The Trump administration has controversially justified the killing of suspected cocaine smugglers as “unlawful combatants” in an “armed struggle” against the United States, even if they are unarmed and pose no immediate threat. In a specific instance, Adm. Frank M. Bradley ordered a second missile strike on survivors of an initial strike on a drug smuggling boat. According to reports, this second strike was carried out because the survivors had radioed for help and were seen as still “in the fight.” Critics argue the second strike was a war crime, violating the law-of-war rules regarding shipwrecked individuals. This defense reveals the complexities of applying the law of war to a scenario that, according to the article, doesn’t really exist.
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Reports indicate that the U.S. military may have committed war crimes in the Caribbean, targeting survivors of an initial strike on a vessel suspected of drug smuggling. Allegedly, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered the killing of all individuals on the vessel, leading to a second strike that eliminated two survivors. Legal experts condemn the actions as violations of international law, and potential war crimes, regardless of the mission’s classification. The administration has denied any wrongdoing, however, and criticized Democratic lawmakers who have called for investigations.
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A man, Jonathan Braun, whose sentence was commuted by former President Donald Trump, was re-sentenced to 27 months in federal prison for violating the terms of his release. Braun faced accusations of various offenses including assaulting a nurse, threatening a synagogue member, groping his nanny, and evading bridge tolls. Braun was originally sentenced to 10 years in 2019 for drug-related charges. Despite his previous high-ranking role in an international drug smuggling ring, some, like a congregant he threatened, believe his issues warrant professional treatment.
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The U.S. military conducted another lethal strike in the Caribbean Sea, resulting in the deaths of three individuals allegedly involved in drug smuggling, according to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. This marks at least the 15th such strike since September, bringing the total number of fatalities to at least 64. Justification for these attacks comes from the Trump administration, who views it as an “armed conflict” with drug cartels. Lawmakers have repeatedly requested more information regarding the legal basis for these strikes, as well as details about the targeted cartels and individuals.
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US carries out new strike in Caribbean and there are survivors, US official says – this is a headline that immediately grabs your attention, doesn’t it? It’s a stark reminder of the complexities and potential ethical gray areas that can arise in international relations. The fact that a US military strike has occurred in the Caribbean, and that there are survivors, opens up a Pandora’s Box of questions, speculations, and frankly, a bit of unease.
The immediate question that pops into mind, and seems to be echoed by others, is: what exactly is happening here? If these vessels were suspected of drug smuggling, why not follow them until they reach a destination where a more conventional arrest could be made?… Continue reading
President Trump’s decision to order a U.S. military strike that resulted in the death of 11 individuals on a Venezuelan boat in the Caribbean has ignited a dispute between Vice President JD Vance and Senator Rand Paul. The Navy claimed the boat was carrying members of the Tren de Aragua crime gang and was involved in drug smuggling, a claim that Trump used to justify the strike as a means of preventing drugs from entering the U.S. While Vance defended the action, Paul criticized the strike, questioning the justification of killing individuals without due process or trial, calling the stance “despicable.” The Pentagon has not yet released information publicly justifying the destruction of the boat.
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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth asserted the U.S. possessed “absolute and complete authority” to kill suspected drug smugglers, citing the defense of the American people as justification for a recent airstrike against a Venezuelan boat in international waters. The strike, ordered by President Trump, targeted individuals allegedly affiliated with the Tren de Aragua crime group and transporting narcotics to the U.S., resulting in the deaths of eleven “narcoterrorists”. The incident has sparked controversy, with Venezuela and others questioning the authenticity of the strike video and the legal grounds for the action.
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The Haskell Free Library and Opera House, a unique binational building straddling the US-Canada border, has seen Canadian access restricted by US Customs and Border Protection. This decision, citing concerns about drug smuggling, requires Canadians to now use a formal border crossing to enter the library, impacting the long-standing tradition of easy cross-border access enjoyed by the community. While the US Department of Homeland Security claims this action combats drug trafficking, evidence supporting this claim has not been provided, and the move has drawn criticism from Canadian officials and residents. The closure threatens the symbol of cooperation the library represents, further straining US-Canada relations.
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A 28-year-old American citizen was arrested at Moscow’s Vnukovo Airport on February 7th after a drug-sniffing dog detected cannabis-laced marmalade in his luggage. Russian authorities opened a criminal case, charging him with smuggling narcotic drugs, and he faces a potential sentence of 5-10 years imprisonment and a substantial fine. The man, whose name has not been released, claims the marmalade was prescribed medication. The US Embassy in Moscow has cited privacy restrictions in declining to comment.
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John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood