Lawmakers were disturbed by the explanation provided regarding the justification for killing two incapacitated men, with the implication that they were still considered threats. The administration maintained that the men were still involved in drug trafficking, thus perpetuating the idea that they were engaged in armed conflict with the U.S. despite being shipwrecked. This rationale contradicts the laws of war, which generally prohibit killing those no longer actively participating in a conflict. The core argument is a dangerous extension of executive power, allowing for summary military execution of civilians in international waters.
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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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The current administration has been accused of authorizing and carrying out extrajudicial killings, violating the rules of engagement and potentially committing war crimes. Multiple strikes in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean have resulted in at least 83 deaths, targeting individuals not officially at war with the U.S. Despite this, orders have been given to kill all targets, including survivors of initial strikes, directly contradicting both military and international law. American service members are reminded that they have the right and duty to disobey unlawful orders, as the “just following orders” defense has been rejected for over half a century. Ultimately, those carrying out these actions, not the commanders, are the ones at risk of facing court-martials, federal indictments, and imprisonment for their actions.
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A formal complaint has been filed with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) against the United States, marking the first of its kind concerning attacks against alleged drug-running boats. The complaint, filed by the family of Colombian fisherman Alejandro Carranza, who was identified by President Petro as a civilian killed in a U.S. strike, accuses Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth of ordering the attack. The petition alleges the U.S. violated human rights by carrying out an extrajudicial killing and violating the American Declaration of the Rights and Duties of Man. With over 80 casualties from the military campaign, the IACHR will now review the case and make recommendations.
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The family of a Colombian fisherman, Alejandro Carranza, killed in a US strike in the Caribbean has filed a complaint with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR). The petition alleges Carranza’s extrajudicial killing violated his human rights, and names US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth as responsible, also claiming President Trump ratified his conduct. Since September, the US has conducted multiple strikes on alleged drug trafficking boats, and the petitioners seek compensation for Carranza’s family and an end to such killings. The IACHR is now involved and has expressed concerns about the US strikes.
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A Colombian family has filed a petition with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) alleging that Alejandro Carranza Medina was unlawfully killed in a US airstrike on September 15th. The complaint marks the first formal challenge to the Trump administration’s airstrikes against suspected drug boats, authorized under a novel legal interpretation. The petition, filed by a human rights lawyer, identifies US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth as responsible and cites statements by President Trump ratifying the actions. A White House spokesperson responded by accusing media of supporting “foreign terrorists.”
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Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is facing scrutiny for a double-tap strike in the Caribbean that resulted in the death of survivors from an initial boat attack. Multiple legal experts and lawmakers suggest that Hegseth’s order to “kill everybody” could lead to investigations for war crimes or murder, as the Pentagon’s Law of War Manual prohibits targeting those who are incapacitated. The attacks, which have resulted in at least 83 civilian deaths, are considered extrajudicial killings, as the targets are suspected drug traffickers. Following the September 2 strike, a government source claimed Hegseth was turning military personnel into “murderers” while the Former JAGs Working Group condemned the actions as war crimes.
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Pete Hegseth’s defense of strikes against alleged drug-smuggling boats, following a *Washington Post* report alleging indiscriminate killings, has been met with a resounding chorus of skepticism and condemnation. His initial response, the now-ubiquitous “fake news” dismissal, immediately sets the tone, revealing a defensive posture rather than a clear denial of the facts presented. It’s a tactic that has become increasingly familiar, and increasingly stale, in the face of uncomfortable truths.
The accusations are serious: Hegseth and potentially other senior military leaders are being implicated in extrajudicial killings, with the *Washington Post* suggesting a pattern of violence against individuals accused of drug trafficking.… Continue reading
The article reports on a series of military strikes launched during the Trump administration targeting alleged drug-running boats, resulting in over 80 deaths. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reportedly issued a verbal order to leave no survivors, leading to a second strike that killed two survivors of an initial attack. Legal experts and members of Congress have raised concerns, labeling the actions as potential extrajudicial killings and war crimes. While the Department of Defense declined to comment, the administration maintains the strikes are legal, targeting “narco-terrorists” in an ongoing “armed conflict.”
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A Washington Post report reveals Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth allegedly ordered the killing of all survivors in a second strike on a vessel in the Caribbean, carried out by SEAL Team 6 after two survivors were spotted. This followed an initial strike that left no survivors on a vessel carrying narcotics. Following the incident, protocols were altered to prioritize rescuing survivors. Since September, U.S. forces have downed at least 22 vessels, resulting in a minimum of 83 fatalities, sparking tensions and accusations of a broader military strategy in the region.
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John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood