as a simplest thing, i would expect them to abduct the survivors and bring them to the US to face some trial, rather than putting them on a boat back home
as a general best practice, id expect them to send a patrol boat to go board and confiscate the drugs, then show off said drugs.
its not hard to collect the evidence of drugs, since the drugs will be on the boat/sub, and with the size of the deployment, there's more than enough capacity to just sail over to it, rather than destroying it with missiles.
The goal is kinetics and beautiful fireworks for the folks back home. "Acting now" is much easier than methodical interdiction, investigation, and potential justice. The home audience won't tolerate anything smacking of evidence and proof, that's too bookish and takes time.
No, no one at the highest policy/government levels is doing anything about that. It would require treating drug addiction as a health care issue, with a plan to solve the underlying root causes, support and care for the affected and substantial funding on the ground level for support networks and other institutions that actually work in the space. Housing programs and drug decriminalization may also be worthwhile evaluating.
But that’s hard, unglamorous work, out of the limelight with people that are sick, addicted, grimy. No spectacular fireworks.
>> care for the affected and substantial funding on the ground level
Not sure what you would expect, but on a state level. My state has hundreds of millions in funding for free clinics, free treatment centers, free methadone clinics, free housing, and free welfare. If people really want to get clean, they can.
This isn't a problem of funding either on the state or federal level, its a bunch of NGO's getting rich making sure the situation continues by handing out free tents, clean needles, narcan and "safe zones" where people can do their drugs without interference.
When you make it easier to stay addicted and homeless? Those who are in that situation will continue to take the easy route. Its not easy getting clean and this is 100% on the individual to make the choice to get clean. When you encourage addiction and make it socially acceptable, is it any wonder this issue isn't getting any better and in fact, is well past a crisis point now.
> its a bunch of NGO's getting rich making sure the situation continues by handing out free tents, clean needles, narcan and "safe zones" where people can do their drugs without interference.
There will also be those who try to take advantage of government funding. But the gross handouts to the Pentagon, we can and do audit NGOs. I doubt fraud is the biggest issue here, but if you have studies, please share them.
> Those who are in that situation will continue to take the easy route
Are you saying it's a personal choice and not a mental health problem?
> When you encourage addiction and make it socially acceptable
I don't understand how spending money on housing and addiction treatment is doing that. If you want to encourage addiction and make it socially acceptable, you just don't spend money on housing or treatment.
Its also not hard to see the video of a fast boat with two to four huge 250HP outboard motors and the entire hull filled with huge light colored bales of something and conclude this is not a fishing boat and these are not fishermen who are transporting their catch for the day back to the port.
Perhaps, but even if it's evident that the boat itself is engaged in drug smuggling, that doesn't mean that the people on the boat deserve summary execution. They could be being coerced for instance.
Also, IIRC the first strike killed 11 people. Why would you need, or want, 11 people to crew a fast boat that's supposed to be clandestine. Is it possible that they were smuggling people instead of or in addition to drugs? In which case, maybe we just killed some migrants who wanted to get out of Venezuela.
as a general best practice, id expect them to send a patrol boat to go board and confiscate the drugs, then show off said drugs.
its not hard to collect the evidence of drugs, since the drugs will be on the boat/sub, and with the size of the deployment, there's more than enough capacity to just sail over to it, rather than destroying it with missiles.