US Military Admits It Doesn't Know Who's on Board Drone Strikes, Pentagon Claims It Does
In a bizarre and concerning turn of events, the US military has admitted that it doesn't know who is on board drone strikes, but claims to have "absolutely" confirmed the identities of those killed in recent boat attacks. The Pentagon press secretary, Kingsley Wilson, made this statement during a pseudo-press briefing for mostly administration cheerleaders, which raised eyebrows among lawmakers and experts.
Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.), who serves on the House Armed Services Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, expressed her doubts about the Pentagon's claims, saying that if there is intelligence to "absolutely confirm" the identities of those killed in boat strikes, it should be presented to Congress.
The military has carried out 21 known attacks, destroying 22 boats in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean since September and killing at least 83 civilians. Critics say the strikes are illegal extrajudicial killings because the military is not permitted to deliberately target civilians - even suspected criminals - who do not pose an imminent threat of violence.
The lack of transparency surrounding these operations has raised concerns among lawmakers, experts in the laws of war, and members of Congress from both parties. The Pentagon's silence on this issue is seen as a disturbing departure from traditional practice in the long-running US war on drugs, where law enforcement agencies arrest suspected drug smugglers.
In a recent interview with The Intercept, Rep. Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.) said that Pentagon officials who briefed her admitted that the administration does not know the identities of all individuals killed in strikes. "They just need to show a connection to a DTO or affiliate," she added, using shorthand for designated terrorist organizations.
The military's failure to identify those on board drone strikes is a major concern, as it raises questions about accountability and the rule of law. The Pentagon's claims that it has "absolutely" confirmed the identities of those killed in boat attacks are seen as unconvincing by many experts.
In another development, Rep. Houlahan was one of six Democratic members of Congress who appeared in a video late last month reminding military personnel of their duty not to obey illegal orders. President Donald Trump called for the group to face arrest and trial or even execution, saying the video amounted to "SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR FROM TRAITORS."
The Pentagon press secretary's response to this call was scathing, with Kingsley Wilson calling out Houlahan and her fellow lawmakers as having urged members of their military to defy their chain of command. This exchange has fueled concerns about the Trump administration's disregard for due process and its attempts to silence critics.
As the situation continues to unfold, one thing is clear: the US military must be held accountable for its actions in these operations. The lack of transparency and accountability raises serious questions about the rule of law and the safety of American service members.
The Intercept will continue to follow this story and provide updates as more information becomes available.
In a bizarre and concerning turn of events, the US military has admitted that it doesn't know who is on board drone strikes, but claims to have "absolutely" confirmed the identities of those killed in recent boat attacks. The Pentagon press secretary, Kingsley Wilson, made this statement during a pseudo-press briefing for mostly administration cheerleaders, which raised eyebrows among lawmakers and experts.
Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.), who serves on the House Armed Services Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, expressed her doubts about the Pentagon's claims, saying that if there is intelligence to "absolutely confirm" the identities of those killed in boat strikes, it should be presented to Congress.
The military has carried out 21 known attacks, destroying 22 boats in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean since September and killing at least 83 civilians. Critics say the strikes are illegal extrajudicial killings because the military is not permitted to deliberately target civilians - even suspected criminals - who do not pose an imminent threat of violence.
The lack of transparency surrounding these operations has raised concerns among lawmakers, experts in the laws of war, and members of Congress from both parties. The Pentagon's silence on this issue is seen as a disturbing departure from traditional practice in the long-running US war on drugs, where law enforcement agencies arrest suspected drug smugglers.
In a recent interview with The Intercept, Rep. Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.) said that Pentagon officials who briefed her admitted that the administration does not know the identities of all individuals killed in strikes. "They just need to show a connection to a DTO or affiliate," she added, using shorthand for designated terrorist organizations.
The military's failure to identify those on board drone strikes is a major concern, as it raises questions about accountability and the rule of law. The Pentagon's claims that it has "absolutely" confirmed the identities of those killed in boat attacks are seen as unconvincing by many experts.
