Thats a pretty blurry difference, some of these cartels are armed and operate like small military groups. The whole point was that we have found against small poorly armed militias many times and it cost is dearly. In the end sure we kill more of them than they kill of us but it is hard to say we achieved victory.
But the issue I am talking about isn't about going to war against a cartel. Drug enforcement is a whole different bucket than engaging in war. The Taliban sneaking a nuke into our country isn't the same thing as drug mules bringing in drugs to sell to Americans.
What I am in favor of is due process, not killing someone because we are pretty sure they have drugs on their boat. Cops can defend themselves with lethal force when they are being attacked, they can't shoot up a drug dealers car while he is on the way to deal drugs.
Why not try to intercept the boat? It is something we are very capable of doing. Then you not only don't have to take any lives but you can also interrogate them for information, work your way up to the big fish and take out a whole operation.
Can you post examples of these poorly armed militias you speak of that cost us dearly many times?
I know cops can't shoot drug dealers for just dealing drugs. You're the one that posted the what if example about them executing drug dealers.
U must not understand logistics. Drug boats purposely evade our ships. So often aircraft has a much quicker response. So to have our ships intercept is difficult.
Is there "due process" in international waters? If you think non-citzens who aren't on US soil can get "due process", then they also must be afforded their 2nd amendment right too. Cause you know, you cannot pick and choose which rights someone smuggling drugs by ocean get.
The US isn't part of the UN Conventions of the Law of the Sea. And you haven't learned that when Trump does things, he knows he will get the fake news and liberals on his case about it. So I will assume that he checked into the legality of it.
The US is finally sending a message to the cartels. I hope he authorizes more of this.