Admiral admits survivors had no radio as row deepens over double-tap strike

 

 

The political firestorm over September’s double-tap strike in the Caribbean exploded again on Thursday, after the admiral who oversaw the attack privately told lawmakers that the two shipwrecked survivors — later killed in a second missile strike — did not appear to have radios or any means of calling for backup. The admission undercuts one of the Pentagon’s earliest justifications for the lethal follow-up attack and widens the gulf between Republicans and Democrats over whether the United States killed “narco-terrorists” or unlawfully executed shipwrecked sailors.

 

According to three sources familiar with the closed-door briefings, Adm. Frank “Mitch” Bradley — who commanded Joint Special Operations Command at the time — acknowledged that the pair clinging to the capsized wreck were in no position to make any distress call. That directly contradicts defence officials who, as far back as September, quietly argued the men were “radioing for reinforcements” and thus remained hostile combatants. That claim has now effectively been dropped.

 

The initial strike, launched against a vessel believed to be carrying cocaine, killed nine people immediately and snapped the boat in half. Surveillance footage shown to lawmakers displayed two surviving men clinging to an overturned hull fragment as it floated in the water. For 41 minutes, Bradley and the command centre debated their next move. Bradley ultimately ordered a second strike, telling lawmakers he did so because a remaining portion of the hull appeared to still hold cocaine — and therefore could, hypothetically, enable the survivors to float to safety, be rescued, and continue drug trafficking.

One source described that logic as “f**king insane.”

 

The Pentagon has declined comment, but the briefing confirmed key details: four missiles were used — two in the first strike, two in the second. The second strike has drawn intense scrutiny because killing shipwrecked individuals is explicitly defined as a war crime under the Pentagon’s own law-of-war manual, which states that those “in need of assistance and care” and who take “no hostile act” are protected persons.

 

The video split Congress. Republican Sen. Tom Cotton said he saw two men “trying to flip a boat loaded with drugs … so they could stay in the fight.” Democratic Rep. Jim Himes called it “one of the most troubling things I’ve seen,” describing unarmed, exhausted survivors clinging to wreckage as they were killed by a U.S. missile. “Yes, they were carrying drugs,” Himes said. “They were not in the position to continue their mission in any way.”

 

The administration’s story has shifted repeatedly. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth initially dismissed reports of a second strike as “fabricated.” Days later, the White House confirmed it and named Bradley as the officer who ordered it. Hegseth has denied issuing any “kill them all” directive; lawmakers say Bradley backed that up. Hegseth told colleagues he observed the initial strike but left before the second occurred.

 

Republicans left Thursday’s briefings broadly supportive of Hegseth. Democrats did not. What remains unclear — and now central to the Armed Services Committee’s promised oversight — is the legal basis of the entire campaign. Since 2 September, the U.S. military has launched more than 20 similar strikes, killing at least 87 people under a doctrine that classifies drug-running vessels as legitimate military targets.

 

Sen. Chris Coons voiced the glaring dilemma: “If there is a boat with narcotics and people affiliated with a narcotics trafficking organization — is that a legitimate target? I’ve still got questions about that.”

 

Key Takeaways
• Adm. Bradley told lawmakers the two survivors had no radios — contradicting earlier Pentagon claims.
• The second strike on shipwrecked men is now under bipartisan scrutiny amid war-crime concerns.
• The broader legality of the U.S. campaign, which has killed at least 87 people, remains unresolved.

 

Source: CNN

 

 

 

Adm. Frank “Mitch” Bradley (ret'd) for POTUS in 2028.

 

Go get 'em Mitch!!

12 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

Adm. Frank “Mitch” Bradley (ret'd) for POTUS in 2028.

 

Go get 'em Mitch!!

LOL Trump and Hegseth are setting Bradley up to be the fall guy.

6 minutes ago, Real Name Hidden said:

LOL Trump and Hegseth are setting Bradley up to be the fall guy.

True, but he had plenty of time to decide to obey the Pentagon's own rules of engagement or not.  He chose to commit a crime.  Now the only question is whether this is a war crime or a simple murder.

From the OP:

 

The broader legality of the U.S. campaign, which has killed at least 87 people, remains unresolved.

 

One legal observer has said that, right now, you won't find any legal opinion from a lawyer other than a Trump administration lawyer who will say this operation as a whole is legit.

