A senior legal scholar at the Cato Institute is raising concerns about U.S. military strikes on boats suspected of smuggling — strikes that kill those aboard without trial, legal process, or public accountability.
Walter Olson, Senior Fellow at Cato, argues these extrajudicial killings would be unlawful even if smuggling allegations were true, and some evidence suggests some victims may be innocent civilians.
Olson’s full statement:
“Instead of intercepting and boarding boats on the high seas that it believes are part of a scheme to violate U.S. law, the White House is striking them with missiles and often killing those on board. It then publishes the videos of these extrajudicial killings as part of its propaganda yet refuses to publish key facts that would enable the public and members of Congress to evaluate its actions, including the identity of the chain of command responsible.
It is important to emphasize that this conduct would be unlawful even if the Administration were correct in every instance about its smuggling allegations. It would also risk embroiling the United States in a war with third countries. Imagine if a foreign government struck at U.S. boats and citizens this way!
And the fact is that grave doubts continue growing from week to week as to whether the boats and crews really are guilty of the allegations leveled from Washington. Families and village neighbors in particular cases say no, independent press outlets in affected countries like Colombia say no, and now the administration has released survivors from one strike rather than holding them and presenting charges that could be examined in a court of law. Americans must demand a stop to extrajudicial killings by our government — all the more so as evidence mounts that some of the victims have committed no crime.”
Olson is available for interviews. Please contact Madison for more information or to arrange an interview: mmiller@cato.org.