The Breakdown 29

• The U.S. military's aggressive campaign against alleged drug-trafficking boats in the eastern Pacific and Caribbean has resulted in over 60 deaths, igniting controversy and concern over the operations' legality and morality.
• Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has been a prominent figure in announcing these lethal strikes, which many see as a definitive action in a crackdown against drug smuggling.
• Bipartisan criticism has erupted over the exclusion of congressional Democrats from briefings on the strikes, highlighting significant transparency issues within the Trump administration.
• Ethical dilemmas loom large as Pentagon officials admitted they do not always positively identify targets before launching strikes, prompting accusations of extrajudicial killings from lawmakers.
• Amid these military operations, questions arise about the efficacy and selectivity of U.S. actions, especially as illegal shipments of Venezuelan oil continue unhindered through the same waters.
• The campaign reflects a troubling shift in U.S. policy towards intensified military engagement, raising alarms about the implications for both international relations and domestic accountability.