US Military Admits to Undercounting Deaths in Boat Strike Campaign, Confirms Killings of Eleven Civilians
In a stunning update, the US military has admitted that it initially undercounted the number of deaths in its campaign against alleged drug smuggling boats. According to new figures provided exclusively to The Intercept, the updated death toll now stands at 123, with eleven civilians confirmed killed in boat strikes on December 30.
The initial report by SOUTHCOM had only mentioned three vessels being targeted and killing three people, but further information revealed that eight narco-terrorists jumped into the Pacific Ocean to avoid being attacked. The US military then sank their respective vessels, resulting in additional casualties.
Experts have long questioned the legality of these strikes, arguing that they amount to extrajudicial killings. William Baumgartner, a retired US Coast Guard rear admiral and former chief counsel of the service branch, described the destruction of boats carrying people who had already abandoned ship as "essentially the same as putting a gun to their head."
As the US military continues its campaign against alleged drug smuggling boats, concerns remain about the treatment of civilians caught in the crossfire. The Intercept will continue to provide updates and analysis on this developing story.
In related news, The Intercept has faced increasing challenges in covering authoritarian governments and dismantling democracies around the world. As a non-profit organization reliant on donations, we need your support to continue our critical reporting.
In a stunning update, the US military has admitted that it initially undercounted the number of deaths in its campaign against alleged drug smuggling boats. According to new figures provided exclusively to The Intercept, the updated death toll now stands at 123, with eleven civilians confirmed killed in boat strikes on December 30.
The initial report by SOUTHCOM had only mentioned three vessels being targeted and killing three people, but further information revealed that eight narco-terrorists jumped into the Pacific Ocean to avoid being attacked. The US military then sank their respective vessels, resulting in additional casualties.
Experts have long questioned the legality of these strikes, arguing that they amount to extrajudicial killings. William Baumgartner, a retired US Coast Guard rear admiral and former chief counsel of the service branch, described the destruction of boats carrying people who had already abandoned ship as "essentially the same as putting a gun to their head."
As the US military continues its campaign against alleged drug smuggling boats, concerns remain about the treatment of civilians caught in the crossfire. The Intercept will continue to provide updates and analysis on this developing story.
In related news, The Intercept has faced increasing challenges in covering authoritarian governments and dismantling democracies around the world. As a non-profit organization reliant on donations, we need your support to continue our critical reporting.
. Undercounting deaths? Who doesn't know that's gonna happen when you're throwing missiles at people in a war zone? It's not like we haven't seen this before, and yet we still get all worked up about it 
. And now they're trying to spin it as some kinda heroic thing, taking out "narco-terrorists" and whatnot... it's just a bunch of propaganda 
. The Intercept is trying to do some real journalism here, but good luck getting anyone's attention when you're competing with all the sensationalized headlines from Fox News 
. Can't they just stick to the facts for once?
. I think it's time we stop labeling these alleged narco-terrorists as such. We don't know what their roles were or if they even deserved a label in the first place. To me, it seems like the US military was just trying to protect its own interests and keep the oceans safe for commerce. I'm not saying everything is perfect, but we gotta consider both sides of the story 
.
. And now they're saying that those who jumped into the ocean were essentially still targets? I mean, I get why the military wants to take out narco-terrorists, but come on... putting a gun to someone's head is not exactly the same as sinking their boat 
. Still, it's good that they're owning up to their mistake and updating the numbers. I hope there'll be some consequences for those responsible 
. And btw, can we talk about The Intercept's funding situation for sec? As a non-profit org, they need our support to keep holding these powerful ppl accountable 
I'm really disappointed in the US military's admission of undercounting deaths in that boat strike campaign. 123 lives lost? That's just devastating 
. And for what? To target alleged drug smugglers who might've been innocent bystanders or even caught in the wrong place at the wrong time? It's a slippery slope when we start to justify taking lives without due process 
. The fact that experts have questioned the legality of these strikes is worrying, and it just goes to show how murky the waters can get when it comes to international law and humanitarian concerns 
. We need more transparency and accountability from our military leaders, not excuses or cover-ups 
.
And experts are saying it's basically the same as putting a gun to their head... yeah, that's some pretty heavy stuff 
just found out that US military admitted to undercounting deaths in their boat strike campaign 
