When Killing Everyone is the Order: A Look at Controversial Drug Strikes

A recent report has stirred up quite a debate about the Pentagon's strategy to combat drug trafficking. The focus is on a specific order that has raised eyebrows and concerns about potential war crimes. The House and Senate Armed Services committees have taken notice. They've promised to keep a close eye on these drug boat strikes. This comes after a report suggested that survivors of these strikes might have been targeted again. If true, this could be a big deal. Several Democratic senators have spoken up. They've said that if the report is accurate, it could mean that laws of war have been broken. Both national and international laws could have been violated. This is serious stuff. Senator Tim Kaine from Virginia was on CBS News's Face the Nation. He said that if the report is true, it's a clear violation of the Department of Defense's own rules. He even went so far as to say it could be a war crime. Senator Chris Van Hollen from Maryland agreed. He was on ABC News's This Week. He thinks a war crime might have happened. But he said it depends on whether the Trump administration declared the U. S. in an armed conflict with drug cartels. Senator Mark Kelly from Arizona is also concerned. He's on the Senate Armed Services Committee. He told CNN's Dana Bash that the reported second strike seems to be a war crime. He said the U. S. holds itself to high standards and shouldn't cross certain lines. On the other hand, some Republican lawmakers are skeptical. They're not sure the report is accurate. But they do acknowledge that if the order was given, it would be a war crime. Senator Markwayne Mullin from Oklahoma doubts the second strike was ordered. He was on State of the Union and said he doesn't believe the story. He thinks it's based on unverified sources. Representatives Mike Turner from Ohio and Don Bacon from Nebraska also think the strike would be a war crime. But Bacon is suspicious that the order was actually given. He doesn't think someone would be foolish enough to break the law of war. In response to the report, the person in charge of these strikes, Hegseth, said all the strikes he's ordered follow the law of armed conflict. He's maintained that all over 20 strikes are in compliance.