given leeway to shoot their fellow Americans.
It is well worth remembering that President Trump rechristened the DoD as the Department of War last September. Hegseth's X profile refers to himself as Secretary of War. As I argued at the time, given Trump's credo of "no new wars", the Department of War's raison d'etre is to wage war against Americans.
Today, the Trump Administration will authorize lethal force against survivors of an attack on an alleged drug boat. Tomorrow, the Trump Administration will authorize lethal force against civilians who disagree with their government.
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