Secret Boat Strike Memo Justifies Kills by Claiming Targeting Drugs, Not People
8 days ago
- #Trump administration
- #military strikes
- #war on drugs
- The Trump administration provided legal cover for military personnel conducting lethal attacks on alleged drug smugglers in Latin American waters.
- A classified Justice Department opinion claims narcotics on boats are lawful military targets, arguing they fund cartels in armed conflict with the U.S.
- Critics argue the strikes are illegal extrajudicial killings, as they target civilians without imminent threat.
- Operation Southern Spear, led by Joint Task Force Southern Spear, involves attacks on drug traffickers using advanced military technology.
- At least 80 civilians have been killed in 20 known attacks since September, with victims often labeled as part of terrorist organizations.
- Legal experts and lawmakers dispute the legality of the strikes, citing violations of the laws of war.
- The OLC opinion relies on a 'revenue-generating target theory' to justify attacks, treating civilian deaths as collateral damage.
- The Trump administration secretly declared Latin American cartels as engaged in 'non-international armed conflict' with the U.S.
- Experts warn the OLC opinion appears tailored to justify pre-determined political decisions, lacking substantive legal grounding.
- Concerns about authoritarianism and erosion of democratic norms under Trump are highlighted, with comparisons to past abuses like Abu Ghraib.