The Intelligence from The Economist Stars and strikes: was America’s ship-bomb illegal?
14 snips
Dec 3, 2025 
Shashank Joshi, Defence editor, navigates the contentious legality of US missile strikes in the Caribbean, raising questions about military ethics and survivor rules. Emily Steinmark, Science reporter, delves into the implications of CRISPR gene-editing with a focus on the ethical concerns surrounding embryo editing startups. Moeka Iida, East Asia reporter, sheds light on the struggle for women's inclusion in sumo, addressing cultural barriers and the male-dominated history of the sport. Together, they explore pressing issues at the intersection of law, science, and society.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Legal Risk Of Killing Shipwrecked Survivors
- The US strikes on Caribbean drug boats may have violated laws protecting survivors at sea and could amount to war crimes.
- Shashank Joshi says killing shipwrecked survivors is clearly illegal under the law of armed conflict.
The Controversial 'Double Tap' Strike
- The September 2nd strike involved an initial attack followed by subsequent strikes that killed survivors.
- That pattern resembles a "double tap" and has raised questions about intent and proportionality.
Congress Will Decide Accountability
- Congressional oversight will determine accountability, with Admiral Bradley called to testify to the Senate Armed Services Committee.
- Shashank Joshi says this probe could imperil Pete Hegseth's position depending on findings.