"en. Chris Coons voiced the glaring dilemma: “If there is a boat with narcotics and people affiliated with a narcotics trafficking organization — is that a legitimate target? I’ve still got questions about that.”"

 

The answer is no.......the fact of them being drug smugglers is irrelevant

 

In international or another states waters It is an act of piracy to attack another vessel unless a state of war has been officially declared between the two states to which the vessels belong, or one is in immediate/imminent danger of being attacked or is actually being attacked by the other vessel.

 

The latter case being typical of what happens when Somali pirates approach cargo ships.

 

That is the law to which civilsed nations have adhered to for 100's  of years.

 

Trump has made a pirate/rogue state of the USA.

 

 

The key issue is that they cannot  indict survivors because it would ultimately lead to an investigation into the legality of the strikes.

 

Last time, they let survivors free. This time, they killed them. It's more simple! 

A perfect example of an illegal order.

 

He should be dismissed from the Navy.

 

ALL those below him should be court martialled for obeying the illegal order, and ALL those civilians above him should be jailed for life, including Trump, for issuing the illegal order.

WASHINGTON, Oct 2 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump has determined the United States is engaged in "a non-international armed conflict" with drug cartels, according to a document notifying Congress of its legal justification for deadly U.S. strikes on boats off Venezuela.

 

NB And what is the definition of "a non-international armed conflict"? When the President determines there is "a non-international armed conflict".

What happens when you follow illegal orders...

6 minutes ago, unblocktheplanet said:

What happens when you follow illegal orders...

It's a tough one for our servicemen because it's up to the courts to ultimately determine.  Seriously, these brave warriors deserve better leadership.

Bradley is fighting back, as it appears the Don and Petie show is a failure, and their lies are a pathetic attempt to shift blame. Both of these very small men do not have the courage to admit failure and both are war criminals. 

21 hours ago, Real Name Hidden said:

It's a tough one for our servicemen because it's up to the courts to ultimately determine.  Seriously, these brave warriors deserve better leadership.

Gimme a break! Every human knows the difference of right from wrong. It's called conscience and you feel it in your gut. Yeah, it's a tough one--you need balls to face possible court-martial. But that doesn't preclude conscience.

 

And whom, exactly, are these servicemen serving? I would think almost all of them are just waiting for their pensions and retraining. A court-martial would end that. The question is whether you can live with yourself after taking another human's life, unarmed humans on an overturned boat.

 

PTSD is nothing new. It's the result of every war ever fought. 

23 hours ago, jerrymahoney said:

NB And what is the definition of "a non-international armed conflict"? When the President determines there is "a non-international armed conflict".

 

The US military has been bombing the crap out of non-state terrorist groups and perceived enemies for hundreds of years, (read up on the Barbary Pirates), on turbocharge since the '60s.

 

JFK did it.  LBJ did it.  Nixon did it. Carter did it (a little bit), Reagan did it.  Bush Sr did it.  Clinton did it.  Bush Jr did it. Obama did it.  So did Biden the autopen.  I may disagree with it (or not), but to act as if this is a Trump thing is just plain disingenuous. 

 

13 minutes ago, impulse said:

 

The US military has been bombing the crap out of non-state terrorist groups and perceived enemies for hundreds of years, (read up on the Barbary Pirates), on turbocharge since the '60s.

 

JFK did it.  LBJ did it.  Nixon did it. Carter did it (a little bit), Reagan did it.  Bush Sr did it.  Clinton did it.  Bush Jr did it. Obama did it.  So did Biden the autopen.  I may disagree with it (or not), but to act as if this is a Trump thing is just plain disingenuous. 

 

You left out George Washington

The sthipment was not heading to the US, but to Suriname. 🙂

 

"US drug enforcement officials say that trafficking routes via Suriname are primarily destined for European markets. US-bound drug trafficking routes have been concentrated on the Pacific Ocean in recent years."

 

Exclusive: Boat at center of double-tap strike controversy was meeting vessel headed to Suriname, admiral told lawmakers

 

https://www.cnn.com/2025/12/05/politics/suriname-boat-strike-bradley?cid=android_app

 

 

Please, America, back to the Monroe Doctrine and stop meddling in other countries' affairs. The US wants to be the biggest bully on the block.

22 hours ago, impulse said:

 

The US military has been bombing the crap out of non-state terrorist groups and perceived enemies for hundreds of years, (read up on the Barbary Pirates), on turbocharge since the '60s.

