When Hegseth and Trump use phrases like “no survivors,” the danger isn’t just to those on the receiving end of a strike, but to the country giving the order. Democracies don’t die suddenly; but erode as leaders drag them across lines once unthinkable. Calling fishermen “narco terrorists” or “enemy combatants” doesn’t change that deliberate killing of the wounded or helpless is a point of no return.
If it becomes normal, the rule of law is over, accountability irrelevant, violence is just political branding. How we treat detained combatants and *unprivileged belligerents* matters. We’re not in a declared state of War or Armed Conflict, so the presumption’s that UBs are civilians, not armed combatants.
‘The U.S. Military has a system of strict regulations for when deadly force is legal. With that in mind, I say with a high degree of confidence the October strike that led to temporary detainment and repatriation of 2 survivors did not followed rules for handling UBs. There will be serious legal ramifications…
