Still from John Waters’ Multiple Maniacs.

Capitalism is presumably the first case of a blaming, rather than a repenting cult. … An enormous feeling of guilt, not itself knowing how to repent, grasps at the cult, not in order to repent for this guilt, but to make it universal, to hammer it into consciousness and finally and above all to include God himself in this guilt.

– Walter Benjamin, “Capitalism as Religion”

Kill 11 people riding in international waters on a dinghy with an outboard motor, broadcast the kill shot, gloat about it as if you’d sunk a Chinese battleship, then ask your minions to try to come up with a legal basis for the assassinations a couple of days later, if they could (they can’t)…

There is no legal justification for Trump’s military strike on an alleged “drug boat” off the coast of Venezuela. The boat, a simple speedboat, posed no threat to the US Navy vessels. The little boat could have easily been interdicted, searched for drugs and its occupants detained if any were found. No proof was offered that it was carrying drugs or was associated with the Tren de Aragua “narco-terrorist organization.” In any event, drug trafficking is not a capital offense, even when it’s been proven. Most countries would consider this an act of terrorism and mass murder under international law. Indeed, such a strike is also prohibited under US law.

The Trump Administration didn’t know where the boat was going or why 11 people would be taking up space on a small, open-air craft that was supposed to be packed with illicit drugs. Were they fisherman? Immigrants? Who could believe them? Rubio’s State Department has repeatedly lied about Venezuela and accused immigrants from the country of being Tren de Aragua gang members based solely on tattoos or the fact they’re wearing Air Jordans…

Marco Rubio on Tuesday: “These particular drugs were probably headed to Trinidad or some other country in the Caribbean.”

Trump later on Tuesday: “11 Tren de Aragua Narcoterrorists were transporting illegal narcotics, heading to the United States.”

On Wednesday, Rubio reversed himself to be in alignment with Trump, saying the boat was headed toward the US:

The President, under his authority as Commander-in-Chief, has a right under exigent circumstances to eliminate imminent threats to the United States, and that’s what he did yesterday in international waters, and that’s what he intends to do.

Can you pinpoint that “right,” Marco?

According to the New York Times, “Pentagon officials were still working Wednesday on what legal authority they would tell the public was used to back up the extraordinary strike in international waters.”

If, in fact, the boat was traveling to Trinidad as Rubio first alleged (which makes more sense than it traveling the Caribbean 1200 nautical miles to Miami), what possible reason could the US have for striking it? (There is no justification for murdering the crew/passengers.)

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth: “We knew exactly who was in that boat. We know exactly what they were doing, and we knew exactly who they represented.” So who were they, Pete?

Rep. Adam Smith, D-Washington:

The administration has not identified the authority under which this action was taken, raising the question of its legality and constitutionality. The questions this episode raises are even more concerning. Does this mean Trump thinks he can use the U.S. military anywhere drugs exist, are sold, or shipped? What is the risk of dragging the United States into yet another military conflict?

© CounterPunch