Trump Is Using Military Force Without Oversight — And No One Voted for This скачать в хорошем качестве

Trump Is Using Military Force Without Oversight — And No One Voted for This

Over the past few months, the United States has been carrying out lethal military strikes in the Caribbean — with no vote from Congress, no public debate, and almost no transparency. The Trump administration describes these actions as “counter-drug operations.” But when you slow down and examine what’s actually happening, the stakes are far bigger. This isn’t just about drugs. It’s about how easily military force can expand when it’s framed as routine, distant, and urgent — and how quickly democratic oversight disappears when the public isn’t paying attention. What Happened According to investigative reporting, U.S. forces have conducted dozens of strikes against vessels described as suspected drug-trafficking boats since late 2025, killing at least 87 people. The administration has not released public evidence justifying each strike, nor has it explained why lethal force was used instead of arrest, interdiction, or prosecution. Congress never voted to authorize a sustained campaign of military strikes in the Caribbean. Yet that is effectively what’s unfolding — largely out of public view. Why This Rhetoric Matters Language is doing a lot of work here. The administration repeatedly uses the word “cartels,” and once that label is applied, the conversation shifts. Law enforcement becomes war. Suspects become targets. Due process fades into the background. This rhetorical move lowers the political cost of violence and transfers decision-making power away from courts and toward the executive branch. It’s a familiar pattern — one used in the “war on terror” — now repackaged for the drug war. Key Context the Public Often Misses • U.S. counter-drug laws largely authorize support roles, not sustained combat operations. • International human rights experts warn lethal force is only lawful as a last resort to protect life — not to punish suspected crimes. • Human rights groups argue these strikes may amount to extrajudicial killings at sea. • Under the War Powers Resolution, Congress is supposed to authorize or rein in sustained military action. Silence functions as permission. • Practices normalized abroad rarely stay abroad — the language and tools used overseas often migrate home. This is how executive power expands: quietly, incrementally, and far from public scrutiny. Why This Should Worry You — Even If You Support “Tough” Policies You don’t have to be soft on drug trafficking to be alarmed by this. The issue isn’t whether drugs are a problem — it’s how a democracy chooses to respond. When lethal force is used without clear authorization, evidence, or oversight, that power doesn’t stay contained. It becomes available — to this administration and the next. That’s how democratic systems erode: not all at once, but through normalized exceptions that become the rule. Sources & Further Reading • Reuters — Are deadly U.S. strikes on alleged drug boats legal? https://www.reuters.com/world/america... • Reuters Graphics — Mapping U.S. strikes against suspected drug boats https://www.reuters.com/graphics/USA-... • Reuters/Ipsos — Americans oppose strikes without judicial authorization https://www.reuters.com/world/us/broa... • Human Rights Watch — “Lawless executions at sea” https://www.hrw.org/news/2025/12/09/u... • Washington Post — Lawsuit seeks release of secret legal memo on strikes https://www.washingtonpost.com/politi... For clear, progressive analysis that tracks how power expands, how oversight weakens, and why accountability matters — at home and abroad — subscribe and stay informed.