A new, disturbing detail in the “drug boat” controversy that has enveloped Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over the past week calls the purpose of the entire operation into question.

According to an exclusive report from CNN, the alleged narco-trafficking boat that the U.S. military targeted on September 2 in a “double tap” strike, which killed 11 people, wasn’t even heading to the U.S.

Navy Admiral Frank “Mitch” Bradley, who was in charge of the operation, reported to lawmakers that the boat they struck was actually en route to link up with a larger boat that was heading to Suriname, a country east of Venezuela, two sources with direct knowledge of his remarks said.

Bradley also said that it was still possible that the alleged drug shipment could have eventually ended up in the U.S., the sources told CNN—rather dubious justification for a strike that left several people dead.

  • Cethin@lemmy.zipEnglish
    1·
    12 hours ago

    That’s not what they looked like. Here’s some of these boats:

    Notice it’s not really built for comfort. There’s no cover for the pilot or passengers, and there’s a large cargo area. It’s very different than what a civilian boat looks like.

    Anyway, I don’t know how many times I have to say this. It being a drug boat or not doesn’t make it legal to destroy. It doesn’t justify anything whether it’s a drug boat or not. It’s just a lot easier to convince people of the right thing if you don’t start from crazy conspiracies. There are drugs being smuggled. This isn’t a secret. Arguing that there aren’t drugs being smuggled makes you sound equally as reasonable as someone saying that aliens actually blew up those boats. There’s a lot of evidence to the contrary that needs to be explained.

    • moonshadow@slrpnk.net
      1·
      12 hours ago

      Those are incredibly similar boats to the one I posted, just older shittier and viewed through a gun cam. They get whipped out of Florida by hurricanes and repurposed all over the Caribbean. The bare minimum to call this a conversation is not putting words in my mouth, no shit people smuggle drugs, if you’ve never done it you’re a huge nerd. There is absolutely not some shadowy organization building “drug boats” as an attack on America and absolutely no excuse for us to be down there blowing shit up, legal minutia about rules of engagement aside

      • Cethin@lemmy.zipEnglish
        1·
        9 hours ago

        Fine, keep arguing these aren’t. Whatever. How they fuck do you explain narco subs? It’s either cartels building them to smuggle drugs, or nations building them and filling them with drugs as some massive conspiracy to manufacture consent against drug cartels, and no one has spoken out yet. It’s much more likely the former.

        It’s not an attack on America. It’s just people making money. No shit there’s no excuse. That’s literally what I’ve been saying. Drug boats or not, it isn’t legal or moral.