U.S. Strikes Against Drug Cartels Face Scrutiny after Colombian Claim
WASHINGTON – The Trump administration’s recent authorization of military strikes against alleged drug trafficking boats is facing increased scrutiny following a claim by Colombian President Iván Duque that one of the vessels bombed by the U.S. was from his country. The White House has dismissed Duque’s assertion as “baseless.”
The strikes, carried out in international waters, are based on the administration’s assertion of a “non-international armed conflict” with drug cartels, a legal justification critics argue is without congressional authority. The administration, in a notice to Congress, described passengers on the targeted boats as “unlawful combatants,” echoing terminology used during the Bush administration to describe members of al Qaeda. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has stated the president dose not require congressional approval for thes “targeted strikes against imminent threats against the United States.”
The controversy escalated after Duque publicly stated his government had determined the bombed vessel was Colombian and not involved in drug trafficking. White House officials vehemently denied the claim, maintaining the boat was engaged in illicit activity. This dispute adds to growing concerns from lawmakers, including some Republicans, regarding the legality and clarity of the operations.
Earlier this week, Senate democrats forced a vote on a resolution to block further strikes, which failed 48-51. Republican Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky, a vocal opponent of expansive military action, joined Democrats in questioning the administration’s actions. “If anyone gave a you-no-what about justice, perhaps those in charge of deciding whom to kill might let us know their names, present proof of their guilt, show evidence of their crimes,” Paul said. “Is it too much to ask to know the names of those we kill before we kill them?”
The administration’s actions come despite Congress not having authorized the use of military force against drug cartels. President Trump, speaking at a Navy anniversary event, defended the strikes, stating, “the death of 25,000 American people and the destruction of families… So when you think of it that way, what we’re doing is actually an act of kindness.”
