Rep. Van Orden Questions Admiral on Lethal Force Against 'Narcoterrorists' and Chinese Threats

Precedent for Military Action

• 🇺🇸 The US has a history of using military force to secure strategic waterways, citing the Suez Canal in 1956 and the Panama Canal in 1989.
• 🎯 These actions were taken in the best interests of the United States or its allies and should not be controversial.

Authority to Engage Threats

• ❓ Congressman Van Orden questioned whether the Department of Defense has given generals the authority to shoot down unidentified aerial systems (UAS) near sensitive military bases or U.S. airspace.
• 🚫 The response was that the specific question about immediate authority was taken for the record, highlighting a potential procurement system issue that has persisted for two years.
• 🗣️ The Congressman stressed the need for authorities to be pushed down to the general and then to the personnel on the base, rather than requiring higher-level calls.

Chinese Threats and Misinformation

• 🎈 Van Orden pointed out the lack of connection between Chinese balloons/UAS and the number of times China was mentioned in testimony, suggesting a lack of transparency.
• 🤥 He accused the Biden administration of lying about their ability to penetrate U.S. airspace, stating that proximity is key and that planes with jamming capabilities are not always present.
• 🇨🇳 The Congressman also noted that precursor chemicals for illicit substances originate from China, implying a connection to narcoterrorism.

Interdiction Capabilities and Lethal Force

• 📉 Admiral Hally stated that the U.S. can only interdict an estimated 10% of illicit materials entering the country, leaving 90% to pass through.
• ☠️ Van Orden questioned why lethal force isn't used against 'narcoterrorists' responsible for hundreds of thousands of American deaths, comparing it to WWII casualties.
• 🚢 He further inquired if sinking Chinese ships bringing illicit substances into the Western Hemisphere would reduce the flow and save American lives.
• 💥 The Admiral responded that aggressively stopping these activities would likely reduce the amount of poison entering the country.