Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

struggle4progress

(124,338 posts)
9. Was fatal US strike on 'drug boat' legal?
Wed Sep 3, 2025, 11:10 PM
Wednesday

A strike carried out by US forces on a boat in the Caribbean Sea - which the White House says killed 11 drug traffickers - may have violated international human rights and maritime law, legal experts have told BBC Verify.

The US is not a signatory to United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, but the Department of Defense has previously said the US should “act in a manner consistent with its provisions”, external.

“Force can be used to stop a boat but generally this should be non-lethal measures,” said Luke Moffett of Queens University Belfast, and the use of aggressive tactics must be “reasonable and necessary in self-defence”.

Prof Moffett also says the use of force could amount to an “extrajudicial arbitrary killing” and “a fundamental violation of human rights” ...

https://www.bbc.com/news/live/c20700nnwz7t?post=asset%3A4063c747-a76e-4344-8c95-d7f9d29ca67e

Recommendations

2 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

Strike on boat from Venezuela struggle4progress Wednesday #1
Are we in a declared war with Venezuela? It was a crime: piracy, murder. assault ....... marble falls Wednesday #2
This doesn't look like a "hill to die on", with everything else that is going on... Jack Valentino Wednesday #3
A murky legal issue struggle4progress Wednesday #6
Was fatal US strike on 'drug boat' legal? struggle4progress Wednesday #9
This message was self-deleted by its author 1WorldHope Wednesday #10
What do you mean? 1WorldHope Wednesday #11
That's their plan. Spray so much shit around we can't possibly stop it all. BWdem4life Thursday #22
Looks like murder to me HoosierDebbie Wednesday #4
Gonna wage a war on Venezuela? UpInArms Wednesday #5
War crime? What war? That's just a crime crime. RockRaven Wednesday #7
Were there children in the boat? Bernardo de La Paz Wednesday #8
I think the American people...don't care. Melon Thursday #12
What you're saying is like, 'America' doesn't care about killing humans without evidence Justice matters. Thursday #21
It was already very clear that most Americans need to learn more about 'justice matters', Jack Valentino Friday #24
It is. But nobody is gonna do anything about it. LeftInTX Thursday #13
We need to be keeping track and documenting these war crimes. James48 Thursday #14
Wouldn't be his first war crime and B.See Thursday #15
I think it was extremely ill considered Warpy Thursday #16
We're way to glib about this. BadgerMom Thursday #17
"I know nothing about it" 2na fisherman Thursday #18
They're after their oil that they don't intend to pay for. rubbersole Thursday #19
Next stop, Greenland. C Moon Thursday #20
Yes, we have to take a convicts word for it that they were carrying drugs uponit7771 Thursday #23
Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Was boat attack a war cri...»Reply #9