this post was submitted on 29 Nov 2025
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More than 80 people killed in campaign that law-of-war experts have labeled extrajudicial murder

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reportedly gave a verbal order to leave no survivors behind as Donald Trump’s administration launched the first of more than a dozen attacks on alleged drug-running boats that have killed more than 80 people over the last three months.

On September 2, U.S. military personnel fired a missile striking a vessel in the Caribbean that carried 11 people accused of trafficking drugs into the United States.

When two survivors emerged from the wreckage, a Special Operations commander overseeing the attack ordered a second strike to comply with Hegseth’s instructions to “kill everybody,” according to The Washington Post, citing officials with direct knowledge of the operation.

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[–] Kolanaki@pawb.social 2 points 2 weeks ago

Jesus fucking Christ, the bastards went full movie trope.

"What do we do with the survivors, sir?"

"There were no survivors. Do you understand?"

[–] njm1314@lemmy.world 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

11 people? There were 11 people on the boat? There's no fucking way that was a drug smuggling boat. 11 people means at least nine people's worth of weight that can't be dedicated to drugs.

[–] answersplease77@lemmy.world 2 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

it was not proven those boats were ~~not~~ carrying drugs nor have fuel capacity to reach the US coasts. They most likely killed fisher boats:

https://factually.co/fact-checks/justice/evidence-vessels-venezuela-us-drug-trafficking-e51d01

[–] OsrsNeedsF2P@lemmy.ml 0 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

it was proven those boats were not carrying drugs

Was it? Because I can't find any reliable source corroborating that

[–] answersplease77@lemmy.world 0 points 2 weeks ago

the better description to say that it was not proven they were carrying drugs, and they were most likely fisher boats.

that's why they said legally they were proven not guilty of carrying drugs:

this website does good job providing sources to all claims:

https://factually.co/fact-checks/justice/evidence-vessels-venezuela-us-drug-trafficking-e51d01

[–] WizardofFrobozz@lemmy.ca 1 points 2 weeks ago

But Americans won’t take Hegseth out because that would just be so uncouth and WE WOULD BE NO BETTER THAN HIM.

Cowards.

[–] CleoCommunist@lemmy.ml 1 points 2 weeks ago

Usual america terrorist moment

[–] Rhoeri@lemmy.world 1 points 2 weeks ago

As I understand, not a single one of these boats were even remotely capable of making it to America to begin with. Not without refueling, which isn’t likely that we’re set up for it.

This was all a coordinated targeted mass murder right in front of our faces and they need to be tried and punished for every one.

[–] HailSeitan@lemmy.world 1 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

If anybody is still under the impression that someone somewhere in the chain of command might refuse illegal orders, this tells you everything you need to know

[–] Maggoty@lemmy.world -1 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

Unfortunately the US doesn't consider that one to be an illegal order. It is heartless, and unnecessary. But ever since the advent of airpower the US has maintained that planes, helicopters, and drones are not required to accept surrender because it is impractical to impossible in any given situation. So the standard is usually to keep firing. Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom had notable exceptions with mass surrender instructions dropped beforehand. And again, I know that's not reassuring. But this is why politics isn't supposed to be a team game. This is the level of power we are making decisions on. For other things that are completely legal but most people don't realize; heavy machineguns can absolutely be used to target individual soldiers; Flamethrowers are still 100 percent legal against military targets; You can be shot after your surrender is accepted, (I'll expand below); You will be shot if you do not or cannot actively surrender; and Nobody respects the rule against shooting medics and medevacs.

To expand on the most inflammatory one, the only time you are "safe" is while you are in custody. Modern combat operations move very fast and surrendering people are often left in place after their weapons are removed/destroyed. If they don't actively surrender again to follow on forces then they are legal targets because we haven't developed psychic powers yet. This especially matters with surrendered wounded who may not be in a condition to surrender again. Shooting bodies as you advance is legal and expected in a war. You just aren't allowed to personally go back and shoot someone again without them presenting a new threat. With that information in mind you should also know the US military and any professional military sends multiple waves across a battlefield. It is incredibly lethal, by design.

I say all this not to call you out but to highlight that war is a giant bag of dicks that most people outside the military are still naïve about.

The other pressing thing here is this is an order to fire on a declared enemy, outside our border. Meaning the president signed a sheet of paper declaring them to be the enemy, Congress hasn't thrown a flag, and they are beyond the jurisdiction of law enforcement. That is very clear cut to the military. If you change any one of those 3 parameters then things go to gray zone or illegal very quickly. Someone asked me some months ago while Trump was vomiting about Greenland if the military would obey that order versus an order to hunt down and kill Americans inside America. And the answer is Greenland would be fucked but those Americans are pretty safe from the military. They are not however safe from anonymous DOJ task forces and DHS.

