A relentless look at the second strike, the lies that followed, and the pathetic political theater that proves this administration fears accountability more than any foreign enemy.
What would happen if there are survivors of the Caribbean missile bombings? What would happen if there are testimonies from survivors about the people in these boats? What would happen if survivors could report about the purpose of these boats on the water?
No one knows the answers to these probing questions But Hegseth doesn’t want those answers apparently Maybe chronic alcoholic Hegseth wants to remain clueless about these boats and their occupants that are being blown up because he doesn't want Congress or the American people to know that people are being murdered by the US military and the Dept of Defense
These murders of survivors are “war crimes” and the International Court of Justice which has indicted Israel’s Netanyahu for his genocidal actions in Gaza and have openly opined that there are serious concerns about these US military actions amounting to murder
they deliberately ordered to kill everyone for that reason. IF even one person was left alive, there would be someone to testify that they were not running drugs. If the boat was captured rather than blown to smithereens, there would either be drugs found or not found. If not found, it would refute Trump/Hegseth's carefully crafted story that they are stopping the flow of drugs. They do not want any trace of the boat or the men to ever be found.
You hit upon something I have been thinking about. We are blowing these boats up, without checking them out. It used to be the U.S. Coast Guard would hail a suspicious boat and order it to stop for inspection. If the boat was carrying illegal drugs, the boat was seized and the people taken into custody. Now the US navy is acting as the judge, jury and executioner. I have a fundamental problem with this idea. The U.S. navy is a bit like the vigilantes. This is not a very good thing in my opinion.
It’s a terrible thing. The coast guard said that 1 in 4 boats they stop are not drug runners. 25%. The navy has blown up 21 boats. 80 people. That means 5-6 boats or 20 innocent people.
You are 100% correct....there are no laws anymore that apply to the trump administration and the GOP Congress that supports that administration. The cruelty is certainly beyond anything I ever expected in America and I think it does not help us on the world stage. In fact I hope the ICC will find trump and others guilty of war crimes even though we are not a part of that body. Then other nations would not have to let him come to visit. I am sure the GOP will be proud to have a president who has been declared a war criminal...that may be better than a convicted sex offender/protector of pedophiles.
And this isn’t the frist second third time it’s the hundredth time he’s ( trump) has killed thousands of people and children because he is a narcissist sociopath!🤬
Can someone please tell me why the first strike was legal? These boats posed no threat to the US. They couldn't even make it to the US. Even if they were somehow able to make it to US shores, wouldn't the coast guard or navy intercept the boat and arrest the people on board instead of murdering them in cold blood? Kill first, ask questions later? We're supposed to be more civilized than that.
The U.S. Navy is supposed to used to defend the interests of the United States, but even in war, there are rules to follow. Right now the U.S. Navy is acting like the vigilantes of the old Wild West. Hogsbreath has the U.S. Navy acting as judge, jury and executioners. Sorry, but I do not find this action in Venezuela to be very honorable. I have feeling when the history of the navy during the the time of Hogsbreath and t/rump is written, it will not be viewed as something honorable. The actions the Navy is taking in Venezuela is a stain on the proud history of the U.S. Navy in my opinion.
It’s a fake war, “justified “ with convoluted BS reasoning so Trump can blow up people (“narcoterrorists” made up word) andforce regime change and get his hands on the oil and make himself lots of money selling it to his rich oil baron friends.
Good question...from what I have read, the first strike was not legal...we are not at war, and even if we were, there are rules of engagement which hegseth has said we don't need to follow. But the GOP Congress supports these actions, so there isn't much that can be done. I know some are saying there is going to be hearings/investigations, but I find it very unlikely anything will come of it no matter what they find.
I'm questioning Cohen for this from the article: "And accountability is exactly where the story turns. Admiral Bradley—whom Hegseth rushed onto X to crown “an American hero,” a “true professional,” and the recipient of his “100% support”—was unquestionably operating within his authority during that first strike."
I encourage you to spend a few minutes reading up on the American bombing of Laos during the Vietnam War which has left millions of tons of unexploded ordinance in that country that TO THIS DAY is still blowing up & maiming livestock, farmers & their children. You Americans aren't any worse than other nations, but you're certainly no better. We need to keep reminding people of this so that maybe, one day, we can ALL be better.
I'm pretty sure we're one of the worst, honestly. Our history is shameful, all the way from the beginning when we committed genocide against native Americans and when we brought slaves here and treated them worse than dirt. Vietnam and Laos are just more stains on our history. And yet, they brainwash us in school to think this is the best country in the world. It's sick!
