The loss of life in any action is a matter of the gravest concern, and none should ever speak lightly of it. Human life is sacred, and the sorrow of its taking weighs heavily upon the conscience of a free people and their leaders alike. Yet we must consider the circumstances and the authority granted by the Constitution. Vessels engaged in narcotics trafficking upon the high seas, proven to resist lawful orders and endanger officers and the public, present a pressing threat. Many such networks, including those linked to the Tren de Aragua, designated as a terrorist organization by the State Department, operate with violence and impunity. The Constitution grants Congress authority to regulate commerce and provide for the common defense, while entrusting the President, as Commander in Chief, to enforce the laws of the Union and protect its citizens.
In my own time, we faced similar solemn duties. Just as the suppression of the Whiskey Rebellion demanded the measured enforcement of law to preserve the Union and protect the citizenry, modern law enforcement at sea may require decisive action when inaction would imperil lives. A strike against a stateless, armed, or uncooperative vessel is not wanton aggression but a lawful exercise of constitutional authority, undertaken only when all other means fail. Though tragic, such measures protect countless others from harm, uphold justice, and defend the Republic. The moral burden is heavy, yet prudence, law, and duty guide all such actions, ensuring that liberty and order endure even in perilous times.
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