Controversy is brewing over U.S. military strikes in the Caribbean, with accusations flying faster than a drone on a mission.
At the heart of this storm is a Sept. 2 counter-narcotics operation targeting alleged narco-terrorists, one in which a follow-up strike killed two survivors, igniting fierce debate over military protocol, War Secretary Pete Hegseth's conduct, and the Pentagon’s Law of War manual, as Fox News reports.
Let’s rewind to that fateful day in early September when the first strike hit a vessel in the Caribbean, leaving two survivors who were later taken out in a so-called “double tap” strike.
Pentagon officials, including Adm. Mitch Bradley, have suggested those survivors might have been able to call for backup, posing a threat -- though critics argue this stretches the definition of “immediate danger” thinner than a progressive’s patience for tradition.
Hegseth watched the initial strike in real time but wasn’t involved in the decision for the follow-up hit, though he’s backed Bradley’s call without hesitation.
Bradley, meanwhile, has been making the rounds on Capitol Hill, briefing everyone from the Intelligence Committees to defense appropriations subcommittees, trying to douse the flames of bipartisan concern.
Video of the Sept. 2 incident shown to lawmakers has split opinions down party lines, with Democrats seeing helpless victims and Republicans spotting determined threats ready to flip their boat and fight on.
“What I saw in that room was one of the most troubling things I've seen in my time in public service,” said Rep. Jim Himes (D-CT), clearly shaken by images of distressed individuals with a wrecked vessel.
Yet, let’s not pretend this is a Hollywood tearjerker -- Himes’ dismay ignores the harsh reality of narco-terrorist operations, where even a broken boat can be a platform for chaos if backup arrives.
Moving to later operations, an Oct. 16 strike saw two killed, but two survivors were captured and returned to Colombia and Mexico, showing the military can play by the rules when the situation allows.
Then, on Oct. 27, a series of four strikes took out 14 individuals, leaving one survivor for the Mexican coast guard to retrieve, proving not every aftermath ends in tragedy.
“A total of 14 narco-terrorists were killed during the three strikes, with one survivor,” Hegseth confirmed, sticking to the numbers without apology, as if to remind us this isn’t a game of catch-and-release.
Here’s where it gets sticky: the Pentagon’s Law of War manual explicitly bars attacks on the “helpless,” whether wounded or shipwrecked, calling such acts dishonorable -- yet interpretations of “hostile action” seem to wiggle like a politician dodging a tough question.
Senate Republicans recently blocked a bipartisan push to pause these Caribbean drug boat strikes, signaling that for many on the right, national security trumps hand-wringing over protocol.
Ultimately, while Adm. Bradley insists no “kill them all” order came from Hegseth, the differing takes on the footage and survivor treatment reveal a deeper divide -- one between those who see war’s grim necessities and those who would rather lecture from the sidelines.
