whiterock said:
FLBear5630 said:
whiterock said:
Sam Lowry said:
whiterock said:
Porteroso said:
An interesting and very well written article on the legality.
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/11/venezeula-strikes-legal-southcom-when-the-law-bends-what-the-narcotics-boat-debate-misses/
Might makes right in international law. Only the weak and the foolish argue international law as terribly material for anything other than a justification for going to war.
That's another way of saying such justifications are self-serving and false. No news there, though the honesty is welcome. The problem is that American might is diminishing, and the hypocrisy undermines our soft power just when we need it the most.
LOL. Saying what we're doing to these drug cartel boats is illegal because of some assumed clause in the codebook of international law is a classic "tell me you don't know what your talking about without saying you don't know what you're talking about" moment.
You know better of course, but I do have to allow that most people assume a strawman interpretation of International Law. It is not a code of laws. It is a set of generally agreed upon customs that guide state actions in international waters. to either enhance defense of one's own actions or bring pressure to bear against the actions of other states. States always have and always will pursue policies they believe are in their best interests, to the extent their power allows. International law is merely a reference point to shield or enhance cases for those states to either go to war, or avoid a war.
No state is going to cite "international law" to declare war on the USA over current operations off the coast of Venezuela. Not even Venezuela. Not because they either do or don't have some notional case under international law. They're not gonna do it because A) they know they'd get smoked, and B) they know they'd do the same thing if they could and they don't want to set precedent which might be used against them.
"No state is going to cite "international law" to declare war on the USA over current operations off the coast of Venezuela. Not even Venezuela. Not because they either do or don't have some notional case under international law. They're not gonna do it because A) they know they'd get smoked, and B) they know they'd do the same thing if they could and they don't want to set precedent which might be used against them."
What you just said there is the problem. We are now "Might makes Right." You know how a self-proclaimed "Alpha Male" thug dies? Shot by someone much weaker, because they don't have a choice. What you are describing is an "Alpha Male thug" mentality. We can do what we want because if you disagree we will smoke you. Under your philosophy, the US has gone from Sheepdog to Wolf...
This is how a real bad war starts in the nuclear age.
In global geopolitics, might does make right. Always has. Always will. It's the way the world actually works.
The only limiting factor is one or more other powers using their might to create deterrence.
It's hard to find a great power in history which has been more relentlessly benevolent than the USA.
"It's hard to find a great power in history which has been more relentlessly benevolent than the USA."
Up to the last 20 years or so, I agree. We have written several big checks against that account in Iraq, Afghanistan and now South America. These have not been the Reagan/Bush actions of going accomplishing and leaving. They have been extended regime change and not even supporting a group asking for help like we had in Korea and Viet Nam.
Add in the rhetoric and the "total male Pete" attitude and now you have a recipe for disaster.
There is a HUGE difference between Speak Softly and Carry a Big Stick where everyone knows it, but we refrain from using. To what we have now and, frankly, your type attitudes.
You can't keep going around saying how benevolent you are and no one else agreeing. The current view of the US is not benevolent. Hell, even the UK and Aussie are not supporting us. When that happens, that is a canary in the mine...