Bulwark Takes LIVE: Did Trump Just Order A Murder at Sea? | Bulwark on Sunday
Sep 7, 2025
Ryan Goodman, a professor of law at NYU and an expert in national security, joins Bill Kristol to dissect a controversial U.S. military strike on a drug vessel in the Caribbean. They tackle the legality and ethical dilemmas surrounding military actions, questioning the identities of those involved and the implications for U.S. military policy. The discussion highlights concerns over transparency, accountability, and the shifting focus of national security strategy under the Trump administration, which risks neglecting broader global threats.
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Three Critical Unknowns
- Goodman highlights three central unknowns: legal authority, who was onboard, and whether this signals escalation.
- Those unknowns shape whether this is an isolated policy choice or the start of a broader campaign.
Strike Appears Legally Unjustified
- Ryan Goodman says the strike appears patently illegal under international and U.S. law.
- He argues the killing likely constitutes murder absent a lawful armed-conflict or imminent-threat justification.
Boat Likely Carried Migrants
- Former officials and reporting suggest the boat more likely carried migrants than large drug loads.
- If true, many of the 11 killed may have been migrants, not drug traffickers, worsening legal and moral culpability.