I agree but it's not going to happen so we have to work really really hard to get around their actions somehow. IF/when the dems regain control of the House it should make a difference. Encouraging bright honest young people who are thinking about joining the military to not do it might help...at some point having an incompetent military who cannot repair the high tech planes/ships/radar etc will have an impact. I don't know how the legal profession fits in all this but supporting groups like the ACLU and CREW (Citizens for Responsible Ethics in Washington..I think they bring a lot of suits) might help (and somehow getting family members of the victims of the bombings to sue the Department of Defense or someone). We cannot just sit by and let this continue. Contacting our members of congress can help as can contacting mainstream media.
Also, Democracy Docket, Democracy Forward, Public Citizen, and DASS: Democratic Association of Secretaries of State are all activist litigant organizations protecting Democracy.
Great info!!! And I know these groups will win some cases and not all of them will go to the SC where they will be overturned. I just don't think the SC can hear that many cases. And those victories will help lots of folks at least for a while. And that is a good thing!!!
I agree with you, but tonight is dismal learning that Marc Elias and his Democracy Docket clients were struck down by the SCOTUS in the Texas gerrymandering case today. Alito wrote the majority opinion seeming to assent that California's passage of Prop 50 would stand a challenge on the same grounds as decided in the Texas ruling today. We shall see.
With trump, the cruelty is never accidental. He's a sadistic. It's part of his being a malignant narcissist. Former Cabinet members, including Mark Esper, have said they had to keep trump from shooting unarmed people countless times. It was, Esperanto has said, his most frequent order. Shoot unarmed people! Get rid of this crazy clown yesterday.
Trump is a sadist, but it comes from his sociopathy. He is also a malignant narcissist and will destroy the country if he that will give him complete control.
Another well done and well phrased post! You have a definite talent for putting things succinctly so anyone can understand. Now if only people will understand and things just don't get swept under the rug as usual.
You are 100% correct Michael. This was an illegal order given to Seal Team 6 from what I have read and if true they could be charged with murder....and drumpf and kegsbreath will not care
In the Second World War, there is not a single recorded incident, official or known, of a German Officer being shot or seriously punished for refusing to commit war crimes, even if ordered by a General Officer. The only difference between NAZI Germany and Trump's NAZI Administration is that the Germans made an attempt, though feeble, to cover-up their crimes and as Lewis Black might remark, "were better dressers."
"I was just following orders" was forever rejected at the Nürnburg Trials, although I'm sure Pam Bondi of the Stetson Law School cabal will try to spin it as such.
Another criminal enterprise...the so called Supreme Court. I wonder what it would look like if/when an international court starts proceedings against the rogue behavior of this Regime. I wonder, when this Regime will start threatening/blackmailing the world with Nukes.All these rich connected people/banks/enterprises getting together to own the world with no reciprocity, while they cover for each other and tell us that we have to listen to what a corrupt bunch of unelected judges tell us is the so called "law", when we know that they are pay for play actors with no honor whatsoever. I just can't see how all this is going to end well or what the next step is going to look like.
Pete said HE DIDN'T DO IT! Trumps go to, l don't know! HELL, Who is the POTUS AMERICA??MAGA-MESS will NOT be satisfied until Trump starts giving the DUI HIRE Pete Hegseth KILL them ALL order to the Republicans! NOW! the Republican GOP is BACKPEDDLING in their TOTAL BS!
Get Rid Of The Evidence: Kill Everybody
What would happen if there are survivors of the Caribbean missile bombings? What would happen if there are testimonies from survivors about the people in these boats? What would happen if survivors could report about the purpose of these boats on the water?
No one knows the answers to these probing questions But Hegseth doesn’t want those answers apparently Maybe chronic alcoholic Hegseth wants to remain clueless about these boats and their occupants that are being blown up because he doesn't want Congress or the American people to know that people are being murdered by the US military and the Dept of Defense
These murders of survivors are “war crimes” and the International Court of Justice which has indicted Israel’s Netanyahu for his genocidal actions in Gaza and have openly opined that there are serious concerns about these US military actions amounting to murder
they deliberately ordered to kill everyone for that reason. IF even one person was left alive, there would be someone to testify that they were not running drugs. If the boat was captured rather than blown to smithereens, there would either be drugs found or not found. If not found, it would refute Trump/Hegseth's carefully crafted story that they are stopping the flow of drugs. They do not want any trace of the boat or the men to ever be found.
