The notion that the Trump administration could be engaging in war crimes or committing murder by targeting boats in the Caribbean suspected of drug trafficking is persisting.
Republicans find themselves frequently pressed on this issue, and their responses have been anything but reassuring or believable.
In defending Pete Hegseth, some Republicans have relied on the unsubstantiated claim that the United States is at war with these maritime vessels.
This raises a series of pressing questions: Who exactly is this enemy? How can a nation be at war with a fleet of boats rather than with an identifiable country? These inquiries remain unanswered by the GOP.
Senator Tom Cotton’s justification for supporting Trump was put to the test on CNN, resulting in a less-than-stellar performance for the party.
CNN’s John Berman posed a straightforward question: “Would it be legal for police in Arkansas to kill suspected drug dealers on an overturned boat?”
Cotton’s response was a convoluted attempt at deflection:
“Well, John, let’s revisit the premise of your question. The Washington Post reported that Pete Hegseth had issued an unlawful command of ‘no quarter’—essentially, ‘kill them all.’ Hegseth denied this last week, and his associates Mitch Bradley and Dan Kane flatly rejected it yesterday, something confirmed by Democrats who reviewed the videos and briefings. So, what the Washington Post reported is a complete lie.”
“I respectfully disagree with my Democratic colleagues. Their issue is not so much with the second strike but with the first strike and all subsequent actions taken against these boats. They seem to believe the entire operation is unfounded. I disagree. If those boats were loaded with bombs or missiles aimed at the United States, I don’t think anyone would argue against our right to intercept them. After all, those drugs explode like bombs across Arkansas and throughout America.”
“Our government bears the responsibility to shield our communities from the devastation caused by these drugs.”
Berman, clearly unsatisfied, pressed on: “Senator, let’s break this down. Can you simply answer my question first? Would it be legal for police in Arkansas to kill suspected drug dealers in an overturned boat in a lake in Arkansas? Just answer that, and then we can discuss your other points.”
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