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

[Lesh]

I have been curious how a President can order the killing of US citizens with drone strikes.

The AUMF

And the determination that Al Awliki (an Al Queda member) posed an imminent threat

 

[OODA_Loop]

You folks always rely on lies at some point. Where in US law does the prez have the authority to unilaterally declare any person or group of people what amounts to a designation as enemy combatants justifying their murder?

​

THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON

September 4, 2025

Dear Mr. President:

I write to apprise you of military action taken on September 2, 2025, in the Caribbean Sea and of the potential for further such actions. Extraordinarily violent drug trafficking cartels that the United States has designated as terrorist organizations have wrought devastating consequences on American communities for decades, causing the deaths of tens of thousands of United States citizens each year and threatening our national security and foreign policy interests both at home and abroad. These organizations have evolved into complex structures with the financial means and paramilitary capabilities needed to operate with impunity, engaging in violence and terrorism that threaten the United States and destabilize other nations in our own Hemisphere. Friendly foreign nations have made significant efforts to combat these organizations, suffering significant losses of life due to organized violence at the hands of the groups designated as terrorist organizations, but these groups are now transnational and operate throughout the Western Hemisphere.In the face of the inability or unwillingness of some states in the region to address the continuing threat to United States persons and interests emanating from their territories, we have now reached a critical point where we must meet this threat to our citizens and our most vital national interests with United States military force in self-defense. Accordingly, at my direction, on September 2, 2025, United States forces struck a vessel at a location beyond the territorial seas of any nation that was assessed to be affiliated with a designated terrorist organization and to be engaged in illicit drug trafficking activities. It is not possible at this time to know the full scope and duration of military operations that will be necessary. United States forces remain postured to carry out further
military operations.

p. 2​

I am providing this report as part of my efforts to keep the Congress fully informed, consistent with the War Powers Resolution (Public Law 93-148). I directed these actions consistent with my responsibility to protect Americans and United States interests abroad and in furtherance of United States national security and foreign policy interests,pursuant to my constitutional authority as Commander in Chief and Chief Executive to conduct United States foreign relations.

I appreciate the support of the Congress in this action.

President Trump

 

[Lesh]

THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON

September 4, 2025

Dear Mr. President:

I write to apprise you of military action taken on September 2, 2025, in the Caribbean Sea and of the potential for further such actions. Extraordinarily violent drug trafficking cartels that the United States has designated as terrorist organizations have wrought devastating consequences on American communities for decades, causing the deaths of tens of thousands of United States citizens each year and threatening our national security and foreign policy interests both at home and abroad. These organizations have evolved into complex structures with the financial means and paramilitary capabilities needed to operate with impunity, engaging in violence and terrorism that threaten the United States and destabilize other nations in our own Hemisphere. Friendly foreign nations have made significant efforts to combat these organizations, suffering significant losses of life due to organized violence at the hands of the groups designated as terrorist organizations, but these groups are now transnational and operate throughout the Western Hemisphere.In the face of the inability or unwillingness of some states in the region to address the continuing threat to United States persons and interests emanating from their territories, we have now reached a critical point where we must meet this threat to our citizens and our most vital national interests with United States military force in self-defense. Accordingly, at my direction, on September 2, 2025, United States forces struck a vessel at a location beyond the territorial seas of any nation that was assessed to be affiliated with a designated terrorist organization and to be engaged in illicit drug trafficking activities. It is not possible at this time to know the full scope and duration of military operations that will be necessary. United States forces remain postured to carry out further
military operations.

p. 2​

I am providing this report as part of my efforts to keep the Congress fully informed, consistent with the War Powers Resolution (Public Law 93-148). I directed these actions consistent with my responsibility to protect Americans and United States interests abroad and in furtherance of United States national security and foreign policy interests,pursuant to my constitutional authority as Commander in Chief and Chief Executive to conduct United States foreign relations.

I appreciate the support of the Congress in this action.

President Trump

Trump sending a letter based on nothing , means nothing

He’s essentially saying that he can declare anyone anywhere a terrorist and then kill them.

Bu that reasoning drone strikes INSIDE the US on anyone would be legal

You on on that?

 

[OODA_Loop]

Trump sending a letter based on nothing , means nothing

He’s essentially saying that he can declare anyone anywhere a terrorist and then kill them.

Bu that reasoning drone strikes INSIDE the US on anyone would be legal

You on on that?

Posse Comitatus prevents that for domestic law enforcement.

 

[Lesh]

Posse Comitatus prevents that for domestic law enforcement.

And yet Trump is claiming that right

 

[OODA_Loop]

And yet Trump is doing that

He has drone struck someone in the US? Link ?

 

[Lesh]

He has drone struck someone in the US? Link ?

He’s claiming the right to do that stupid.

 

[OODA_Loop]

He’s claiming the right to do that stupid.

You changed your post........fraud

 

[Lesh]

You changed your post........fraud

I saw the error in my post and corrected it.

Respond to the correction

 

[OODA_Loop]

I saw the error in my post and corrected it.

