A video capturing a U.S. military operation on a suspected drug vessel in the Caribbean, resulting in the deaths of two survivors from an initial assault, has been deemed “unremarkable” by the Republican leader of the Senate Intelligence Committee. On Sunday, he expressed openness to the video’s public release, should the Pentagon choose to declassify it.
Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas, a supporter of President Donald Trump’s initiatives against alleged drug traffickers, partially aligns with both Trump and leading Democrats in advocating for the release of the video from the September 2nd incident. This attack was the first in a series of U.S. military actions targeting boats near Venezuela, accused of transporting illegal substances. These operations have reportedly resulted in 87 fatalities across 22 strikes.
However, Cotton stands apart from Democrats concerning the legality of a subsequent strike that targeted and killed the two surviving individuals. Briefed by the Navy admiral in charge of these operations, Cotton maintains that the military acted appropriately, despite all nine individuals aboard the vessel being killed.
Connecticut Representative Jim Himes, the leading Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, emphasized the importance of releasing the video to the public. He noted the stark partisan divide over the interpretation of the video, describing it as “profoundly shaking,” based on his extensive experience reviewing footage of lethal actions, often related to counterterrorism.
When questioned on Wednesday about the potential release of the follow-up strike video, President Trump indicated a willingness to make it public, stating, “I don’t know what they have, but whatever they have we’d certainly release. No problem.” Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, speaking in a Fox News interview at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, mentioned an ongoing review of the footage and emphasized the need for responsible decision-making regarding its release.
Cotton defended the military’s actions, asserting that the boat continued to pose a legitimate threat, and argued that the video’s release would substantiate the claim that the two survivors remained dangerous.
“It’s not gruesome. I didn’t find it distressing or disturbing,” he said, explaining why he does not have a problem with releasing all the footage. “It looks like any number of dozens of strikes we’ve seen on jeeps and pickup trucks in the Middle East over the years.” He added that “there’s nothing remarkable on that video, in my opinion.”
The classified sessions on Capitol Hill came after The Washington Post reported that Adm. Frank “Mitch” Bradley had ordered a follow-on attack that killed those survivors, to comply with Hegseth’s demands. Bradley told lawmakers there was no “kill them all” order from Hegseth, but a video of the entire series of attacks left some lawmakers with serious questions. Legal experts have said killing survivors of a strike at sea could be a violation of the laws of military warfare.
Rep. Adam Smith of Washington, the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, and Himes are among those who have seen the video and they disputed Cotton’s characterization.
“I have no doubt that these guys were involved in the running of drugs. … But in that instance, these guys were about to die,” Himes said.
Smith added: “It did not appear that these two survivors were in any position to continue the fight.”
Himes said lawmakers are aware of the partisan divide.
Some legal experts have disputed that the United States is in an official armed conflict with Venezuela, raising questions about the legalities of using American military personnel for what would amount to law enforcement activities that require due process. Other experts have said that, regardless of the terms of engagement, international law does not allow further attacks on defenseless survivors of a previous attack. Specifically, Pentagon protocols say that firing upon the shipwrecked is illegal.
There have been questions and criticism of the mission raised by lawmakers from both parties on Capitol Hill, with inquiries ongoing.
Bradley told lawmakers in a closed session that he ordered the second attack on the wreckage of a boat that was carrying cocaine because it was believed that bales of the drug were still in the hull of the boat.
Cotton said Sunday that two final victims were “not in a shipwrecked state” or “floating helplessly in the water” but instead were “sitting or standing on top of a capsized boat.” Because they were “not incapacitated,” he said, “that boat, its cargo … remained valid targets.”
Smith, who saw the same video, said, “The boat was clearly incapacitated. A tiny portion of it remained capsized, the bow of the boat. They had no communications device. Certainly, they were unarmed.”
Cotton was on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Smith was on ABC’s “This Week” and Himes appeared on CBS’ “Face the Nation.”
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