Posted on 10/23/2025 5:34:15 AM PDT by CIB-173RDABN
By GPT-5
Recent U.S. military strikes against vessels engaged in drug smuggling have generated intense debate. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth described crews of these high-speed boats as “narco-terrorists,” releasing video of the strikes and noting that President Trump ordered the operations. The reported death toll from these operations is over 30 people since September 2025. Critics argue that these actions target civilians and may violate international norms. Historical context, operational reality, and political perspective provide a broader understanding of these events.
It is important to distinguish law enforcement from military action. Law enforcement focuses on arrest, prosecution, and protection of human rights. Military action, in contrast, is designed to neutralize an adversary that poses a threat to the nation. When combatants deliberately avoid uniforms, blend into civilian populations, and operate across borders, the military is often the only effective instrument.
These drug-smuggling vessels are purpose-built for transporting illicit narcotics at high speed and over long distances. They are not recreational or commercial boats; they are operational platforms for organized, armed groups intentionally targeting the United States. Attempts at interdiction or boarding carry extreme risk to U.S. personnel and are not guaranteed to stop the shipment. Kinetic strikes provide immediate threat neutralization.
The U.S. military has engaged in actions against non-uniform adversaries since the nation’s founding:
The consistent theme is that when an adversary is armed, organized, and targeting a nation, the military is justified in taking action—even when the enemy is not wearing a uniform.
Much of the opposition to the Trump strikes appears to be politically motivated rather than principled. Similar actions under prior administrations, including lethal strikes on traffickers or insurgents overseas, received limited public backlash. The intensity of criticism now often correlates with opposition to the president rather than the operational or legal facts.
Releasing video of the strikes serves multiple purposes: deterrence of traffickers, public messaging to domestic audiences, and strategic signaling to regional partners. It also heightens controversy, which can have political implications.
The U.S. military’s actions against drug-smuggling vessels should be understood in the context of historical precedent, operational necessity, and the blurred line between civilian appearance and combatant function. These vessels are not ordinary civilian craft—they are adversaries targeting the United States. Kinetic strikes, while politically controversial, are consistent with long-standing U.S. military practice when confronting threats that cannot be safely or effectively handled by law enforcement.
Political objections are often selective, highlighting controversy when the current president is involved, but ignoring similar actions under previous administrations. Understanding this context helps separate operational reality from partisan reaction, providing a clearer lens through which to assess U.S. military strategy in the ongoing fight against transnational drug trafficking.
These speedboat SOBs are killing hundreds of thousands of Americans. I’m proud we’ve got a President and Government that is killing them back. Screw the DemonRATS and their foreign drug cartel billionaire pals who are providing the illegal alien voter invaders and political donations being used to collapse America. America needs to continue wiping them out.
I have no trouble with this policy. Trading the lives of 30 drug dealers for probably thousands of US lives is acceptable to me. The are too many people who think singing songs around a campfire is going to solve the drug problem in the US. I don’t think so. Shutting off the supply chain is a step in the right direction. To those who want to poison our citizens, the military is going to help you find an answer to FAFO.
Nixon started the “War on Drugs” in 1971.
It’s past time that we got serious about it.
I support these military actions in the context of national security and protecting the homeland.
You know they have solid information that these are drug boats and drug smugglers...
You know they have solid information that these are drug boats and drug smugglers...
Recently, two survivors of a strike were repatriated to their home countries. If they were narco terrorists, why were they “let go”? Seems strange to me.
“These speedboat SOBs are killing hundreds of thousands of Americans.”
It’s not only the OD deaths. Do the people who keep count factor in the secondary deaths...the individuals who are killed in robberies by addicts needing a fix, in car accidents caused by stoned drivers, even street dealers fighting over territory? These deaths would add thousands to the score.
if the boats were carrying landmines which would then be placed around school yards knowing they’d kill kids, would anyone have a problem taking out those who brought them into America?
how is that different from bringing in fentanyl and selling it on the streets where kids get it and overdose?
We should be droning drug labs in Mexico as well. I would support that above most of the attacks we do in the Middle East.
Tell Mexico to clean up their junk….or we will do it for them.
rand paul suffering fainting spells over report.
Working international waters is one thing and crossing boarders is another which can escalate into something we are not ready to tackle at this point. Choking off logistical trains in international waters is effective first step while also choking off the payoffs due to lost revenue. It also does not violate boarders which we are attempting to solidify after years of neglect. International waters is a free fire zone which gives better cover from repercussions. The more we eliminate in this fashion the more the money train slows and makes their operation more difficult to produce, move and pay bribes.
Why are you telling us about this? This needs to be addressed to dumbass Rand Paul.
He lives in his own world. Wake me when he gets Fauci on something.
Oh yes. I went out on drug interdiction patrols in the central Pacific on USN ship with embarked US Coast Guard Tactical Law Enforcement detachment. They were not fishing. They *ALWAYS* know exactly who they were hunting, what they hauling, the history of the craft since construction and who was crewing it; with pictures. Often the craft in question left a port in SE Asia and sailed at random around the Pacific for awhile thinking that would mislead the DEA & USCG. No it would not! And this was in late 80's with no drones and crappy Gen 1 Nightvision.
Once they have access to all the facts and details, the producers of “To Catch A Smuggler” should move ahead with a prime time special. Video enhancements, mission audio, animated graphics depicting general scenarios, guest appearances by Trump, Hegseth, Rubio, Bondi, Noem,...See your tax dollars at work!...like never before.
It is strange, but it is according to the stupid law of the seas.
They probably wondered what to do with them.
Lock them somewhere (Guantanamo) would generate all kind of protests and headaches.
So they decided to follow the so called law.
Now, Ecuador and Colombia have a headache on their side.
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