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Tom Cotton's Drug Boat Theory Doesn't Add Up

2025-12-05 News & Politics
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The Bulwark
The Bulwark
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Congressional Reactions Conflict Over Caribbean Double Tap Strike Video

Discover the wildly divergent accounts from lawmakers after viewing the military strike video, contrasting claims of shipwrecked sailors versus active terrorists.

Short Summary

  • Legislators sharply disagreed on the legality and morality of the second strike after watching the same visual evidence.
  • Jim Himes described the killing as attacking shipwrecked sailors, calling it profoundly troubling.
  • Tom Cotton defended the action as righteous, claiming the victims were actively trying to save drug cargo.
  • The discussion reveals major uncertainty regarding the specifics of the rules of engagement followed.

This analysis explores the polarized, conflicting narratives emerging from Congress following a classified briefing on the military's "double tap" strike in the Caribbean. Pay attention to how Republicans and Democrats described the same video footage differently, highlighting serious questions about authorized force and post-attack protocols.

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Description

Tim Miller and JVL take on the wildly conflicting stories coming out of Congress after lawmakers watched the same “double tap” strike video. From Jim Himes’ alarm to Tom Cotton’s macho fantasy version. Become a Bulwark Youtube Plus Member here - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG4Hp1KbGw4e02N7FpPXDgQ/join

Top Comments (10)

@michaelm2335 2025-12-05

I've never seen a statement by Tom Cotten that didn't leave me feeling like I need a shower.

789 43 replies
@tss9886 2025-12-05

These boats are no where near the US nor do they have the fuel to get to the US. This is flat out murder.

787 52 replies
@kellybryan8117 2025-12-05

I'm so sickened by this. By what our country has done. By what our country has become.

503 34 replies
@davidtomlinson907 2025-12-05

According to the CDC 29,449 people died from a cocaine overdose in 2023. According to John Hopkins School of Public Health 46,728 people died from gun violence in 2023. These politicians are liars and hypocrites.

482 63 replies
@EugeneDaniels-u4m 2025-12-05

Drugs are now WMD's... Here we go again

288 12 replies
@Naptime2013 2025-12-05

2 guys were murdered… an admiral that did nothing wrong… no kill order… all these things can’t fit together

238 7 replies
@bearjoubert1689 2025-12-05

As an Honorably Discharged United States Coast Guard Veteran who spent 5.75 years on the high seas, almost 4 of those spent on drug interdiction patrols in the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, those are most likely not drug boats. Where are the E.P.I.C. and intelligence reports and the on-scene intel reports showing those to be drug boats. I was involved in approximately 250- 300 boardings resulting in 35 different busts. Not once did we ever have an order of No Quarter. We took the boats and crews into custody, fed them, tended to medical needs to the best of our ability and treated them with dignity and respect. This administration is not providing anything near the truth for any of it's actions and should be held accountable to the very top.

118 15 replies
@ChickOrEgg 2025-12-05

Today I'm out of words. They lie about what they had for breakfast. They're all immoral. Lie, cheat, steal, murder, repeat. 🤢🤬

81 3 replies
@wclovely 2025-12-05

The premise that anyone in that situation would try to salvage the cargo. Is totally insane.

40 2 replies
@blacksquirrel4008 2025-12-05

There is no “context” in which murder like this is lawful.

23

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