You hit upon something I have been thinking about. We are blowing these boats up, without checking them out. It used to be the U.S. Coast Guard would hail a suspicious boat and order it to stop for inspection. If the boat was carrying illegal drugs, the boat was seized and the people taken into custody. Now the US navy is acting as the judge, jury and executioner. I have a fundamental problem with this idea. The U.S. navy is a bit like the vigilantes. This is not a very good thing in my opinion.
It’s a terrible thing. The coast guard said that 1 in 4 boats they stop are not drug runners. 25%. The navy has blown up 21 boats. 80 people. That means 5-6 boats or 20 innocent people.
You are 100% correct....there are no laws anymore that apply to the trump administration and the GOP Congress that supports that administration. The cruelty is certainly beyond anything I ever expected in America and I think it does not help us on the world stage. In fact I hope the ICC will find trump and others guilty of war crimes even though we are not a part of that body. Then other nations would not have to let him come to visit. I am sure the GOP will be proud to have a president who has been declared a war criminal...that may be better than a convicted sex offender/protector of pedophiles.
This was my first take on the double tap. And now we wonder how many orher atrocities are being committed as cover.
They are cold blooded mass murderers.
And this isn’t the frist second third time it’s the hundredth time he’s ( trump) has killed thousands of people and children because he is a narcissist sociopath!🤬
Definitely and drumpf and kegsbreath never lifted a finger...
A Few Good Men I guess.
There are currently NO GOOD MEN in the t/rump regime.
Maybe....
Two things happened this week:
Pete Hegseth joked about “killing them all” while the drone footage shows two unarmed men clinging to wreckage.
Trump threatened to take food stamps away from blue states that won’t hand over voter data.
Same party. Same week.
One guy memes about executing survivors, the other weaponizes hunger for political points.
This isn’t “draining the swamp.”
This is what drowning looks like when the people in charge decide some lives don’t matter.
Okay I agree it’s the millionth time trump and cabinets have murdered innocent people
Can someone please tell me why the first strike was legal? These boats posed no threat to the US. They couldn't even make it to the US. Even if they were somehow able to make it to US shores, wouldn't the coast guard or navy intercept the boat and arrest the people on board instead of murdering them in cold blood? Kill first, ask questions later? We're supposed to be more civilized than that.
Actually, I’m not convinced any of the strikes were legal, but Trump and Kegseth didn’t think anyone would call them on it.
Well, will ths be the horrid straw that finally breaks the camels' backs (Trump, Pete, et al.).
I can only hope.
The U.S. Navy is supposed to used to defend the interests of the United States, but even in war, there are rules to follow. Right now the U.S. Navy is acting like the vigilantes of the old Wild West. Hogsbreath has the U.S. Navy acting as judge, jury and executioners. Sorry, but I do not find this action in Venezuela to be very honorable. I have feeling when the history of the navy during the the time of Hogsbreath and t/rump is written, it will not be viewed as something honorable. The actions the Navy is taking in Venezuela is a stain on the proud history of the U.S. Navy in my opinion.
For sure there is no honor.
It’s a fake war, “justified “ with convoluted BS reasoning so Trump can blow up people (“narcoterrorists” made up word) andforce regime change and get his hands on the oil and make himself lots of money selling it to his rich oil baron friends.
There now you have it.
I don't think any of it was legal.
Good question...from what I have read, the first strike was not legal...we are not at war, and even if we were, there are rules of engagement which hegseth has said we don't need to follow. But the GOP Congress supports these actions, so there isn't much that can be done. I know some are saying there is going to be hearings/investigations, but I find it very unlikely anything will come of it no matter what they find.
The first strike wasn't legal, Francesca
I'm questioning Cohen for this from the article: "And accountability is exactly where the story turns. Admiral Bradley—whom Hegseth rushed onto X to crown “an American hero,” a “true professional,” and the recipient of his “100% support”—was unquestionably operating within his authority during that first strike."
Maybe I'm misunderstanding?
And you're quite right
I encourage you to spend a few minutes reading up on the American bombing of Laos during the Vietnam War which has left millions of tons of unexploded ordinance in that country that TO THIS DAY is still blowing up & maiming livestock, farmers & their children. You Americans aren't any worse than other nations, but you're certainly no better. We need to keep reminding people of this so that maybe, one day, we can ALL be better.
