Trump Administration's Extrajudicial Killings and Domestic Militarization

Extrajudicial Killings in International Waters

• 🎯 The Trump administration has authorized at least four strikes against alleged narco-traffickers near Venezuela, resulting in at least 21 deaths.
• ⚠️ These actions are described as a significant and illegal departure from traditional US drug war policies, involving executions without evidence or due process.
• 🚢 The strikes target supposed drug boats, with the Pentagon refusing to disclose total numbers and details about those killed, who are often identified as impoverished fishermen.
• ⚖️ Experts and former government lawyers deem these extrajudicial killings as illegal and outright murder.

Legal Justifications and "Non-International Armed Conflict"

• 📜 A confidential notice to Congress claims the US is in a state of "non-international armed conflict" (NIAC) with designated terrorist organizations (DTOs).
• ❓ This legal framework is criticized as nonsensical, as the US is the sole armed belligerent and the targeted groups are not clearly defined or necessarily armed.
• 💥 Trump unilaterally determined that drug smuggling constitutes an "armed attack" against the US, labeling those killed as "unlawful combatants."

Domestic Militarization and Erosion of Civil Liberties

• 🚨 The administration is deploying federal troops and National Guard forces across US cities, including Portland, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Washington D.C., under various authorities.
• 🚫 These deployments are often justified by claims of insurrection or to support immigration enforcement, despite evidence of declining crime rates and legal challenges like violations of the Posse Comitatus Act.
• 👮‍♂️ There's a push to turn the National Guard into a national police force under presidential command, with increased use of 287g agreements to deputize local law enforcement for immigration detention.
• ⚖️ Federal officers have near-complete immunity, making it nearly impossible to sue them for rights violations, even in cases of wrongful imprisonment or framing.

The Legacy of the War on Drugs

• ⏪ The current actions echo the "war on drugs" initiated in the 1980s, which militarized police forces and led to excesses like unwarranted raids on communities.
• 🗣️ Trump has praised countries with the death penalty for drug offenses and leaders like Rodrigo Duterte, indicating a desire for similar lethal approaches domestically.
• 📉 The administration's rhetoric often relies on false claims to stir fear, particularly regarding immigration and crime, mirroring tactics used in past drug wars.

Future of Presidential Power and Civil Liberties

• 🏛️ The administration's actions, including secret wars, summary executions, and domestic troop deployments, are seen as pushing the US towards authoritarian rule.
• 📉 The erosion of international law and the rule of law by successive administrations has normalized targeted killings and weakened congressional authority.
• 💡 Experts suggest that creative legal strategies and public activism are needed to counter the destruction of civil liberties and re-establish norms, though a return to the previous state may require a significant reset.