Extrajudicial Killings: Obama to Trump – A Statistical Overview
- This article condemns the Trump governance's practice of bombing suspected drug boats in the Pacific and Caribbean, resulting in the deaths of at least 95 people. It argues...
- * Lethal Strikes: The US military has destroyed 25 boats,killing 95 people,with "double tap" strikes (attacking survivors) occurring.
- The article presents a strong argument that the trump administration's maritime strikes are unlawful killings, a perilous escalation of unchecked power, and a continuation of problematic policies initiated...
Summary of the Article:
This article condemns the Trump governance’s practice of bombing suspected drug boats in the Pacific and Caribbean, resulting in the deaths of at least 95 people. It argues these actions are not isolated incidents but a continuation of the precedent set by the Obama administration’s drone killings, specifically highlighting a lack of accountability and due process.
Key Points:
* Lethal Strikes: The US military has destroyed 25 boats,killing 95 people,with “double tap” strikes (attacking survivors) occurring.
* Lack of Transparency: The administration is refusing to release the legal justification for these killings (memo from the Office of Legal Counsel) or video footage of specific incidents, including one where two shipwrecked sailors were killed.
* Civilian Victims: the article highlights the case of Alejandro Carranza Medina, a Colombian fisherman killed in a strike, emphasizing he was a civilian engaged in work, not combat.
* Illegality & Due Process: The author argues that drug smuggling doesn’t justify treating the open sea as a battlefield or denying civilians the right to due process.
* Legal Challenges: Civil liberties groups are suing the government for transparency, demanding the release of relevant documents and video footage.
* Past Context: The article draws a direct line between Trump’s actions and Obama’s drone program, arguing the latter normalized extrajudicial killings.
* Warning of Escalation: Human rights advocates have long warned that unchecked drone warfare would blur the lines between war and peace,and between combatants and civilians.
Overall Argument:
The article presents a strong argument that the trump administration’s maritime strikes are unlawful killings, a perilous escalation of unchecked power, and a continuation of problematic policies initiated under Obama. It calls for transparency, accountability, and a re-evaluation of the legal and ethical boundaries of US military action.