Is a retroactive, dubiously legal justification for extra legal killings a thing?

[berg80]

Trump ‘Determined’ the U.S. Is Now in a War With Drug Cartels, Congress Is Told​

President Trump has decided that the United States is engaged in a formal “armed conflict” with drug cartels his team has labeled terrorist organizations and that suspected smugglers for such groups are “unlawful combatants,” the administration said in a confidential notice to Congress this week.

The notice was sent to several congressional committees and obtained by The New York Times. It adds new detail to the administration’s thinly articulated legal rationale for why three U.S. military strikes the president ordered on boats in the Caribbean Sea last month, killing all 17 people aboard them, should be seen as lawful rather than murder.

Mr. Trump’s move to formally deem his campaign against drug cartels as an active armed conflict means he is cementing his claim to extraordinary wartime powers, legal specialists said. In an armed conflict, as defined by international law, a country can lawfully kill enemy fighters even when they pose no threat, detain them indefinitely without trials and prosecute them in military courts.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/02/us/politics/trump-drug-cartels-war.html?campaign_id=60&emc=edit_na_20251002&instance_id=163691&nl=breaking-news&regi_id=65145149&segment_id=207041&user_id=fecdfdffdaaa11107b72f0f4f6e429cc

Memo to Congress.........."Oh, by the way, those dead Venezuelans I ordered to be killed without any evidence that's been presented to you or anyone else, it's okay cuz I unilaterally decided it's okay. Pay no attention to this guy."

Geoffrey S. Corn, a retired judge advocate general lawyer who was formerly the Army’s senior adviser for law-of-war issues, said drug cartels were not engaged in “hostilities” — the standard for when there is an armed conflict for legal purposes — against the United States because selling a dangerous product is different from an armed attack.

Any active JAG or IG of a similar opinion will just be fired so no worries.

 

[ThisIsMe]

Trump ‘Determined’ the U.S. Is Now in a War With Drug Cartels, Congress Is Told​

President Trump has decided that the United States is engaged in a formal “armed conflict” with drug cartels his team has labeled terrorist organizations and that suspected smugglers for such groups are “unlawful combatants,” the administration said in a confidential notice to Congress this week.

The notice was sent to several congressional committees and obtained by The New York Times. It adds new detail to the administration’s thinly articulated legal rationale for why three U.S. military strikes the president ordered on boats in the Caribbean Sea last month, killing all 17 people aboard them, should be seen as lawful rather than murder.

Mr. Trump’s move to formally deem his campaign against drug cartels as an active armed conflict means he is cementing his claim to extraordinary wartime powers, legal specialists said. In an armed conflict, as defined by international law, a country can lawfully kill enemy fighters even when they pose no threat, detain them indefinitely without trials and prosecute them in military courts.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/02/us/politics/trump-drug-cartels-war.html?campaign_id=60&emc=edit_na_20251002&instance_id=163691&nl=breaking-news&regi_id=65145149&segment_id=207041&user_id=fecdfdffdaaa11107b72f0f4f6e429cc

Memo to Congress.........."Oh, by the way, those dead Venezuelans I ordered to be killed without any evidence that's been presented to you or anyone else, it's okay cuz I unilaterally decided it's okay. Pay no attention to this guy."

Geoffrey S. Corn, a retired judge advocate general lawyer who was formerly the Army’s senior adviser for law-of-war issues, said drug cartels were not engaged in “hostilities” — the standard for when there is an armed conflict for legal purposes — against the United States because selling a dangerous product is different from an armed attack.

Any active JAG or IG of a similar opinion will just be fired so no worries.

Have we not been at war with drugs for decades? Would that not include those who bring them into the country?

 

[berg80]

Have we not been at war with drugs for decades? Would that not include those who bring them into the country?

Saying there's a "war on drugs" is not the same as a real war justifying the killing of smugglers.

Geoffrey S. Corn, a retired judge advocate general lawyer who was formerly the Army’s senior adviser for law-of-war issues, said drug cartels were not engaged in “hostilities” — the standard for when there is an armed conflict for legal purposes — against the United States because selling a dangerous product is different from an armed attack.

 

[whitehall]

The left never complained when Hussein Obama ordered the execution by drone of an American citizen Anwar Awlaki , an Islamic cleric born in New Mexico, and his son in Yemen bout 15 years ago

 

[ThisIsMe]

Saying there's a "war on drugs" is not the same as a real war justifying the killing of smugglers.

Geoffrey S. Corn, a retired judge advocate general lawyer who was formerly the Army’s senior adviser for law-of-war issues, said drug cartels were not engaged in “hostilities” — the standard for when there is an armed conflict for legal purposes — against the United States because selling a dangerous product is different from an armed attack.

What is the most effective path to combat the flow of drugs into the US?

 

[Muhammed]

​

Geoffrey S. Corn, a retired judge advocate general lawyer who was formerly the Army’s senior adviser for law-of-war issues, said drug cartels were not engaged in “hostilities” — the standard for when there is an armed conflict for legal purposes — against the United States because selling a dangerous product is different from an armed attack.