 

JFK did it.  LBJ did it.  Nixon did it. Carter did it (a little bit), Reagan did it.  Bush Sr did it.  Clinton did it.  Bush Jr did it. Obama did it.  So did Biden the autopen.  I may disagree with it (or not), but to act as if this is a Trump thing is just plain disingenuous. 

 

 

"Everyone else was doing it."

 

~Failed defense at Nurenberg #24

Release the full video , you just know every time they try to cover doo doo up,

that there's some crime been committed, according to people who have seen

the full tape , the 2 survivors were hanging on to a bit of wreckage ,they had no 

phones, there was no cocaine that could be salvaged by them ,it even looked

like their shirts had been blown off , killing them was murder, 

 

why they were not saved ,rescued , maybe then they might have found out

they only  were simple fishermen , and that would have looked bad ,so 

KILL EM ALL was the order.

 

regards worgeordie

14 minutes ago, worgeordie said:

Release the full video , you just know every time they try to cover doo doo up,

that there's some crime been committed, according to people who have seen

the full tape , the 2 survivors were hanging on to a bit of wreckage ,they had no 

phones, there was no cocaine that could be salvaged by them ,it even looked

like their shirts had been blown off , killing them was murder, 

 

why they were not saved ,rescued , maybe then they might have found out

they only  were simple fishermen , and that would have looked bad ,so 

KILL EM ALL was the order.

 

regards worgeordie

 

The survivors were also waving at something in the air, the sources said Bradley told them and the video showed, although it’s unclear whether they might have been surrendering or asking the US aircraft they had spotted for help.

 

The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

 

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/12/05/politics/suriname-boat-strike-bradley

 

Violations of both the Geneva Conventions and the Department of Defense Law of War Manual.

 

War crimes.

 

If only there were six seditious Congressman willing to remind our "brave warriors" that murdering shipwrecked sailors from the comfort of your desk aboard a US warship hundreds of miles away would be following unlawful orders.

Hegseth and the whole regime should be in prison.

If I am not mistaken, this was the first of these attacks on alleged "narco-terrorist" speedboats, and that Hegseth was monitoring this initial strike in real time. it seems to me that one of the most important questions following the strike would be whether there were any survivors, and what to do if there were any. How long could it have taken for it to have become apparent that there were survivors? It strains credulity that Hegseth was present during the first strike, had no interest in sticking around to observe whether there were any survivors, and gave no orders regarding what should be done in the event that there were.

"Republicans left Thursday’s briefings broadly supportive of Hegseth. Democrats did not."

 

And there you have it. The Republicans support protecting the sovereignty and well being of the American citizens against drug runners and the Democrats approve of open boarders and importing illegal drugs by Caribbean drug runners. 

On 12/5/2025 at 12:19 PM, Callmeishmael said:

True, but he had plenty of time to decide to obey the Pentagon's own rules of engagement or not.  He chose to commit a crime.  Now the only question is whether this is a war crime or a simple murder.

 

Imagine the calls for immediate UN action and formation of coalitions of the willing if Xi's minister of defense, Dong Jun, ordered the double-tap strike on a Phillipino fishing boat trafficking in illicit Trump bibles somewhere off Micronesia.  After all, there's a chance those proselytizer-terrorists could eventually reach the mainland and impurify China's precious bodily fluids.

38 minutes ago, Screaming said:

"Republicans left Thursday’s briefings broadly supportive of Hegseth. Democrats did not."

 

And there you have it. The Republicans support protecting the sovereignty and well being of the American citizens against drug runners and the Democrats approve of open boarders and importing illegal drugs by Caribbean drug runners. 

Link?

All this angst over two drug smugglers....

 

Please save your faux outrage for those who deserve it.  And thank the US military for sending tons of poison to the bottom of the sea. Countless lives saved.

16 minutes ago, Hanaguma said:

All this angst over two drug smugglers....

 

Were they?

22 minutes ago, stevenl said:

Were they?

 

Admiral Frank Bradley, who was the head of the Joint Special Operations Command at the time, ‌concluded that ‍the wreckage was likely being kept afloat because there was cocaine inside and could drift long enough to be recovered, said the sources.

 

https://www.irishtimes.com/world/2025/12/05/us-military-says-it-has-killed-four-men-in-latest-boat-strike-in-pacific/

 

 

The Department of War assumes, so it must be true!

 

"We know where they [Iraq's WMD] are. They're in the area around Tikrit and Baghdad and east, west, south, and north somewhat."