Trump’s Latest Boat Strikes Spark Fresh Debate Over Legality

Trump’s Latest Boat Strikes Spark Fresh Debate Over Legality

President Donald Trump’s decision to label alleged drug-runners in the Caribbean as “narco-terrorists” has spurred fresh debate over the legality of his strategy — and prompted speculation he could step up other controversial efforts to pursue enemies at home.

Murder by Drone: The Legal and Moral Stakes of the Caribbean Strikes

On Sept. 2, the Trump administration announced a lethal strike against what it said was a drug smuggling vessel in the Caribbean, killing eleven people in what amounted to a summary execution of civilians. A second strike followed on Sept. 15, reportedly killing three people. The administration has said more such strikes will occur, marking what may be the start of a new program of extrajudicial killing. The strikes raise many serious legal issu…

US Acts as “Judge, Jury, and Executioner” in Venezuelan Boat Strikes

Venezuelan historian Miguel Tinker Salas discusses the growing US military presence in the Caribbean.

U.S. Acts as “Judge, Jury & Executioner” in Venezuelan Boat Strikes, Killing at Least 14

On Monday, President Trump announced the U.S. bombed a boat in international waters, killing three people. The attack was the second to target what the Trump administration claims are drug smugglers from Venezuela. A previous strike on another boat killed 11 people. In a third incident, the U.S. Navy raided a fishing boat in Venezuelan waters, detaining nine fishermen for eight hours. This escalating U.S. military action follows a secret directiv

Maduro Blasts US Over Second Strike on Venezuelan Ship

Venezuelanv President Nicolas Maduro said, commenting on a US strike targeting a second Venezuelan boat, that the ongoing events represent “an imperialist effort by the United States to seize Venezuela’s resources and install a puppet government.”