In another development, Rep. Houlahan was one of six Democratic members of Congress who appeared in a video late last month reminding military personnel of their duty not to obey illegal orders. President Donald Trump called for the group to face arrest and trial or even execution, saying the video amounted to "SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR FROM TRAITORS."
The Pentagon press secretary's response to this call was scathing, with Kingsley Wilson calling out Houlahan and her fellow lawmakers as having urged members of their military to defy their chain of command. This exchange has fueled concerns about the Trump administration's disregard for due process and its attempts to silence critics.
As the situation continues to unfold, one thing is clear: the US military must be held accountable for its actions in these operations. The lack of transparency and accountability raises serious questions about the rule of law and the safety of American service members.
The Intercept will continue to follow this story and provide updates as more information becomes available.
This is so messed up! If they can't even confirm who's on those drones, how can we trust them to tell us who's getting killed? It's just a huge lack of transparency and accountability. I mean, what's the point of having a military if you're not gonna follow some basic rules of engagement? 
They're basically saying "we know what's going on" when they're clearly saying it in code. I don't buy it.
And Rep. Houlahan's right, if they're saying they've got "absolutely" confirmed info, why isn't it being shared with Congress? It sounds like they're covering something up and that's not okay at all.
If we can't trust our government to do what's right, then how are we supposed to trust them to protect us? It's time for some real answers and accountability here! 
I'm low-key freaking out over this 
. Can we talk about how messed up it is that the US military can't even identify who's on board drone strikes? Like, isn't that just basic human rights or something? It's not like they're just shooting fish in a barrel anymore, there are actual people involved and they don't even know if those people are innocent or not. This whole thing just reeks of institutional denial and a lack of accountability. And let's be real, the fact that they can confirm the identities of those killed in boat attacks but can't do the same for drone strikes is basically a slap in the face to anyone who cares about transparency. 
. Like, the Pentagon's saying they have no idea who's on board these drones but are totally sure it was someone bad in other attacks... that doesn't add up to me at all 
. We need to know who's behind these strikes and why they're happening, especially when it comes to civilians getting hurt.
. We need more critical thinking and less fear-mongering around this issue. The US military needs to be held accountable, and we need more transparency so we can understand what's going on. This is a big deal, folks! 
But on a more serious note, this whole thing does raise some major red flags about accountability and transparency. I mean, if the Pentagon is claiming to have "absolutely" confirmed identities but can't even be bothered to share that with Congress, what's really going on here? 
The US military is having a major identity crisis 
. The numbers are wild - 21 drone strikes in the Caribbean and Pacific = 22 boats destroyed, 83 civilians killed 
. And what's with the "absolutely" confirmation thing? Sounds like a bunch of hooey to me 
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The number of civilian casualties in US drone strikes has increased by 300% since 2016 
(Source: Bureau of Investigative Journalism). 
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We need to know who's on those drones and why they're being targeted 
... i mean, i'm all for taking down bad people but not at the cost of our own moral compass 
. drone strikes are supposed to be a precision strike but if we don't even know who's on board, that's basically just random violence 
. and yeah, it's super suspicious that they can confirm identities but only in boat attacks not drone strikes 
we need to get some answers from the Pentagon ASAP 
...
It's like they're just making stuff up to sound good 
. And meanwhile, civilians are getting slaughtered left and right in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean 
. I mean, what's good about a military that can't even get its own story straight? 
It just makes me wanna scream 
. We need to know who's behind these attacks and why they're happening, not some made-up BS from the Pentagon 
I remember when we were in Afghanistan and the military was being pretty open with us about what they were doing. And don't even get me started on the lack of transparency about these boat attacks – it's just not right. 83 civilians killed already? That's a lot, man... 
The Pentagon needs to step up and explain what's going on with these drone strikes and boat attacks. We need answers, not just some vague claims from a press secretary. 
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. u gotta have transparency & rules w/ da rulez