[–] BarneyPiccolo@lemmy.today -1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

There's a big difference between this and shooting at unarmed American citizens who are legally exercising their 1st Amendment Rights.

[–] HailSeitan@lemmy.world 1 points 2 weeks ago

What’s the difference? Nationality? Skin color?

[–] victorz@lemmy.world 1 points 2 weeks ago

God you can just tell that he gets off on the feeling that he had the power to kill people. Gets him moist.

[–] vrek@programming.dev 0 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

If they didn't kill everyone, it's possible one of them would be able to prove there were no drugs and this is just racism...

[–] atzanteol@sh.itjust.works -1 points 2 weeks ago (5 children)

It probably was drugs - but that is not the point. It's wildly unethical and a violation of many rules of war to simply kill people like they are doing.

We don't summarily execute people at the president's say.

[–] radiofreebc@lemmy.world 2 points 2 weeks ago

Why would there be 11 people on the boat then? If it was drugs, they would want to maximize the space/weight for cargo...not people.

[–] bold_atlas@lemmy.world 1 points 2 weeks ago

It probably was drugs

Based on what do you say it was PROBABLY drugs?

[–] umbrella@lemmy.ml 1 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (2 children)

i doubt it was drugs. venezuela doesn't have an expressive drug trade and i don't remember the us offering any proof yet.

its just terrorism for an excuse to invade venezuela. more wmds.

and yes you do execute people without any due process when you go to war with a 3rd world country you want something from, thats pretty common.

[–] FooBarrington@lemmy.world -1 points 2 weeks ago

Ah yes, who could forget that the US is at war with Venezuela

[–] Jhex@lemmy.world 0 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

We don’t summarily execute people at the president’s say.

you actually do

[–] NoneOfUrBusiness@fedia.io -1 points 2 weeks ago

We don't summarily execute people at the president's say.

Yeah... no.

[–] Sunflier@lemmy.world 0 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

It is literally a crime against humanity to declare no quarter be given.

Edit: US Code literally prescribes death for war crimes when that crime results in death: https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid%3AUSC-prelim-title18-section2441&num=0&edition=prelim

[–] Randomgal@lemmy.ca 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Too bad laws are only suggestions for the US government.

[–] Sunflier@lemmy.world 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

It's enough for the ICC to put out a warrant

[–] Randomgal@lemmy.ca 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

You mean the ICC that is not recognized by the US? Lmao

[–] Sunflier@lemmy.world 1 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

Doesn't mean they can't issue a warrant, which would mean he can't ever leave the US after he's done being president.

[–] Randomgal@lemmy.ca 1 points 2 weeks ago (3 children)

Bro the US literally has enshrined a law that authorizes them to 'legally' invade the Hague if any of them are tried or captired.

I wouldn't hold my breath. The ICC was always an extension of US imperialism.

[–] Sunflier@lemmy.world 1 points 2 weeks ago

Bro the US literally has enshrined a law that authorizes them to ‘legally’ invade the Hague if any of them are tried or captired.

I think it depends on whether or not the next administration turns them over.

[–] demonsword@lemmy.world 1 points 2 weeks ago

I seriously doubt the USA would invade a country in Europe. That would be the end of "the West" as it is currently recognized.

[–] Sunflier@lemmy.world 0 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

Bro the US literally has enshrined a law that authorizes them to ‘legally’ invade the Hague if any of them are tried or captired.

Going to need a citation to the statute. Not that I don't believe you, but I'd like to see where it is for a better understanding.

The ICC was always an extension of US imperialism.

X Doubt.

But, even if that were true, the ICC has carried forth good actualizations of justice.

[–] Randomgal@lemmy.ca 0 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)
[–] Sunflier@lemmy.world 1 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Whose boot was I licking?

[–] Randomgal@lemmy.ca 0 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Ah yes, I forgot how they captured Netanyahu.

[–] Sunflier@lemmy.world 1 points 2 weeks ago

Has he been anywhere that has extradition to that court?

[–] itisileclerk@lemmy.world -1 points 2 weeks ago

What is the difference between the US military, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), and Hamas? The US military is the most effective, the Israeli Defense Forces are less effective than the US military, but much more than Hamas, Hamas is the least effective. Okay, the Russian military is probably the least effective. Let me rephrase this. To someone, someone's hero is a terrorist. And vice versa. If a military force can kill without accountability, it is a terrorist organization, like Hamas or the IDF.