The Ayn Rand Institute Podcast How Drug Boats Could Be Used to Rationalize an Unjust War with Venezuela
Dec 11, 2025
Ben Bayer, a policy analyst from the Ayn Rand Institute, dives into the controversial U.S. strikes on drug boats linked to Venezuela. He questions the legitimacy of claims labeling the Venezuelan military a threat and explores how drug prohibition fuels militarized responses. The discussion critiques the application of international law and warns against expanding presidential power in military actions. Bayer argues that any intervention in Venezuela lacks justification and could escalate into an unjust conflict.
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Contested Claims Of "No Quarter" And War Crimes
- The administration admitted orders to give "no quarter" to survivors of a drug-boat strike, prompting war-crime claims.
- Ben Bayer argues legal labels like "war crimes" depend on whether a genuine rule-governed war exists, which is contested here.
From Crime To Combat Via "Narco-Terrorism"
- Framing drug-smuggling as "narco-terrorism" converts a criminal issue into a military one.
- Ilan Giorno and Ben Bayer warn this shifts moral assessment from law enforcement to wartime justification.
Treaties Are Pragmatic, Not Absolute Laws
- International treaties like the Geneva Conventions can be pragmatic but are not metaphysical laws.
- Ben Bayer says nations may honor or reject them based on self-interest and sovereignty.
