Let the public see the reality of these strikes
San Francisco: A recent U.S. Navy operation in international waters of the Caribbean involving the execution of two alleged drug smugglers has sparked significant concern. On September 2, a second attack on a speedboat, ordered by Adm. Frank Bradley, resulted in these fatalities following an earlier strike that claimed nine lives. The distressing footage depicts two individuals desperately clinging to the remains of their shattered vessel before being targeted again, raising eyebrows across the political spectrum.
Observers of the video are largely united in their interpretation that the individuals appeared shirtless, unarmed, and without communication tools, rendering them defenseless. Senator Chris Coons remarked that it is “hard to watch this series of videos and not be troubled by it.” There is a call for the video’s public release to provide transparency. Though they might have been smugglers, there is uncertainty about the boat’s occupants, which could have included children or migrants headed elsewhere. With all evidence obliterated, these questions remain unanswered.
The incident raises serious concerns about potential war crimes and extrajudicial killings, questioning the U.S. military’s decision-making process. The lack of due process for those on board contradicts constitutional principles and international law, which do not sanction lethal force in drug trafficking cases. The United States Law of War Manual explicitly forbids attacks on incapacitated or shipwrecked persons. This attack’s nature forces a troubling contemplation of its implications, potentially pointing to serious legal violations. Bruce Farrell Rosen
Bad policing = bad case
Manhattan: The case of Luigi Mangione highlights significant legal issues, with evidence against him compromised by egregious violations of his Fourth Amendment rights by the Altoona Keystone Kops. Judge Gregory Carro faces a difficult decision, as adherence to legal standards could lead to dismissing the case due to unlawful search and seizure. Regardless of personal opinions on the matter, the potential precedent is clear: if it can happen to Mangione, it could happen to anyone. A decision favoring Mangione should also impact the federal case, reinforcing the necessity of warrants and Miranda rights in such situations. Daniel Jean Lipsman
Poised for desperation
Wallkill, N.Y.: The Senate’s recent decision to cut health care funding poses a significant risk to millions of Americans. There is an urgent need for transparency and solutions to ensure health care remains affordable now and in the future. I express my concern for fellow Americans who may be adversely affected, as the inability to afford necessary health care would be devastating. Nadia Tahboub
Edge of disaster
Bronx: The looming cancellation of Affordable Care Act subsidies threatens to bring severe health and financial challenges to families. It’s crucial for Congress to defend the interests of those who elected them, rather than yielding to President Trump’s policies that prioritize corporate profits over public welfare. Such decisions risk playing with people’s lives in a reckless manner. Sharon McDonnell
Petty payback
Kew Gardens: Is it possible that our Congress refuses to extend the ACA credits for many American families due to the petty reason that that insurance option was initiated by Barack Obama? Sadly, the Republicans have had more than 10 years to develop a better insurance plan for the American people but have no viable replacement yet. Because of this pettiness, constituents who relied on the ACA credits will be swamped by exorbitant insurance premiums. As American working families struggle to pay their health insurance premiums, they should remember the events that destroyed their household budgets. Glenn Hayes
State alternative
Fresh Meadows: Affordable health insurance is fast becoming a memory for most people with the drastic rise in rates if the subsidies in the Affordable Care Act (aka Obamacare) are not renewed. However, for people who live or work in New York State, there is a solution: The New York Health Act. The NYHA would provide complete health care, including dental, optical and long-term care, all at a modest cost — no payments or copays when receiving care. It completely eliminates the need for private insurance and is financed by employer contributions, federal funds derived from Medicare and Medicaid, and a progressive tax based on the ability to pay. For most New Yorkers, costs would go down rather than up. The Rand Corp. and others have declared the plan fiscally sound. We need the state Legislature and Gov. Hochul to get on board and make living or working in New York truly affordable! Robert Cowen
Unanswered questions
Manhattan: I often watched “What’s My Line” when it was on television. Dorothy Kilgallen, panelist and journalist, had once lived in a townhouse on 45 E. 68th St. in New York City. During 1965, she was investigating the JFK assassination. Author Mark Shaw wrote a book about this called “The Reporter Who Knew Too Much.” On Saturday, Nov. 8, the 60th anniversary of her death, a ceremony was held. The co-name change on her street would be “Dorothy Kilgallen Way: That mysterious death still a mystery today.” Alan Lehrer
Otherwise decent?
Midland Park, N.J.: To Voicer Susan Cassano: I’m wondering if you will continue to read “The Argyle Sweater” or not. I respect your opinion regarding the Dec. 6 strip, but it otherwise puts a smile on my face. Yours too, maybe? Anthony Merlino
Industry propaganda
Kingston, N.Y.: “Hochul must veto the 100-foot rule bill” (op-ed, Dec. 11) is written by the executive director of an astroturfing fossil-fuel front group that calls itself New Yorkers for Affordable Energy and is funded by the American Petroleum Institute and other nefarious oil and gas interests. This group has a years-long history of public disinformation campaigns in the service of the fossil-fuel industry. The op-ed is part of one such campaign against a bill that will prevent utilities like National Grid from increasing gas rates to pay for the cost of acquiring new gas customers. These utilities tack on all or most of the cost of a new customer’s gas hookup to other customers’ bills, adding hundreds of millions of dollars to New Yorkers’ heating costs. The 100-foot rule bill ends this egregious practice and has the gas monopolies worried. Anshul Gupta, policy and research director, New Yorkers for Clean Power
Makes quick work
Brooklyn: I recommend buying a vegetable chopper to make it easy to make salads and cut fruits and vegetables. It is one of the best ways to become healthier and thinner. It costs less than $30 and is a great gift for friends and family. It makes it much more enjoyable to eat fruits and vegetables. Shlomo Klein
Checkered past
Lake Ariel, Pa.: The new socialist mayor put on his transition panel former armed robber Mysonne Linen. Of course, Linen was falsely accused of both crimes — we’ve heard that a million times before. Who else would you hire to help lead your new public safety and criminal justice team. But a criminal and everybody thinks he is stupid. And to round off the team, he’s taken an anti-cop advocate, a far-left activist who calls for defunding the police, and to top it off, an antisemite. This time next year, NYC, the once-greatest city in the world, will be battling Damascus, Syria, for the garbage-dump top spot. To the people of NYC, you reap what you sow. Joseph Beyhl
Shoulda known
Flushing: Are Mets fans really surprised that Edwin Diaz left? We’ve had a new owner for a few years, then comes David Stearns, who I think is overrated. And what do we get? Same old show! Come on, Steve Cohen, you can do better and should demand better! Joseph Gross
