Anderson Cooper 360 U.S. Conducts New Strike On Alleged Drug Boat, Killing Four
Dec 5, 2025
Adam Kinzinger, a former U.S. congressman and military veteran, shares insights on the legality of recent U.S. military strikes against drug boats, arguing they may violate maritime law and armed conflict norms. He highlights the troubling implications of attacking individuals in water. Journalist Gretchen Carlson discusses political ramifications surrounding the legal challenges faced by NY Attorney General Letitia James, exploring whether the accusations are politically motivated or truly based on law. Their compelling analyses bring urgency to these critical issues.
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Survivors Were Not Calling For Help
- Classified video showed two shipwrecked survivors clinging to wreckage after the initial strike, observed by lawmakers as moments from slipping under the waves.
- Admiral Frank Mitch Bradley told lawmakers the survivors did not appear to have radios and were in no position to call for help, undercutting earlier defense claims.
Public Defense Vs. Classified Briefing
- Senator Tom Cotton defended the strikes as lawful and necessary, saying he saw survivors trying to flip their boat and remain "in the fight."
- That public defense contrasts with Admiral Bradley's reported briefing that the survivors lacked communications to request backup.
Drug Interdiction vs. Armed Conflict
- Congressman Jake Auchincloss argued the strikes resembled law enforcement, not armed conflict, and said killing shipwrecked people is not legitimate interdiction.
- He called the strikes illegal under his interpretation and warned they won't stop drugs reaching the U.S.
