ALWAGHT- Secret DOJ documents outline the rationale for lethal Caribbean boat strikes, at odds with Trump’s stated anti-narcotics policy.
The Trump administration has justified deadly missile strikes on drug-running boats in the Caribbean as an act of collective self-defense for regional allies. Officials claim drug cartels are engaged in armed conflict with partner nations’ security forces, funded by cocaine trafficking.
A classified Justice Department memo argues that targeting cocaine shipments makes any deaths either combatant losses or collateral damage, not unlawful killings. This legal reasoning directly contradicts Trump’s public explanation, which frames the strikes as a way to prevent overdose deaths.
The memo also asserts the US is effectively in an armed conflict with cartels, allowing military force under the law of war without congressional approval. It says US national interests—such as protecting allies and regional stability—justify the operations and future escalation.
Critics say the argument relies on unproven claims about cartel warfare and lacks evidence that any government requested such strikes. Former Justice Department officials noted OLC did not verify the intelligence and only ruled on whether attacking unflagged drug vessels would be legal.
