Controversial Navy Strike: Pentagon’s Authorization of Attack on Drug Boat Survivors
The White House confirmed on Monday that a Navy admiral was responsible for ordering a second strike on survivors of a bombing on drug boats in September. This order was given by Admiral Frank Bradley of the Special Operations Command following authorization from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
The Sequence of Events
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Initial Strike: On September 2nd, a bombing targeted a vessel alleged to be involved in drug trafficking as it departed from Venezuela. The boat had 11 individuals on board, resulting in two survivors following the attack.
- Second Strike Authorization: Subsequent to the initial bombing, Secretary Hegseth reportedly instructed that any survivors be neutralized. Although the White House has clarified that it was Admiral Bradley who executed the order for the second strike, they confirmed that Hegseth had approved the broader operation.
Official Reactions
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt addressed the situation, stating:
"President Trump and Secretary Hegseth have made it clear that presidentially designated narco-terrorist groups are subject to lethal targeting in accordance with the laws of war."
Leavitt emphasized that the strikes were justified to eliminate threats posed by groups involved in smuggling drugs into the United States, claiming:
- The administration has categorized these groups as foreign terrorist organizations.
- The conduct of the operations was within legal and authoritative bounds.
Pushback Against Reporting
Initial reactions from the administration focused on denying the specifics reported by The Washington Post:
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Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell criticized the media for presenting what he described as anonymous and unverified stories.
- White House communication director Steven Cheung echoed these sentiments by suggesting that the original report lacked credible substantiation.
However, following questions from reporters, Cheung modified his stance, clarifying that they were only disputing the "narrative" of the report rather than the facts of the strikes.
Bipartisan Investigations Launched
In a surprising display of bipartisanship, both the House and Senate Armed Services Committees have announced investigations into the incident.
- Statements from lawmakers confirmed that they are taking these allegations seriously:
"We take seriously the reports of follow-on strikes on boats alleged to be ferrying narcotics in the SOUTHCOM region and are taking bipartisan action."
Presidential Comments
In a statement made while traveling from Florida to Washington, D.C., President Trump mentioned that Hegseth personally informed him he did not approve the second strike. Furthermore, he expressed that, had he known about it, he would not have permitted such an action:
"I wouldn’t have wanted that — not a second strike."
Conclusion
The authorization of lethal strikes raises significant questions about military operations and the protocols that govern them. As investigations unfold, the implications surrounding the targeting of alleged drug traffickers and the legality of such strikes will be scrutinized extensively.
For readers interested in understanding military operations and the legal frameworks surrounding counter-terrorism efforts, additional insights can be garnered from this comprehensive overview of military engagement laws and previous cases of military strikes.
