Explosions lit the Eastern Pacific dawn as U.S. forces unleashed another drone strike on a suspected drug runner, vaporizing a vessel and its four-man crew in international waters. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, dropping unclassified footage on X, hailed it as strike #14 since September—part of President Trump’s scorched-earth war on cartels poisoning America’s streets. But as the death toll climbs to 61, critics from Capitol Hill to the Coast Guard cry foul: Where’s the proof? And who’s next?
Strike 14: Precision Hit or Phantom Foe?
“Under Trump’s direct order, we obliterated yet another narco-trafficking vessel tied to a Designated Terrorist Organization,” Hegseth posted Wednesday, sharing grainy video of a speedboat erupting in flames. Intelligence pegged the craft—barreling a notorious smuggling lane—as loaded with illicit cargo, crewed by “four male narco-terrorists.” All perished; no U.S. assets scratched.
This latest takedown follows a brutal October spree: 14 dead across four boats on the 28th alone, six more in the Caribbean on the 24th, and earlier blasts off Venezuela claiming 17. Three survivors total, two shipped home. Targets? Often linked to Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua gang, now a U.S.-tagged terror outfit.
Hegseth’s rhetoric? Unyielding. “The Western Hemisphere’s no cartel playground anymore,” he thundered. “We’ve defended foreign soils for decades—now we shield our own. These killers have slain more Americans than al-Qaeda. We’ll hunt, net, and neutralize them.” Echoing on X, supporters cheered: “America First—drones over diplomacy.” Detractors? “Extrajudicial hits on ghosts.”
Escalation Mode: Ford Carrier Sails South
Amping the ante, Hegseth dispatched the USS Gerald R. Ford—the Navy’s behemoth supercarrier—and its strike group to SOUTHCOM waters, flanked by three guided-missile destroyers. Mission: “Detect, disrupt, dismantle” transnational crime syndicates funneling fentanyl and more that claim 100,000+ U.S. lives yearly.
Trump’s playbook? A July executive order flipping the script from Coast Guard boardings to Pentagon blasts, justified by designating cartels as FTOs—echoing post-9/11 al-Qaeda hunts. No arrests, no trials—just fire from the sky.
Backlash Builds: Due Process or Drug War?
The strikes’ secrecy fuels fury. Pentagon stonewalls on victim IDs, cargo manifests, or intel dumps. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) slammed it as “killing sans trial,” citing Coast Guard stats: Up to 80% of flagged boats are clean. “If Venezuela’s the target, Congress declares war—not drones,” he fired.
Dems on Senate Judiciary piled on Wednesday: A letter demands legal memos, blasting the ops as potential breaches of international law and the Posse Comitatus Act. “Trafficking’s vile, but presidents can’t play judge, jury, executioner,” they wrote. One admiral reportedly quit in protest; X buzzes with “murder drones” memes.
Globally? Outrage from Mexico and Venezuela, who decry “Yankee vigilantism” while their ports leak product. NEXTA TV framed it stark: “U.S. sinks another ‘narco’ boat—four dead, zero proof.”
The Toll: 61 Dead, One Survivor, Endless Questions
Since September: 14 strikes, 61 kills, three spares. Hegseth’s X clip—fiery plumes over waves—garnered 50K likes but sparked 5K replies: “Show the dope!” vs. “End the poison!”
As the Ford steams south, one truth cuts through: Trump’s narco purge is reshaping the Americas’ underbelly. Victory? Or vigilante overreach? Congress holds the gavel—but so far, it’s silent.
Source: Foxnews.com
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