US Military Killing Boat Strike Survivors: Graphic Video Reveals Devastating Reality
Lawmakers who viewed a disturbing video of US military personnel killing survivors of a boat strike have condemned the footage as "one of the most troubling scenes" they've ever seen. The recording, which was previously unseen by lawmakers, shows the second strike on the wreckage of a vessel, killing the remaining survivors.
The video, which has been described as "horrifying," contradicts a narrative that emerged in recent days that intercepted communications between the survivors and their supposed colleagues demonstrated those wounded individuals clinging to the wreckage were combatants. Instead, experts say that the military is attacking defenseless people who are unable to fight or pose an imminent threat.
"This is no longer just a debate about the law of war; it's a question of whether we're at war," said Rep. Jim Himes (D-CT), who saw the video and called for its release. "We have enough evidence to kill these people, but we don't have enough evidence to try them in a court of law."
The Pentagon argues that the military is targeting narco-terrorists, but experts say this is not true. "There's no such thing as a narco-terrorist," said Himes.
The video has sparked widespread outrage and condemnation from lawmakers and human rights experts. The Pentagon's Law of War Manual is clear on attacking defenseless people, stating that persons who have been rendered unconscious or otherwise incapacitated by wounds, sickness, or shipwreck are hors de combat (out of combat).
"This strike is a war crime," said Brian Finucane, a former State Department lawyer specializing in counterterrorism issues and the laws of war. "We need to know how this policy was formulated in the first instance."
The military has carried out 21 known attacks, destroying 22 boats in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean since September, killing at least 83 civilians. The most recent strike on a vessel was November 15.
As the debate over the law of war continues, lawmakers are calling for greater transparency and accountability from the Pentagon. "We need to be broader than just this one incident," said Himes. "We need to cover the entire maritime bombing campaign."
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Lawmakers who viewed a disturbing video of US military personnel killing survivors of a boat strike have condemned the footage as "one of the most troubling scenes" they've ever seen. The recording, which was previously unseen by lawmakers, shows the second strike on the wreckage of a vessel, killing the remaining survivors.
The video, which has been described as "horrifying," contradicts a narrative that emerged in recent days that intercepted communications between the survivors and their supposed colleagues demonstrated those wounded individuals clinging to the wreckage were combatants. Instead, experts say that the military is attacking defenseless people who are unable to fight or pose an imminent threat.
"This is no longer just a debate about the law of war; it's a question of whether we're at war," said Rep. Jim Himes (D-CT), who saw the video and called for its release. "We have enough evidence to kill these people, but we don't have enough evidence to try them in a court of law."
The Pentagon argues that the military is targeting narco-terrorists, but experts say this is not true. "There's no such thing as a narco-terrorist," said Himes.
The video has sparked widespread outrage and condemnation from lawmakers and human rights experts. The Pentagon's Law of War Manual is clear on attacking defenseless people, stating that persons who have been rendered unconscious or otherwise incapacitated by wounds, sickness, or shipwreck are hors de combat (out of combat).
"This strike is a war crime," said Brian Finucane, a former State Department lawyer specializing in counterterrorism issues and the laws of war. "We need to know how this policy was formulated in the first instance."
The military has carried out 21 known attacks, destroying 22 boats in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean since September, killing at least 83 civilians. The most recent strike on a vessel was November 15.
As the debate over the law of war continues, lawmakers are calling for greater transparency and accountability from the Pentagon. "We need to be broader than just this one incident," said Himes. "We need to cover the entire maritime bombing campaign."
The Intercept has long covered authoritarian governments, billionaire oligarchs, and backsliding democracies around the world. We understand the challenge we face in Trump and the vital importance of press freedom in defending democracy.
Join us by becoming a member today and help us continue to hold those in power accountable for their actions.
u can see the graphic vids r gettin more disturbing & ppl r losin faith in our military & gov... remember back in vietnam, u had americans killin innocent villagers & now it seems like we r repeatin that same cycle here in caribbean sea. what happened 2 all these "narco-terrorists" if they r not even combatants? just another example of how easily the line between war & civilian casualties gets blurred...
. newsflash: there's no such thing as narco-terrorists 
... and what really gets me is that we're still debating whether these people are " combatants" or not, like, what even does that mean anymore? 
it seems like we've lost sight of what war is supposed to be about - protecting people, not just winning battles 
...
. It's not just the law of war, it's basic human rights being trampled on. We need to get our lawmakers to actually do something about this, not just talk about it. This strike is a total war crime and we can't ignore it anymore 
.
it's about time we see some accountability in all of this, you know? 
that's the first step towards making things right, but I wish this had to happen...
We need to make sure we're holding those in power accountable for their actions. 
Can't just sit back and let this happen without speaking out...
like wut r we even doin here? 
i mean, i no ur supposed 2 protect ur country n all but come on... attack defenseless ppl? 
This is what happens when you're more concerned with 'winning' a war than with human lives 
They're just trying to whitewash their own guilt by saying narco-terrorists are a thing... yeah right 
. We need more transparency from the Pentagon, stat! Transparency and accountability are key here. This isn't just about one incident, it's a pattern of behavior that needs to be stopped 
... they had no idea what was going on. It's time for change and someone needs to hold the Pentagon accountable for their actions 
.
. We should be calling out the military for their actions, not giving them a free pass 
. Transparency and accountability are essential here 
.
. The whole "out of combat" thing from the Law of War Manual doesn't hold water if you're attacking people who can't fight back, right? It's just not right 
. It's not about the law of war or whether they're combatants or not - it's about basic human decency and respect for life 
, and I'm so sick of these politicians trying to spin this as some kind of acceptable situation 
.