Blog 279: Veterans Day, Drug Intervention –At What Cost?

Veterans’ Day was Tuesday. I did not serve but I celebrated the day.

My dad served in WWII. He was a radar technician in a MASH unit. After his training he was stationed in the Philippines.

My mother waited without cell phones. I did not know my dad until I was four years old.

That experienced deepened my appreciation for those who serve as well as the spouses and children who wait.

Dialog. I have a dialog going with a person who responded to my question about– at what cost?

He gave his thoughtful response for the issues of missiles destroying alleged drug boats in the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean. My reader’s view is that there is no con job. In his words “It is what it is.” The president is trying to save lives by reducing the supply of drugs in the United States. I respect his position and his thoughtfulness in how he responded.

He went further to say he supports the destruction of the boats, the drugs and the people. That is a cost he is willing to bear. He gave a heartfelt statement about family experiences with addiction. He was willing to pay the cost because he saw first-hand the devastation of addiction.

Again, I respect his position and the respectful and caring way he expressed it. He is not alone. In a recent Harvard/ Capps monthly poll, over 70% of the respondents supported missiles being fired on suspected drug boats.

Therefore, I will be disagreeing with a lot of people. I strongly support attempts to disrupt the flow of drugs into the US, but my disagreement is with how we are doing it. I think the cost is too high.

My Argument. The US policy seems clear to me.  We are saying — if we have credible evidence of drugs being transported for distribution then we are justified in destroying the means, the drugs and being judge, jury and executioner of the people. I have two problems with that policy.

First, how do we apply the policy in the US? If we have credible evidence Hispanic males driving on I 10 are transporting drugs for distribution, is DEA justified in blowing up the truck, destroying the drugs and being judge, jury and executioner of the people? Similarly, would the police be justified in being judge, jury and executioner of a black drug dealer on the street corner who is transporting drugs for distribution. Would the police be justified to be judge, jury and executioner for the rich white-boy transporting drugs for distribution out of his dorm room in an IVY League school? If the actions on the water are official US policy, then the answers are yes. We may not like the implications but they seem clear to me. My opinin is being judge, jury, and executioner is too high a cost.

If we say we would not take those actions on American soil but it is okay to be judge, jury and executioner outside of the US, then I have a second problem. As a person of faith, I ask myself — is that policy treating my neighbors as myself?

If we do interdiction, arrests, trials and imprisonment on US soil but are judge, jury and executioner outside the US, then I do not believe we are treating my neighbors as myself. That is too high a cost for me.

I repeat I support intervention to disrupt drug distribution, but I do not support being judge, jury and executioner. As a person of faith, I must apply that principle to my neighbor as myself. My policy is formed by my understanding of my faith and not a political principle. My policy is formed by my understanding of my faith and not a dislike of President Trump or Pete Hegspeth.

I was pleased my reader addressed his concerns. I am even more pleased he addressed those concerns in a way we could discuss them as adults. No childish name calling. No self-righteous demands. Two people with different views having a meaningful conversation.

This and That

Warning from a Reagan appointed federal judge. I recommend reading.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/federal-judge-resigns-cites-threat-to-democracy/ar-AA1Q8s4T

Misinformation on the internet led to a blaze of threats fanned by politicians without apologies for passing incorrect information.

https://currently.att.yahoo.com/att/one-photo-deluge-threats-inside-100000570.html?.tsrc=daily_mail&uh_test=1_11&.tsrc=daily_mail&segment_id&ncid=crm_-1295960-20251110-577–A&bt_user_id=GqAtcaooG8SV5dPOlEhvU%2FdnI3XpcCP4%2B7HUtPfStDyQbXu9wjFzBw5T7kQcMQLq&bt_ts=1762772903066

Fired. Something is wrong with our values when needy people are without food and 11 football coaches are being paid over 185 million dollars not to work.

Good News

Heartwarming

Colorado Family Will Serve Hot Thanksgiving Meals To Truckers Spending The Holiday On The Road

Community Raises $30K To Bless Candy Vendor With Cerebral Palsy Who Works 6 Days A Week

He Went Missing On Halloween. Two Days Later, The NYC Marathon Helped Save Him

Peace

Jerry