I'm pretty sure we're one of the worst, honestly. Our history is shameful, all the way from the beginning when we committed genocide against native Americans and when we brought slaves here and treated them worse than dirt. Vietnam and Laos are just more stains on our history. And yet, they brainwash us in school to think this is the best country in the world. It's sick!
The WHOLE cabinet of this regime NEEDS to be removed, abolished, & HELD accountable for ALL their crimes!!😝🤬😝🤬
Totally agree and the sooner the better
I agree but it's not going to happen so we have to work really really hard to get around their actions somehow. IF/when the dems regain control of the House it should make a difference. Encouraging bright honest young people who are thinking about joining the military to not do it might help...at some point having an incompetent military who cannot repair the high tech planes/ships/radar etc will have an impact. I don't know how the legal profession fits in all this but supporting groups like the ACLU and CREW (Citizens for Responsible Ethics in Washington..I think they bring a lot of suits) might help (and somehow getting family members of the victims of the bombings to sue the Department of Defense or someone). We cannot just sit by and let this continue. Contacting our members of congress can help as can contacting mainstream media.
Also, Democracy Docket, Democracy Forward, Public Citizen, and DASS: Democratic Association of Secretaries of State are all activist litigant organizations protecting Democracy.
Great info!!! And I know these groups will win some cases and not all of them will go to the SC where they will be overturned. I just don't think the SC can hear that many cases. And those victories will help lots of folks at least for a while. And that is a good thing!!!
I agree with you, but tonight is dismal learning that Marc Elias and his Democracy Docket clients were struck down by the SCOTUS in the Texas gerrymandering case today. Alito wrote the majority opinion seeming to assent that California's passage of Prop 50 would stand a challenge on the same grounds as decided in the Texas ruling today. We shall see.
With trump, the cruelty is never accidental. He's a sadistic. It's part of his being a malignant narcissist. Former Cabinet members, including Mark Esper, have said they had to keep trump from shooting unarmed people countless times. It was, Esperanto has said, his most frequent order. Shoot unarmed people! Get rid of this crazy clown yesterday.
Trump is a sadist, but it comes from his sociopathy. He is also a malignant narcissist and will destroy the country if he that will give him complete control.
Michael Cohen you are such a talented writer! I love reading your articles and look forward to them.
YES HE IS!
Put the monsters in prison!!
Death for all I care
Another well done and well phrased post! You have a definite talent for putting things succinctly so anyone can understand. Now if only people will understand and things just don't get swept under the rug as usual.
Still not quite qualified for that Nobel award he craves.
Brilliant writing as always Michael.
You are 100% correct Michael. This was an illegal order given to Seal Team 6 from what I have read and if true they could be charged with murder....and drumpf and kegsbreath will not care
South Africa should lay a complaint at the ICC for war crimes against the USA, as we did with Israel
I have always been horrified by the first strike on these boats. What's with the death penalty without due process??
In the Second World War, there is not a single recorded incident, official or known, of a German Officer being shot or seriously punished for refusing to commit war crimes, even if ordered by a General Officer. The only difference between NAZI Germany and Trump's NAZI Administration is that the Germans made an attempt, though feeble, to cover-up their crimes and as Lewis Black might remark, "were better dressers."
"I was just following orders" was forever rejected at the Nürnburg Trials, although I'm sure Pam Bondi of the Stetson Law School cabal will try to spin it as such.
The Supreme Court gave 45 permission for all of this
Might not hold if this is an international crime.
Another criminal enterprise...the so called Supreme Court. I wonder what it would look like if/when an international court starts proceedings against the rogue behavior of this Regime. I wonder, when this Regime will start threatening/blackmailing the world with Nukes.All these rich connected people/banks/enterprises getting together to own the world with no reciprocity, while they cover for each other and tell us that we have to listen to what a corrupt bunch of unelected judges tell us is the so called "law", when we know that they are pay for play actors with no honor whatsoever. I just can't see how all this is going to end well or what the next step is going to look like.
You bet they did so they are accountable too
Pete said HE DIDN'T DO IT! Trumps go to, l don't know! HELL, Who is the POTUS AMERICA??MAGA-MESS will NOT be satisfied until Trump starts giving the DUI HIRE Pete Hegseth KILL them ALL order to the Republicans! NOW! the Republican GOP is BACKPEDDLING in their TOTAL BS!
Well, some Repub's in the Senate are calling for an investigation. May this one actually happen.