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Pete Hegseth did what too many in Washington refuse to do: he put the facts on the table about U.S. military strikes against suspected cartel boats and defended the mission as a necessary step to protect American lives. Joined by former Assistant Secretary of State Robert Charles on Fox Report, Hegseth made clear the Pentagon views these operations as a vital component of border and anti-narcotics defense — not theatrical PR stunts. Americans deserve leaders who will explain tough decisions instead of caving to predictable partisan outrage.
This is not a one-off. Since early September the administration has ramped up maritime operations, expanding from the Caribbean into the Eastern Pacific and striking multiple vessels it asserts were engaged in narcotics trafficking. The campaign has resulted in a number of strikes and fatalities, and the Pentagon has even stood up a new joint counter-narcotics task force under U.S. Southern Command to sustain pressure on smugglers and cartels. This is the kind of focused, kinetic action that stops poison from flowing across our border.
Yes, Congress and some Democrats are demanding more transparency — and they should get it — but the constant chorus of hand-wringing from the left reeks of political theater when compared with the real carnage cartels inflict on American communities. Bipartisan questions about legal authority are being raised in the Senate and some lawmakers want briefings and limits, which is normal oversight; Washington should not confuse scrutiny with obstruction. If legislators insist on oversight, they must move quickly to either support the mission or offer a viable alternative that actually stops drugs.
For those fretting about international law and procedure, remember who is paying the price for the status quo: hardworking Americans crushed by fentanyl and violent crime funneled through cartel networks. Defense officials have argued the strikes are aimed at protecting the homeland from an assault by transnational criminal organizations, a claim the Pentagon has publicly defended while balancing operational security. It is perfectly reasonable for the American people to demand evidence, but it’s also unreasonable to scold commanders for acting decisively while our border remains a sieve.
Let’s call out both the legitimate and the cynical. Legitimately, the administration owes Congress and the public clear briefings about legal authority, targeting, and how civilian casualties are assessed and minimized. Cynically, many critics who demand proof today spent years soft-pedaling the threat from cartels and open borders; they cannot be taken seriously when they suddenly promote “due process” only after action is taken. Operational security matters, but so does accountability — and those are not mutually exclusive.
At the end of the day, Americans want results, not photo ops or partisan point-scoring. If the White House and the Pentagon can demonstrate that these strikes are lawful, targeted, and effective at choking cartel operations, patriots should support our troops and law enforcement in defending our country. If there are mistakes, they must be rightfully acknowledged and corrected — but the reflexive rush to condemn before the facts are given is a luxury we cannot afford while our citizens die from drugs.
Congress must stop posturing and start legislating a realistic, muscular strategy to secure our borders and choke off cartel profits, from maritime interdictions to tighter cooperation with regional partners. The American people are tired of seeing our servicemen and women used as political footballs while cartel filth floods our communities; they want leaders who will act, explain, and stand firm. Support the mission, demand accountability, and never apologize for defending American lives.