Respond to the correction

He can indeed kill internationally declared terrorists engaged in terrorist activities within the CONUS

 

[Lesh]

He can indeed kill internationally declared terrorists engaged in terrorist activities within the CONUS

So he can drone drug dealers (or anyone he arbitrarily declares to be a terrorist) on US soil

I have a bit of a problem with that

 

[OODA_Loop]

So he can drone drug dealers (or anyone he arbitrarily declares to be a terrorist) on US soil

I have a bit of a problem with that

Internationally declared terrorists actively committing terrorist acts INCONUS? You betcha.

Drone would not likely be the method.

Taking Tryee the crack dealer out on a Chicago corner ? Posse Comitatus

 

[Lesh]

Internationally declared terrorists actively committing terrorist acts INCONUS? You betcha.

Drone would not likely be the method.

Taking Tryee the crack dealer out on a Chicago corner ? Posse Comitatus

Newsflash

Trump is not taking out “internationally declared terrorists”

 

[OODA_Loop]

Newsflash

Trump is not taking out “internationally declared terrorists”

Sure he is.........


The Department of State intends to designate Cartel de los Soles as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO), effective November 24, 2025. Based in Venezuela, the Cartel de los Soles is headed by Nicolás Maduro and other high-ranking individuals of the illegitimate Maduro regime who have corrupted Venezuela’s military, intelligence, legislature, and judiciary. Neither Maduro nor his cronies represent Venezuela’s legitimate government. Cartel de los Soles by and with other designated FTOs including Tren de Aragua and the Sinaloa Cartel are responsible for terrorist violence throughout our hemisphere as well as for trafficking drugs into the United States and Europe

Technical Difficulties

The Cartel de los Soles is now officially a U.S.-designated a terrorist organization​

The U.S. government's designation of the Venezuelan Cartel de los Soles as a foreign terrorist organization officially took effect Monday as part of President Trump's aggressive campaign to combat drug trafficking into the United States. The U.S. identifies Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro as the group's leader — and he says the claims of narcoterrorism are actually part of a bid by Mr. Trump to force him from power.

The Cartel de los Soles is now officially a U.S.-designated a terrorist organization, but is it a cartel?

The Trump administration has designated the Cartel de los Soles a terrorist organization, but some say the Venezuelan entity is "not a group" at all.

www.cbsnews.com

 

[struth]

So declaring anyone a terrorist allows our government to do whatever?

It depends on where they are and if they are a citizen or not

 

[Lesh]

It depends on where they are and if they are a citizen or not

Citizens can be declared terrorists

And Trump’s letter makes no distinction as to where

 

[midcan5]

Trump is a cowardly man, his imaginary strength comes from these acts that would be evil in a just world.

Tyranny of Greed: Table of Contents | Stanford University Press

1.A ParableWhy is Donald Trump such an enigma? Why is the political opposition so overwhelmed and divided? Trump is so many things to his opponents—a racist, a sexist, a xenophobic nationalist, an authoritarian, a traitor, and a con artist—that it is difficult to process his presidency. Adapting...

www.sup.org

 

[struth]

Citizens can be declared terrorists

And Trump’s letter makes no distinction as to where

Yes they can and according to the Obama admin white paper can be killed if the president or any high level govt offfical declares them a threat

What letter?

 

[berg80]

THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON

September 4, 2025

Dear Mr. President:

I write to apprise you of military action taken on September 2, 2025, in the Caribbean Sea and of the potential for further such actions. Extraordinarily violent drug trafficking cartels that the United States has designated as terrorist organizations have wrought devastating consequences on American communities for decades, causing the deaths of tens of thousands of United States citizens each year and threatening our national security and foreign policy interests both at home and abroad. These organizations have evolved into complex structures with the financial means and paramilitary capabilities needed to operate with impunity, engaging in violence and terrorism that threaten the United States and destabilize other nations in our own Hemisphere. Friendly foreign nations have made significant efforts to combat these organizations, suffering significant losses of life due to organized violence at the hands of the groups designated as terrorist organizations, but these groups are now transnational and operate throughout the Western Hemisphere.In the face of the inability or unwillingness of some states in the region to address the continuing threat to United States persons and interests emanating from their territories, we have now reached a critical point where we must meet this threat to our citizens and our most vital national interests with United States military force in self-defense. Accordingly, at my direction, on September 2, 2025, United States forces struck a vessel at a location beyond the territorial seas of any nation that was assessed to be affiliated with a designated terrorist organization and to be engaged in illicit drug trafficking activities. It is not possible at this time to know the full scope and duration of military operations that will be necessary. United States forces remain postured to carry out further
military operations.

p. 2​

I am providing this report as part of my efforts to keep the Congress fully informed, consistent with the War Powers Resolution (Public Law 93-148). I directed these actions consistent with my responsibility to protect Americans and United States interests abroad and in furtherance of United States national security and foreign policy interests,pursuant to my constitutional authority as Commander in Chief and Chief Executive to conduct United States foreign relations.

I appreciate the support of the Congress in this action.

President Trump

The War Powers Resolution says that a president who unilaterally deploys U.S. forces into hostilities “shall terminate” the operation after 60 days if Congress has not authorized it by then.

 

[OODA_Loop]

The War Powers Resolution says that a president who unilaterally deploys U.S. forces into hostilities “shall terminate” the operation after 60 days if Congress has not authorized it by then.

Terminate - restart - rinse - repeat. BOOM!