Key Takeaways

• Idaho Sen. Jim Risch claims Caribbean strikes are fully legal.
• Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkley says only Congress can declare war.
• A Vietnam veteran argues these strikes lack legal basis.
• Video records and NDAs may tie personnel to unlawful actions.

Caribbean strikes under U.S. law

In a recent Senate hearing, Sen. Jim Risch insisted that the Caribbean strikes meet both U.S. and international law. He called them “kinetic action,” not war. However, Sen. Jeff Merkley pointed out that the Constitution gives only Congress power to declare war. Since these strikes have killed nearly 100 people since early September, the legal debate matters deeply.

Why senators disagree on Caribbean strikes

Risch argued that the Constitution does not cover emergency military moves like these strikes. Yet Merkley replied that violence is violence, whether it is called war or not. He said Congress never approved these specific operations. Therefore, he views these killings as unconstitutional.

A veteran’s view on Caribbean strikes

A former aerial observer in Vietnam spoke out against these Caribbean strikes. He flew low in a small plane carrying heavy artillery. Back then, his missions came from a Gulf of Tonkin resolution approved by Congress. Even so, he never fired on civilians. He followed strict rules to protect noncombatants.

He said he would never have ordered unmarked boats to be attacked. In Vietnam, free fire zones still banned civilian targets. Today’s Caribbean strikes lack any formal war declaration. They also fail to show clear enemy combatants. That, he said, makes them unlawful.

Accountability and video records in Caribbean strikes

Unlike in Vietnam, modern operations include video records. They also may require military staff to sign secrecy pacts. These non-disclosure agreements suggest some leaders knew these strikes might break the law. Moreover, a new Defense Department AI tool flagged a similar killing order as “unambiguously illegal.”

Thus, anyone who joins or approves these Caribbean strikes might face charges later. Even if the Supreme Court shields the president, other staff cannot claim total immunity. Video evidence and signed NDAs could be used in future trials.

What comes next for Caribbean strikes

Law experts predict growing calls for formal investigations. Citizens and lawmakers may demand answers on who planned and approved these strikes. As more details emerge, those involved could face civil or criminal reviews.

Meanwhile, calls grow to let the Coast Guard handle drug interdictions. Last year, that service seized more than 200 metric tons of cocaine. It shows that nonlethal options can work without firing on unarmed boats.

In short, the debate over Caribbean strikes raises basic questions about war powers and human rights. It also highlights the need for clear rules before ordering any deadly missions.

FAQs

What did Sen. Risch claim about Caribbean strikes?

He said these military actions are fully legal under U.S. and international law.

How did Sen. Merkley respond?

Merkley noted that only Congress can declare war under the Constitution.

Why does the Vietnam veteran oppose these strikes?

He followed strict rules to avoid civilian harm and sees no legal basis for these attacks.

Could military staff face legal trouble over the strikes?

Yes. Video records and NDAs might link them to unlawful orders later.