Any active JAG or IG of a similar opinion will just be fired so no worries.

...As they should be due to gross incompetence because it is based on the false premise that drug dealers cannot engage in hostilities.

Just go to websites like watchpeopledie .tv or GoreDB .com if you want to see the very graphic uncensored pictures and videos of drug cartels engaging in hostilities. There's a lot of that. Gore websites love the drug cartels.

Drug cartels are the most violent, hostile and just plain sick motherfuckers on the planet. You don't even see the Muzzies or the Russians doing that kind of sick perverted sadistic torture, rape, murder and cannibalism.

 

[g5000]

Have we not been at war with drugs for decades? Would that not include those who bring them into the country?

There's been a war on poverty for decades, too. That's why Trump and the Republicans are trying to kill poor people.

 

[g5000]

What is the most effective path to combat the flow of drugs into the US?

Well, executing the Big Pharma executives who created the opioid epidemic would have been a great start.

Not joking.

Why do people like Trump and Big Pharma criminals just get a fine instead of their just desserts?

If you are rich and steal two million dollars from cancer kids and other worthy causes, you pay a fine. If you are poor and throw a sandwich at an ICE agent, they send 20 cowardly goons in full battle gear to arrest you and take you to criminal court.

The cartels are entrepreneurs. American executives created the demand. The cartels are simply stepping into the vacuum.

I'm not saying they shouldn't be taken to court. They should.

And they should have to pay a fine like the Sacklers.

.

 

[ThisIsMe]

There's been a war on poverty for decades, too. That's why Trump and the Republicans are trying to kill poor people.

Really? Ok, ill bite...how are republicans trying to kill poor people..?

 

[berg80]

The left never complained when Hussein Obama ordered the execution by drone of an American citizen Anwar Awlaki , an Islamic cleric born in New Mexico, and his son in Yemen bout 15 years ago

Ineffectual whataboutism noted.

 

[berg80]

Really? Ok, ill bite...how are republicans trying to kill poor people..?

I don't know if I'd put it that way but I assume the reference is to taking healthcare away from people on Medicaid/care and ACA plans.

 

[g5000]

Really? Ok, ill bite...how are republicans trying to kill poor people..?

• Republicans have cut trillions of dollars of Medicaid and SNAP benefits.
• Opposition to a minimum wage hike. The last federal minimum wage hike was in 2009. It is now far behind the inflation rate of the last 16 years.
• The tax cuts for the rich are funded by cuts to low income benefits.
• The persistent propagation of the myth of a low income individual on welfare as dining on steak and champagne to justify cuts to welfare.

And so forth.

Many MAGAs survive on government aid. When that dries up, do you think they will blame Trump and the GOP?

Nope. They are too brainwashed. Too far gone.

.

 

[ThisIsMe]

Well, executing the Big Pharma executives who created the opioid epidemic would have been a great start.

Not joking.

Well, you all are 1 for one on that so...go ahead and poke that bear and get another lunatic ruled up enough to put a bullet in someone else.

So, most of the people who are addicted to drugs are addicted because of big pharmacy executives??

Why do people like Trump and Big Pharma criminals just get a fine instead of their just desserts?

because people from both sides like that money.

If you are rich and steal two million dollars from cancer kids and other worthy causes, you pay a fine. If you are poor and throw a sandwich at an ICE agent, they send 20 cowardly goons in full battle gear to arrest you and take you to criminal court.

Did the courts adjudicate that the fine was necessary punishment? I happen to agree the sandwich issue was overblown. He certainly should have been charged with bacon abuse though!

If that agent had been quicker, he could have caught that sandwich and said "thanks for lunch, *****!".

You're conflating two issues. The cancer charity issue is a court battle, you throw something at a law enforcement officer, youre probably going to get tackled. Food for thought..dont throw stuff at agents.

The cartels are entrepreneurs. American executives created the demand. The cartels are simply stepping into the vacuum.

I can't believe were arguing about how to curtail the drug epidemic in the US. So, you are saying American executives are to blame so, we should go after them as opposed to the drug cartels? Ok, let's flip that around, gun makers didnt create the murder culture, they just filled the vacuum, so why are we going after gun makers?

I'm not saying they shouldn't be taken to court. They should.

And they should have to pay a fine like the Sacklers.

.

You're going to take drug cartels from other countries to court? How are we going to get them here? Would they even care? Who's going to enforce the fine?

 

[Missouri_Mike]

I don't know if I'd put it that way but I assume the reference is to taking healthcare away from people on Medicaid/care and ACA plans.

Which people? The illegals?

 

[g5000]

Well, you all are 1 for one on that so...go ahead and poke that bear and get another lunatic ruled up enough to put a bullet in someone else.

I would not shed any tears if someone executed the Sacklers.

So, most of the people who are addicted to drugs are addicted because of big pharmacy executives??

