JD Vance Gives the Best Reason Ever Why Military Strikes Against Drug Runners Are Legitimate

Vice President JD Vance waded into the faux controversy surrounding President Trump's decision to destroy a drug shipment using military force. President Trump announced Tuesday that the U.S. military had carried out a strike on a Tren de Aragua-operated boat in international waters. This is a marked shift from the old method of having Coast Guard sailors board suspected drug runners with the backing of U.S. Navy firepower. This decision was developed after the Trump administration declared TdA a foreign terrorist organization on par with al Qaeda or ISIS. Since then, a lot of people wedded to what I believe to be a fetish for "international law" and "norms" have claimed that Trump is guilty of murder.

Trump's Attack on Drug Cartel Is 'Illegal' and 'Murder' According to Very Smart People – RedState

The debate still rages, but it is a one-sided debate with no one—except the drug cartels— paying attention to what the pro-drug smuggling side is saying.

Two U.S. government officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said that Hegseth’s justification – which one called “completely unserious” – took shape after the attack.
Experts said Hegseth’s rationale was flimsy, if not farcical. “Tren de Aragua being designated as a foreign terrorist organization is a purely domestic law enforcement designation. It offers no authority for the military to use deadly force,” said Todd Huntley, who was an active-duty judge advocate for more than 23 years, serving as a legal advisor to Special Operations forces engaged in counterterrorism missions around the world. “Under international law, there’s no way this even gets close to being a legitimate use of force.”

And more really smart people are insisting that Trump can't do what he did because the right lawyers in the proper organization didn't approve.

Military JAG attorneys have the statutory authority and responsibility to provide independent legal advice without interference. Trump’s EO attempts to suggest otherwise. For the attack on the drug vessel, what was the controlling legal advice provided, and who wrote the legal opinion? What was the military advice provided on the legality of this operation, and was it dismissed by higher officials in the Department of Justice?

I love it when military lawyers cite their statutory right "to give independent legal advice to commanders" without considering that there is no statutory requirement that anyone give a flying rat's patootie about their advice.

It was into this hot mess that JD Vance waded fearlessly today.

Killing cartel members who poison our fellow citizens is the highest and best use of our military.
— JD Vance (@JDVance) September 6, 2025

I happen to agree. I've never understood why we let drug cartels run drugs in by ocean and stage drugs just across the border, and insist on treating it like a law enforcement issue rather than a national security threat.

He was challenged by, of all people, Brian Krassenstein. He's half of the Krassenstein twins, who are online pests, who had their home raided by the FBI and forfeited $450,000 in fraudulently obtained income.

Killing the citizens of another nation who are civilians without any due process is called a war crime.
— Brian Krassenstein (@krassenstein) September 6, 2025

Vance came back with the kill shot.

I don’t give a shit what you call it
— JD Vance (@JDVance) September 6, 2025

This probably should be the administration's response to all questions about whacking drug runners.

You can almost hear Krassenstein whimpering in impotent rage as he attempted a comeback.

Killing 11 people in this way could be classified as an extrajudicial killing under international human rights law, potentially exposing U.S. officials to responsibility.

Good luck in 2029. Any idea what the penalty for such a crime would be?
— Brian Krassenstein (@krassenstein) September 6, 2025

"Exposing U.S. officials to responsibility" from whom?

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