I've been listening to a number of podcasts about the legality of following orders and not following orders. Rather interesting, and disturbing, especially the whole "start from the assumption the order is legal" thing. These killings are so obviously illegal, yet no one is refusing shows the base cowardice in the military that is wrapped in "honor" and "duty"

Again, where are the resignations over this? One early retirement and he is not going before cameras to say what is happening.

Where are the marine and army and national guard officers refusing orders to police US cities?

If you think the military won't fire on US citizens you are fooling yourself.

@#33 ... Early reports on the first boat destroyed were that it had turned back upon sighting a drone. ...
If you're out on the ocean (for whatever reason), and suddenly you see this aircraft apparently targeting you, what do you do?
I'd return to the safety of port.
But that's just me.

#36 | Posted by LampLighter

All of the reporting gives me little comfort that the military will refuse to obey illegal orders. the illegality of these killings is so obvious as to be absurd.

Everyone in the chain of command from Hegseth to the person pulling the trigger should be charged with murder.

I don't know the first thing about boats

But I will say from a cargo capacity size they do not seem like the best drug smuggling vessels, and the first boat destroyed had like 14 people aboard, so likely not a drug smuggling operation. Might have been human trafficking but who knows.

that is why you arrest people and don't just kill them.

It's a shame we cannot believe a word from our FBI

Again, the reporting on at least one of the attacks was that after the initial attack there were survivors (on a wrecked boat) and the navy took another run at it to kill the shipwrecked survivors.

That is VERY similar to what a nazi U-boat commander was tried for at Nuremburg-killing shipwrecked merchantmen.

It is despicable to kill a shipwrecked person.

Early reports on the first boat destroyed were that it had turned back upon sighting a drone.

Since they are speed boats and have a very limited range the target was reportedly trinidad

The curious thing to me about these boats is, why are they still going out there? Do the cartels just call it the cost of doing business because it is a small/acceptable percentage of the total number of boats? Or are they just decoys?

#27 | Posted by REDIAL

We have NO idea what or who is on these boats.

Given this administration sent hundreds of innocent people to an El Salvadoran gulag, it is fairly certain that some or most of these boats are not involved in drug smuggling.

The curious thing to me about these boats is, why are they still going out there? Do the cartels just call it the cost of doing business because it is a small/acceptable percentage of the total number of boats? Or are they just decoys?

#27 | Posted by REDIAL

One thing we know for certain is cartels will soon be putting children on these boats, so there is that.

Buh Bye

Piracy and Smuggling. Again READ. You're so far over your skiis.

#18 | Posted by oneironaut

What US or international law permits the US military to kill, without warning, people suspected of smuggling drugs?

Under no recognizable law is that legal then.
#12 | POSTED BY TRUTHHURTS

Piracy and Smuggling. Again READ. You're so far over your skiis.

#18 | Posted by oneironaut a

Not
Capital
Crimes
Moron

They killed a bunch of drug dealers
DUHHHH

#10 | Posted by THEBUL

Under no recognizable law is that legal then.

Why wouldn't it?

We can just add it to the list of African nations we bomb regularly

Do Palestinians have a right to exist?

Do Palestinians have a right to defend themselves?

Do Israel's actions seem directed at annihilating all Palestinians?

Well, the same groups, intelligence agencies, nonprofits, foundations, have long ago turned those tactics inward, backing Democrats to overthrow Republicans.

#20 | Posted by visitor_

Well known liberal entities like the CIA, the FBI, multi-national corporations/

------ idiot

Corky,
What strangers have YOU fed lately?
Jesus was not talking about the Roman government feeding people.
He was talking about personal responsibility.
I've given a perfect stranger cash at a grocery store.
Have you?
#195 | Posted by BillJohnso

Meanwhile ALSO

Alex,
'You're not getting into Heaven.'
Notice in all my posts I have never specifically stated someone will or won't get into heaven,
I don't presume to judge people because its not my place.
Apparently you feel qualified.

#200 | Posted by BillJohnson

You don't even see it.

Who gave what up?
The US gave up processing and mining for environmental reasons idiot.

#108 | Posted by oneironaut a

You're telling me the US gave up mining in foreign countries due to environmental reasons?

LOLOLOLO

you really are dumb

This isn't factual at all. As I posted, the US gave up control for environmental reasons.
You don't read, perhaps you can't read, but read those books I recommended, catch up to the modern progressive thought.

#107 | Posted by oneironaut

If you think trade and investment in developing nations is due to environmental reasons, you are simply ignorant.

Ignorant plus stupidity is a dangerous combination.

You can't even read FFS.

#103 | Posted by oneironaut

Says the person who can't understand the simple concept that controlling the mining means controlling the resources

truth hurts idiot

China has a dominant position in the rare earth mineral supply chain, controlling roughly 70% of global mining and an even larger share, around 90-92%, of the processing and refining stages.

What the ---- do you think I am takling about. 70% of the mining isn't control... its the processing.

#102 | Posted by oneironaut

I think you don't know what you are talking about

they control 70% of global mining, meaning 70% of the rare earths mined. Those are not all in China, they are throughout the world (you see that word "global")

that is what I am referring to.

America surrendered that control to china.

If you weren't an idiot it would be obvious to you

He has a mixed record. According to almost (maybe all of them) all of the lefties on this site his record is 100% horrible.

#98 | Posted by BellRinger

Fascism (and it's latest iteration magat) corrupts everything it touches

Fight fascism everywhere all the time.

Never give a fascist an inch, ---- them all

Why did they give them up Truth? This was due to no-growth anti pollution policies, are those conservatives? Or Liberals?
See what I mean you just can't accept some of the things you've rallied around caused these issues. Again read a book by the leading Liberals, and you'll see just how wrong some of the "progressive" policies broke things. Liberals had good intentions, but perhaps didn't see the long term problems because they thought America could never lose in the 90s, similar to Conservatives in that regard.

#90 | Posted by oneironaut

Who gave what up?

Developing nations, like those in Africa went from trading with the US to trading with China over the past 25 years?
Why?

Because the US gave them military bases and bombing of muslims.

China gave them roads, ports, mines, schools, dams, wells, sewer treatment etc.

China invested, America did not

The one inherent benefit America had that China could not compete with was aspirational-a reputation for freedom and democracy.

These are facts

see one nut

I post facts, you post opinions

You're a ------- idiot

In 2000, China-Africa trade was around $10 billion, with the US also having significant trade with the continent, including a trade deficit of $1.6 billion (excluding oil). However, China has become sub-Saharan Africa's dominant trading partner, with bilateral trade reaching approximately $295 billion in 2024, whereas US trade remains considerably smaller and has been overshadowed by China's growth, partly due to recent policy changes affecting U.S. market access.

China doesn't control the minerals they control the processing.

Wrong

China has a dominant position in the rare earth mineral supply chain, controlling roughly 70% of global mining and an even larger share, around 90-92%, of the processing and refining stages. This dominance extends to the production of rare earth magnets, which are essential for many modern technologies like electric vehicles and defense systems.