Yes. Precisely. How do you not know this? Have your billionaire-owned propaganda outlets not filled you in on this fact?

.

Did the courts adjudicate that the fine was necessary punishment?

The cases were never referred to criminal court as they should have been.

Donald Trump had America's mayor (and former NY Southern District Attorney) watching his back. His crimes were repeatedly shunted to civil court rather than criminal court.

The Sacklers had high-dollar lawyers protecting them from appearing in a criminal docket.

I can't believe were arguing about how to curtail the drug epidemic in the US. So, you are saying American executives are to blame so, we should go after them as opposed to the drug cartels?

You know how the death penalty is called a deterrent by those in favor of it?

Yeah. If we executed those who are actually responsible for the opioid epidemic, that would send a powerful message to every other C-Suite scumbag contemplating profits over human lives and livelihoods.

Ok, let's flip that around, gun makers didnt create the murder culture, they just filled the vacuum, so why are we going after gun makers?

We are going after gun makers for the exact same reason we are going after Big Pharma. They both flooded America's streets with more of their products than there is a legitimate demand for.

They knew they were creating a bloodbath. All in the name of more profits. A billion dollars just doesn't go as far as it used to, doncha know.

You're going to take drug cartels from other countries to court?

We do it all the time! How are you this ignorant of the facts?!?

Hell, I had a very small part in bringing Carlos Lehder to justice.

How are we going to get them here? Would they even care? Who's going to enforce the fine?

Again, how are you this ignorant of the facts?

.

 

[ThisIsMe]

• Republicans have cut trillions of dollars of Medicaid and SNAP benefits.
• Opposition to a minimum wage hike. The last federal minimum wage hike was in 2009. It is now far behind the inflation rate of the last 16 years.
• The tax cuts for the rich are funded by cuts to low income benefits.
• The persistent propagation of the myth of a low income individual on welfare as dining on steak and champagne to justify cuts to welfare.

And so forth.

Many MAGAs survive on government aid. When that dries up, do you think they will blame Trump and the GOP?

Nope. They are too brainwashed. Too far gone.

.

Snap benefits have work requirements and they are offloading administrative costs to the states....well, not all, but more of it.

Minimum wage doubled in just over year (not officially, but nearly everyone is paying at least $15). Are we any better off for it?

You can find no shortage of people using snap who drive very nice cars, wearing very nice clothes, using the latest and greatest cell phones, and they buy food with snap and then pull out the cash for smokes and beer.

Im all for helping the less fortunate, but shouldn't that be done at the state level? I just think we have a way too big federal government

 

[CrusaderFrank]

What is the most effective path to combat the flow of drugs into the US?

legalize it

 

[ThisIsMe]

I would not shed any tears if someone executed the Sacklers.

So..just dispense with the justice system and go straight for wild west justice eh?

Yes. Precisely. How do you not know this? Have your billionaire-owned propaganda outlets not filled you in on this fact?

So..48 million drug addicts in the country and most of them as a result of Purdue?

I looked up "biggest cause of drug addiction in the US" on the google machine and big pharma deception want in the list.

Im not absolving their role in their deceptive practices, but it sounds like youre mostly referring to Purdue and oxycontin in the 90s. Let's be realistic about the drug epidemic.

.

The cases were never referred to criminal court as they should have been.

Donald Trump had America's mayor (and former NY Southern District Attorney) watching his back. His crimes were repeatedly shunted to civil court rather than criminal court.

The Sacklers had high-dollar lawyers protecting them from appearing in a criminal docket.



You know how the death penalty is called a deterrent by those in favor of it?

Yeah. If we executed those who are actually responsible for the opioid epidemic, that would send a powerful message to every other C-Suite scumbag contemplating profits over human lives and livelihoods.

Yeah and trump executed a boat of alleged drug smugglers and you all called him a terrorist. Yet you seem to favor shooting pharma CEOs in the head.

Go ahead and execute the sacklers, we will still have a problem of drugs coming into the country that needs to be dealt with. Even if you executed every big pharmacy CEO, you still have drug cartels pushing the stuff across the border.

We are going after gun makers for the exact same reason we are going after Big Pharma. They both flooded America's streets with more of their products than there is a legitimate demand for.

You just gave the cartels (suppliers) a pass and blamed the problem on executives...wouldnt the gun makers (suppliers) get the same pass?

They knew they were creating a bloodbath. All in the name of more profits. A billion dollars just doesn't go as far as it used to, doncha know.



We do it all the time! How are you this ignorant of the facts?!?

Hell, I had a very small part in bringing Carlos Lehder to justice.



Again, how are you this ignorant of the facts?

.

You think the Mexican government are going to arrest the cartel leaders and extradite them to the united states? If they could do that, why haven't they already done it?

 

[ThisIsMe]

legalize it

And you know they will never legalize hard narcotics, so, let's skip to the next step

 

[Muhammed]

What is the most effective path to combat the flow of drugs into the US?

Legalize it. That's the best way to combat the flow of illegal drugs.