US Boat Strikes Result in 87 Deaths, Raise Legal and Ethical Concerns
Since early September, 87 victims have been killed across 22 US strikes on alleged drug boats. The first strike on September 2 killed nine occupants; a subsequent attack killed two survivors clinging to the wreckage, who posed no threat. The Pentagon has provided no evidence that these survivors were attempting to contact collaborators. Representatives Adam Smith and Jim Himes questioned the follow-up attack, highlighting that the survivors were barely alive and not engaging in hostilities. The Pentagon suggested the two survivors might have been trying to right the wreckage that could contain cocaine, although the boat was derelict and could have been intercepted.
These actions have been described as murder and are argued to be unlawful under international humanitarian law, since drug cartels are not states at war with the United States. International law allows lethal force in armed conflict only as a last resort, and shipwrecked individuals are considered hors de combat and must not be attacked. A secret Department of Justice memo reportedly approving the attacks allegedly relies on assertions by former President Trump and has not been released. The situation raises concerns about dangerous precedents, where presidents might declare wars and execute suspects, potentially undermining the right to life. There is a call for increased congressional scrutiny on these operations.
