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drug boats

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U.S. military says it carried out strikes on two vessels, in a location given as Eastern Pacific

World Dec 19

2 strikes on alleged drug boats kill 5 in eastern Pacific, U.S. military says

By Associated Press

Politics Dec 04

U.S. Special Operations Command commander Admiral Frank "Mitch" Bradley attends ceremony at Fort Bragg
Navy admiral tells lawmakers there was no 'kill all' order from Hegseth in boat attack

A Navy admiral commanding the U.S. military strikes on an alleged drug boat in the Caribbean told lawmakers Thursday that there was no “kill them all” order from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, but a stark video of the attack left…

By Stephen Groves, Lisa Mascaro, Associated Press

Politics Dec 02

U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House in Washington
WATCH: Hegseth says he 'didn't stick around' after giving order for 1st boat strike on Sept. 2

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Tuesday that he learned about the second strike on an alleged drug boat on Sept. 2 hours after giving the order for the first strike.

By Steff Staples

World Dec 01

DeadlyStrike1
Watch 3:57
White House says U.S. fired twice at alleged drug boat, raising bipartisan legal concerns

The White House confirmed that the military fired twice at a suspected drug boat during its campaign of airstrikes in the Caribbean. A source familiar with what happened tells PBS News that a second strike in early September came despite…

By Nick Schifrin, Solveig Rennan

World Dec 01

FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump meets Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the White House in Washington
Watch 6:15
'That 2nd strike was a violation of the laws of war,' former senior military lawyer says

For perspective on the U.S. military strikes on suspected drug boats and the legal concerns, Geoff Bennett spoke with retired Maj. Gen. Steven Lepper. He served as the Air Force's Deputy Judge Advocate General, and as such, was the service's…

By Geoff Bennett, Dan Sagalyn

Dec 01

What the law says about killing survivors of a boat strike, according to experts

By Ben Finley, Associated Press

Leveling a second strike on the survivors of an initial attack on an alleged drug boat would have been a crime, legal experts say.

Continue reading

Dec 01

WATCH: White House insists alleged drug boat attack was lawful, confirms second strike

By Aamer Madhani, Associated Press

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt offered a justification for the Sept. 2 strike after lawmakers from both parties on Sunday announced support for congressional reviews of U.S. military strikes against vessels suspected of smuggling drugs in the Caribbean Sea…

Continue reading

Nov 26

Dominican Republic grants U.S. access to restricted areas for its fight against drug trafficking

By Dánica Coto, Associated Press

It is the first major public agreement that the U.S. has struck with a Caribbean nation as it seeks friendly allies to support its attacks against alleged drug-smuggling boats in the region and beyond.

Continue reading

Nov 12

Watch 6:42
U.S. carrier in Caribbean amid Venezuela tensions and outcry over drug boat strikes

By Nick Schifrin, Kayan Taraporevala, Dan Sagalyn

A U.S. aircraft carrier reached the Caribbean as part of the Trump administration’s escalating pressure campaign on Venezuela and its broader effort to combat drug trafficking. In recent months, the U.S. has killed dozens of people, prompting an outcry across…

Continue watching

Oct 14

U.S. strikes another boat accused of carrying drugs near Venezuela, killing 6, Trump says

By Michelle L. Price, Associated Press

President Trump said Tuesday in a social media post six people aboard the vessel were killed and no U.S. forces were harmed.

Continue reading

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Full Episode
Thursday, Dec 25
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