US Military Targets 'Narcoterrorists,' Forgets Due Process
When the US military strikes alleged 'narcoterrorist' vessels, apparently, the question of whether to render aid to 'survivors' is a novel one. This latest incident, per the Guardian, begs the obvious: how many such strikes occur without public scrutiny, given previous operations like 'Operation Martillo'? For years, the US has engaged in murky maritime interdictions, often with minimal public
accountability, while funneling billions into the wider 'War on Drugs' industrial complex. Weapons manufacturers consistently lobby for increased defense spending, and operations like these provide perfect justification. For example, Lockheed Martin (who received $43.9 billion in DoD contracts in 2023) benefits from the demand for vessels and surveillance tech used in such missions. One might
wonder if the anonymity of the official is designed to protect 'interrogation techniques' rather than sources. Is 'narcoterrorist' simply the latest handy label for anyone challenging US hegemony, similar to how 'insurgent' or 'terrorist' has been applied elsewhere? How many more 'suspected' vessels will feature 'survivors' before someone asks about the body count?