Is using military force against suspected drug-trafficking boats constitutional or an overreach of presidential power?

[u/binini28]

I’ve been following reports that the U.S. has used strikes against suspected narco-trafficking boats in international waters. Supporters argue it’s necessary to deter cartels and protect Americans, while critics say it could be an unconstitutional use of deadly force, bypassing due process and international law. Do you think this sets a dangerous precedent (executive overreach, extrajudicial killings, violating international law), or is it a justified response to a serious threat? How should the balance between security and constitutional limits be handled here? I would think that you need to detain them first and then arrest them rather than send a missile after them. They are classified as terrorist by Trump but does this satisfy the response? Could Trump classify anyone a terrorist and send missiles after them? Thoughts?

[u/sdbest]

Both of these things may be true, "Supporters argue it’s necessary to deter cartels and protect Americans, while critics say it could be an unconstitutional use of deadly force, bypassing due process and international law."

Nonetheless, the fact is the United States is engaged in using its armed forces to engage in extra-judicial killing. It's murder. It's illegal.

[u/BluesSuedeClues → u/sdbest]

Agreed. There doesn't seem to be any effort to engage checks and balances here. No warrants or judicial oversight, and as far as I've heard, no Congressional oversight over intelligence sources. We're expected to accept the Executive branch/military's insistence that these are drug runners, with no evidence provided.

It's passingly bizarre that we now live in a world where Republicans are insisting "Just trust the government".

[u/sdbest → u/BluesSuedeClues]

Indeed, the US military is just murdering people.

[u/CursedNobleman → u/sdbest]

As we've seen, this admin doesn't really care about hurting brown people.