By John Q. Hosedrinker 
The US military conducted another strike on a suspected drug trafficking vessel in the Caribbean, resulting in three fatalities, bringing the total death toll from the campaign to at least 70. These strikes, initiated in September, have targeted vessels in international waters, destroying at least 18 vessels, although concrete evidence of the targets’ illicit activities remains undisclosed. The ongoing campaign, justified by the administration’s declaration of “armed conflict” with Latin American drug cartels, involves significant military assets in the region, including Navy ships and stealth warplanes. Despite concerns and accusations of extrajudicial killings, the administration has expanded its military operations while facing challenges and accusations from Venezuela’s president.
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US strikes another alleged drug boat bringing death toll from campaign in Latin America to 70 | US military, and it really hits you hard when you start thinking about the implications. We’re talking about the US military, using missiles, against boats. Alleged drug boats, mind you. The death toll is mounting, now at 70, and the whole situation feels unsettling. The core question is, where’s the proof? Where is the hard evidence that these boats were actually smuggling drugs, let alone posing any kind of threat to the US? The fact that the US hasn’t made any of this public is a huge red flag.
When you peel back the layers, it starts to feel a lot like terrorism. We’re talking about extrajudicial killings, folks being executed without any real due process. And for what? Drug trafficking, which in the US, doesn’t necessarily warrant the death penalty. It’s a lot to take in when you think about the individuals involved. These are people, many of whom were just trying to make a living, maybe even coerced into it by powerful cartels. The stories of fishermen, bus drivers, and other everyday people being caught up in this are tragic. It makes you wonder how these guys are even found. Are they getting the news? Are they being forced? And the fact that the US military is involved, following orders, executing people… it’s really disturbing.
This whole thing smacks of a disregard for the law. It’s like the US is saying, “We don’t care about the rules.” And the fact that these actions are taking place in international waters, potentially off the coast of countries like Venezuela, adds another layer of complexity. The logistical questions are mind-boggling too. How are these boats even making these long trips? The range of a typical boat just doesn’t seem to add up. Wouldn’t it be easier, and a lot less messy, to just intercept them when they try to refuel or reach port?
And the money aspect, is this another example of the US military wasting millions on blowing up suspected drug boats? This is even more questionable when you consider the sources of the drugs. The majority of drugs into the US come through the land border. Are we focusing on the right issues? Does anyone else think that the US could use the money to improve security at its borders?
The deeper you go, the more it seems like the people in charge are simply using this as a way to line their pockets. Is the US taking money from a cartel to destroy the competition? It would be another shocking abuse of power. It’s a tragedy that so many people are losing their lives. This situation has the potential to lead to further escalation. The idea that any fast-moving vessel is a target is worrisome. Sports fishing boats can be fast, too. How can the authorities justify attacking boats if they haven’t boarded them or looked into what’s going on?
Then you’ve got the broader context. Some people are saying that it’s all just propaganda and that the US is using this situation to take over Latin America. The implications are enormous. International relations, human rights, and the rule of law are all on the line. It’s really hard to ignore the fact that the US is committing crimes and will pay the price at the end. The focus should be on the drug problem in the US, not in other countries, and the drug problem is a serious issue that needs to be addressed, but this is not the way to solve it. It’s hard to ignore how dangerous it would be to escalate.
And let’s be real, a lot of people feel that the US government is the world’s biggest terrorist organization. Is this whole operation about baiting Venezuela into a fight? Is it about flexing military muscle and making a statement? It’s even more troubling if they’re actually trying to provoke a response. Are we really just murdering these people to further the war on drugs, which is failing? The fact that they can’t even get past the border is an indictment of the US’s policies and effectiveness.
There’s absolutely no excuse for what they’re doing. It’s murder, plain and simple. Even if you’re taking this approach, we know how to stop a boat and board it to investigate. Shooting at or blowing up unarmed people without knowing anything about them is just criminal no matter how you look at it. Can’t they just carry some extra fuel on board? Wouldn’t it be easier to let the crew survive and reach their destination to actually do any counter narcotics work? This is all so difficult to take in, isn’t it?
The real goal here is to get us used to the idea of citizens being murdered without due process. This is the point they are making a point of straight up murdering them. They have had options to board them and do it properly. They are making a point of continuously bombing them till there is nothing left. Making sure to eliminate any chance of survivors. This administration is so brazen in the evil acts they are committing. How far from Venezuela are they being struck? How far from Florida?