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groundloop

(13,558 posts)
Mon Dec 1, 2025, 04:00 PM Dec 1

White House says admiral ordered follow-on strike on alleged drug boat, insists attack was lawful

Source: AP News

The White House said Monday that a Navy admiral acted “within his authority and the law” when he ordered a second, follow-up strike on an alleged drug boat in the Caribbean Sea in a September U.S. military operation that has come under bipartisan scrutiny.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt offered the justification for the Sept. 2 strike after lawmakers from both parties on Sunday announced support for congressional reviews of U.S. military strikes against vessels suspected of smuggling drugs in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean, citing a published report that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a verbal order for a second strike that killed survivors on the boat in that incident.

Leavitt in her comments to reporters on Monday did not dispute a Washington Post report that there were survivors after the initial strike in the incident. Her explanation came after President Donald Trump a day earlier said that he “wouldn’t have wanted that — not a second strike” when asked about the incident.

“Secretary Hegseth authorized Admiral Bradley to conduct these kinetic strikes,” said Leavitt, referring to U.S. Navy Vice Admiral Frank Bradley, who at the time was the commander of Joint Special Operations Command. “Admiral Bradley worked well within his authority and the law, directing the engagement to ensure the boat was destroyed and the threat to the United States of America was eliminated.”

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/trump-venezuela-hegseth-maduro-512c66b99b2a13e9d1a3ed2699e78228

34 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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White House says admiral ordered follow-on strike on alleged drug boat, insists attack was lawful (Original Post) groundloop Dec 1 OP
I guess "kinetic strike" is a nicer way of saying murder. groundloop Dec 1 #1
What did dubya call it when we struck first? slightlv Dec 1 #11
Preemptive War Diraven Dec 1 #12
"White House says" bucolic_frolic Dec 1 #2
Whoa.............. Lovie777 Dec 1 #3
I see they are trying to throw him under the bus. drray23 Dec 1 #4
I think you're referring to Admiral Holsey COL Mustard Dec 1 #17
You are absolutely correct. drray23 Dec 2 #20
"It's his fault! He did what we ordered him to do! Blame him (but credit us)!" Torchlight Dec 1 #5
They lie to protect their dear murderer. Justice matters. Dec 2 #34
Lawmakers spoke privately to Trump's top general after boat strike revelations Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin Dec 1 #6
Does "no one left alive" sound like .....witnesses? Dixiegrrrl Dec 2 #23
Because the boats are not trafficking drugs and they are covering up their murders. travelingthrulife Dec 2 #24
I hope you GD generals are paying close attention. Irish_Dem Dec 1 #7
This is exactly why it is in the best interests of the service members to refuse illegal orders. Midnight Writer Dec 1 #8
Trump eventually throws EVERYONE under the bus. Irish_Dem Dec 1 #9
Exactly Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin Dec 2 #25
Sure. Totally lawful! Aussie105 Dec 1 #10
All I know is, one guy holds the golden ticket, his immunity card. Buddyzbuddy Dec 1 #13
The US is not a signatory to the ICC. tblue37 Dec 2 #26
Thank you, I'm aware of that. Buddyzbuddy Dec 2 #33
This sinking, disabled vehicle with dazed and wounded survivors was a "threat to the United States?" Prairie Gates Dec 1 #14
That's not going to play well in the officer class or the rank and file. paleotn Dec 1 #15
We will see. kacekwl Dec 2 #29
Uhh.. Firing on shipwrecked people is the textbook definition of a war crime.. Litterally 18.3.1.1 LiberalArkie Dec 1 #16
Lies and more lies, upon yet more lies. Where's the damn evidence??????? Ford_Prefect Dec 1 #18
Maybe they were in the boat. tblue37 Dec 2 #27
Admiral Bradley going under The Chump Bus duckworth969 Dec 1 #19
Hesgeth should be arrested and put on trial for murder Akakoji Dec 2 #21
Since it is NEVER legal, BidenRocks Dec 2 #22
Ok assholes, show up kacekwl Dec 2 #28
We didn't do it, but if we did it's legal. CanonRay Dec 2 #30
And that guy over there will be pardoned thought crime Dec 2 #32
No, it's not lawful to kill defenseless combatants or civilians Mysterian Dec 2 #31

slightlv

(7,414 posts)
11. What did dubya call it when we struck first?
Mon Dec 1, 2025, 07:15 PM
Dec 1

Preventative war? No.. that wasn't it. But it was something just as dumb...

bucolic_frolic

(53,864 posts)
2. "White House says"
Mon Dec 1, 2025, 04:06 PM
Dec 1

Sort of like "Simon says" do this, Simon says do that.

Do you believe them? Con game is on.

Lovie777

(21,605 posts)
3. Whoa..............
Mon Dec 1, 2025, 04:10 PM
Dec 1

gaslighting is what they do best (maybe).

The Children's Story "The Boy Who Cried Wolf".

Talk about the evil, uncaring, greedy with power that the Republicans hold at this point in time.

Everything must change, nothing stays the same.................................

And when it does, we shall prevail.

drray23

(8,569 posts)
4. I see they are trying to throw him under the bus.
Mon Dec 1, 2025, 04:19 PM
Dec 1

He resigned knowing it was illegal. If Hegseth ordered him, they are both guilty down to the sailors who piloted the drones or shot the missiles.
At least this admiral resigned. If he cooperated during investigations he might get leniency. Hegseth deserves none.

COL Mustard

(7,947 posts)
17. I think you're referring to Admiral Holsey
Mon Dec 1, 2025, 10:58 PM
Dec 1

Of US Southern Command. He’s the one who stepped down after a year in command. The admiral in the news it Frank Bailey, head of US Special Operations Command since October 3 of this year. But probably not for long.

Torchlight

(6,274 posts)
5. "It's his fault! He did what we ordered him to do! Blame him (but credit us)!"
Mon Dec 1, 2025, 04:21 PM
Dec 1

There’s only one commander-in-chief. The buck stops there. Period. Spare us your sniveling excuses and cowardly finger-pointing, Mr. trump-- we already know you're not better than that.

Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin

(132,473 posts)
6. Lawmakers spoke privately to Trump's top general after boat strike revelations
Mon Dec 1, 2025, 04:59 PM
Dec 1

By Noah Robertson

The Pentagon’s top general held a call with senior lawmakers over the weekend to discuss the legality of lethal military strikes around Latin America, as Republican-led panels in both chambers vowed aggressive oversight following revelations that U.S. forces killed the survivors of a targeted boat strike.


The call, announced Monday by the office of Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine, occurred after The Washington Post reported Friday that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth gave a spoken order to kill the entire crew of a vessel thought to be ferrying narcotics in the Caribbean Sea, the first of more than 20 such strikes directed by the Trump administration since early September.

When two survivors were detected, the military commander overseeing the operation, Adm. Frank M. Bradley, directed another strike to comply with Hegseth’s order that no one be left alive, people with direct knowledge of the matter told The Post. The Trump administration has said 11 people were killed as a result of the attack.

Caine’s call with the Republican and Democratic leaders of the Senate and House Armed Services committees included a conversation about the Latin America mission’s “intent and legality,” Caine’s office said in its brief account of the exchange. The general also expressed his “trust and confidence in the experienced commanders at every echelon,” the readout says. The statement does not identify Bradley or any other military officials by name.

https://wapo.st/4oyWISF

travelingthrulife

(4,363 posts)
24. Because the boats are not trafficking drugs and they are covering up their murders.
Tue Dec 2, 2025, 10:19 AM
Dec 2

Don't let them change the narrative to pretend those 20 first strikes were any less illegal than the second strike.

We do have two survivors who were sent home, which was also weird if they were such horrendous criminals. Plenty of widows to interview by now.

Irish_Dem

(79,459 posts)
7. I hope you GD generals are paying close attention.
Mon Dec 1, 2025, 05:03 PM
Dec 1

An active duty Admiral just got thrown under the damn bus by Trump.

YOU ARE NEXT.

Wake the hell up.

Midnight Writer

(25,126 posts)
8. This is exactly why it is in the best interests of the service members to refuse illegal orders.
Mon Dec 1, 2025, 05:35 PM
Dec 1

Trump and Co. are going to hang this Admiral for obeying the orders they gave him.

The Admiral had to have known the order was illegal. I have never served, let alone reached the rank of Admiral, and I know the order is illegal.

Anybody who joins Team Trump or bows down to their pressure will be thrown under the bus. Maybe not right away. But someday soon. People, even the ones who pass Trump's loyalty tests, are nothing but fodder to be used and discarded.

As the tech bro billionaires have declared, we are all NPCs (non-player characters). In other words, we are all game pieces in their personal power games.

Irish_Dem

(79,459 posts)
9. Trump eventually throws EVERYONE under the bus.
Mon Dec 1, 2025, 05:53 PM
Dec 1

His friends, employees, etc are always shocked.

Aussie105

(7,572 posts)
10. Sure. Totally lawful!
Mon Dec 1, 2025, 07:10 PM
Dec 1

About as lawful as sending in a helicopter hit squad to a foreign country to take out Osama bin Laden.

But at least there was evidence for doing that.

Where is the evidence for the 'narco boats'? You blew all of that up if you remember!

Buddyzbuddy

(2,060 posts)
13. All I know is, one guy holds the golden ticket, his immunity card.
Mon Dec 1, 2025, 07:40 PM
Dec 1

Everybody else, uh oh! A pardon won't save your arse with the I.C.C.
I'm guessing we will be cooperating with that body if we are prevented from interrogating and prosecuting due to pardons. Also, extradition to Venezuela is a distinct possibility. Remember, you'll be dealing with some very angry Democrats looking for justice in any method possible.

Buddyzbuddy

(2,060 posts)
33. Thank you, I'm aware of that.
Tue Dec 2, 2025, 12:43 PM
Dec 2

That only means we are not required to follow I.C.C. mandates. That does not block the U.S. from cooperating or becoming part of the I.C.C. at a later date. Also, the I.C.C. has warrants currently issued for Putin and Netanyahu. Therefore, if they step foot in a Country that is part of the I.C.C. then they can be arrested and held for trial at the Hague much like Dutuerte, the former President of the Phillipines is currently being held.

As a note, Jack Smith, the prosecutor that indicted the Felon was working with the I.C.C. just prior to charging the current President.

So, U.S. citizens can be arrested and charged regardless of the U.S.' status. It's just more difficult.

Crimes against humanity and war crimes are in their wheelhouse.

Prairie Gates

(7,133 posts)
14. This sinking, disabled vehicle with dazed and wounded survivors was a "threat to the United States?"
Mon Dec 1, 2025, 07:40 PM
Dec 1

Even the dimmest MAGA beer bellies must have a hard time wrapping their heads around that one.

paleotn

(21,452 posts)
15. That's not going to play well in the officer class or the rank and file.
Mon Dec 1, 2025, 07:49 PM
Dec 1

Throwing the military under the bus and then backing over them a couple times. And resigning doesn't get you off the hook, Admiral. You followed and commanded your subordinates to follow an obviously unlawful order. You're just as guilty as Whisky Pete. And a disgrace to the service. May you both rot in hell...or in jail. Whichever comes first.

LiberalArkie

(19,221 posts)
16. Uhh.. Firing on shipwrecked people is the textbook definition of a war crime.. Litterally 18.3.1.1
Mon Dec 1, 2025, 09:07 PM
Dec 1

Ford_Prefect

(8,503 posts)
18. Lies and more lies, upon yet more lies. Where's the damn evidence???????
Mon Dec 1, 2025, 11:05 PM
Dec 1

WHERE ARE THE EPSTEIN FILES ???????????

Akakoji

(472 posts)
21. Hesgeth should be arrested and put on trial for murder
Tue Dec 2, 2025, 05:18 AM
Dec 2

There's no war. There's no threat. Trump's pardon of the convicted former president of Honduras shows it has nothing to do with drug trafficking. It has to do with Trump trying to show he's a tough guy. He's not. He's a bloated sundowning coward.

CanonRay

(15,918 posts)
30. We didn't do it, but if we did it's legal.
Tue Dec 2, 2025, 11:38 AM
Dec 2

And if it's a crime, then that guy over there did it.

thought crime

(1,146 posts)
32. And that guy over there will be pardoned
Tue Dec 2, 2025, 12:19 PM
Dec 2

... and will be promoted as a hero for the far-right.

Mysterian

(6,152 posts)
31. No, it's not lawful to kill defenseless combatants or civilians
Tue Dec 2, 2025, 11:45 AM
Dec 2

The current regime is led by murderers and psychopaths who must be held accountable for their crimes when the rule of law is re-established in this nation.

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