Posted on 11/30/2025 6:35:06 PM PST by RandFan
An explosive Washington Post report, the subject of so much discussion the past two days, says that, in the first missile strike the Trump Defense Department carried out against operatives of a boat suspected of transporting narcotics on the high seas off Venezuela, two survivors were rendered shipwrecked. As they clung to the wreckage, the U.S. commander ordered a second strike, which killed them.
If this happened as described in the Post report, it was, at best, a war crime under federal law. I say “at best” because, as regular readers know, I believe the attacks on these suspected drug boats — without congressional authorization, under circumstances in which the boat operators pose no military threat to the United States, and given that narcotics trafficking is defined in federal law as a crime rather than as terrorist activity, much less an act of war — are lawless and therefore that the killings are not legitimate under the law or armed conflict. (See my Saturday column, with links to prior posts on this subject.)
Nevertheless, even if we stipulate arguendo that the administration has a colorable claim that our forces are in an armed conflict with non-state actors (i.e., suspected members of drug cartels that the administration has dubiously designated as foreign terrorist organizations (FTOs)), the laws of war do not permit the killing of combatants who have been rendered hors de combat (out of the fighting) — including by shipwreck.
To reiterate, I don’t accept that the ship operators are enemy combatants — even if one overlooks that the administration has not proven that they are drug traffickers or members of designated FTOs. There is no armed conflict. They may be criminals (if it is proven that they are importing illegal narcotics), but they are not combatants.
(Excerpt) Read more at nationalreview.com ...
[I would argue almost all of the anti-drug initiatives are a total waste of time.]
And there it is
Yet another reason I’ll never trust Glenn Beck
That ship sailed several years ago.
It's like saying, "I read it in the National Enquirer."
You need to do some actual research on this... it’s only a war crime if your against it and anyone in his right mind would be all for takinging out these Narco-terroist anywhere anytime. Congress approved the war on drugs and it has been expanded by various administrations since it was signed. Trump finally escalated it to where he’s actually doing something.
NR has been hijacked by Trump hating a-holes.
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FR has been hijacked by Trump hating a holes, Randfan if you will.
Well said. I will increase my donations to free republic if they get rid of this a hole FYI.
Most Zot-worthy person on FR.
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I couldn’t agree more. Chris?
National Review (including Andrew C. McCarthy) is Never Trump, and has been since 2016. Try to keep up.
Of course the Surrender Monkeys love this type of article. And coming from an “august source “ makes our quisling domestic enemies salivate, but ultimately Andy Boy as usual,has missed the point. There are ample examples of statements from drug cartels that indicate they believe they are at war with us.
The fact that the cartel navy is mannsd by people who are not in a uniform establishes that they are unlawful enemy combatants who deserve execution on sight.
National Review has once again beclowned itself.
Remember these quislings savaged the vey thought of a Trump presidency from day one so they have long since. Disqualified themselves as honest observers and commentators.
Andy boy has been living on the fact that he convicted the Muslims for the first World Trade Center bombing by reading the Koron.
What prosecutor doing simple due diligence would not do the same? This begs repetition of Lincoln’S line that the constitution is not a suicide pact.
Go away Andy boy.
RandFan wrote: “Told you It’s a war crime. Even National Review says it out loud”
You need to do some research on War Crimes. This isn’t a war crime.
Let’s say you shoot a rocket at a tank and disable it in the battle field. Then the combatants inside climb out to escape.
Do you shoot them?
I don’t know what has happened to that person.
Either he is going through a personal crisis of some sort (mental or physical) or one of his family has taken over his account because he cannot post anymore.
He didn’t used to be this way.
Well. People can change. Perhaps too heavily invested in an unhealthy way into politics online and such. That happens.
The drugs and chemicals to produce the drugs are made in China and shipped to places like Mexico, Canada and Venezuela
This is state sponsored by China
Locally...fishing harbor, 45 degrees N latitude, fishing vessels leave port with tons of ice, in a form that can be shoveled over the catch. What’s in those bales of nearly a cubic yard? It ain’t ice. And without ice, fishermen would return to tropical ports with a big load of stink.
Have someone say something in the Washington Post.
Then cite the Washington Post article as being confirmation of fact.
And we're off to the races.
This is why AR15 Kelly and his posse shot off their mouths a couple of weeks ago. It's just more lawfare.
And of course Andy McCarthy and the rag once known as National Review jump in and play their part.
All of a sudden I for one have had enough of your sht.
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