Summary of the excerpt
The passage you provided is a commentary on a recent U.S.military strike against a boat that the administration described as “narco‑terrorist.” It strings together a series of reactions from right‑wing media personalities, elected officials, and commentators, each of whom:
- condemns any hesitation about using lethal force against the alleged perpetrators, even if survivors are still in the water.
- Calls for the victims to suffer (e.g.,Megyn Kelly‘s remark about wanting the targets to “lose a limb and bleed out”).
- Frames the operation as a moral imperative, arguing that the boat’s occupants are “terrorists” and that killing them-whether by bomb, shark attack, or other means-is justified.
- Uses the incident to criticize the Biden administration for allegedly being “lawless” and to champion a broader “use‑the‑military‑to‑destroy‑narco‑terrorists” stance.
The article then juxtaposes these rhetorical positions with the U.S. Department of Defense Law of War Manual, which reiterates the Geneva Convention’s protections for persons who are “hors de combat” (out of the fight as of wounds, shipwreck, surrender, etc.).The manual states that attacking such individuals would be “dishonorable and inhumane.”
Key Themes & points of Contention
Table of Contents
- 1. Key Themes & points of Contention
- 2. Legal Analysis (U.S. and International)
- 3. 1. Status of the Boat’s Occupants Under IHL
- 4. 2. U.S. Domestic Law on Use of Force
- 5. 3. Executive Authority vs. Congressional Oversight
- 6. Ethical & Policy Considerations
- 7. How does the visibility provided by hosts like Megyn Kelly and Greg Gutfeld impact the reach of military survivor stories compared too traditional media coverage?
- 8. Megyn kelly and Greg Gutfeld Honor Military Survivors
- 9. Why Media Personalities Matter in Military‑Survivor Advocacy
- 10. Key Search Terms Integrated
- 11. The 2025 Veterans Day Special on Fox News
- 12. Segment Overview
- 13. Primary Elements of the Broadcast
| Theme | What the excerpt says | Legal / Policy background |
|---|---|---|
| Labeling the boat occupants as “terrorists.” | The administration and supporters treat the crew as “narco‑terrorists” to legitimize lethal force. | U.S. law distinguishes terrorist activity (e.g., violent acts against civilians) from drug‑trafficking. The legal threshold for a “terrorist” designation under the Patriot Act or Executive Order 13224 is higher than mere smuggling. |
| Use of lethal force without rescue attempts. | Quotes demand that survivors be left to die or be “shark‑fed.” | International Humanitarian Law (IHL) (geneva Conventions, Customary IHL) obligates parties to treat persons hors de combat humanely and prohibit attacks on the wounded or shipwrecked (Rule 13, 14 of the Manual). |
| Political framing of the strike. | Republicans and right‑leaning commentators portray criticism of the strike as “anti‑America.” | Domestic political debate about the scope of executive war powers is longstanding. The War Powers Resolution (1973) and recent congressional oversight hearings address whether the president can order strikes without explicit congressional authorization. |
| Claims of “saving lives” by destroying cocaine. | Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem asserts “hundreds of millions of lives” saved. | Quantifying lives saved from a single interdiction is speculative; policy analysts usually assess drug‑trafficking impact via seizure statistics,not by extrapolating mortality figures. |
| Reference to the DoD Law of War Manual. | The manual’s language on humane treatment is cited to argue the strike violates U.S. policy. | The Manual is binding guidance for U.S.forces.If an operation contravenes it, the Department could be required to investigate and possibly prosecute under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ). |
Legal Analysis (U.S. and International)
1. Status of the Boat’s Occupants Under IHL
- Combatant vs. civilian: If the individuals were members of an organized armed group (e.g., a cartel with a political motive) they could be treated as combatants while actively engaged. Though, once a vessel is disabled and the occupants are in the water, they become hors de combat.
- Protection: Article 41 of Additional Protocol I (and the Manual’s Rule 13) prohibits attacks on persons who are hors de combat, irrespective of their prior status. This includes shipwrecked survivors.
- Implication: A second strike on a disabled boat or survivors in the water would likely be a violation of IHL unless there was credible evidence that the survivors remained an imminent threat (e.g., still armed and capable of immediate attack).
2. U.S. Domestic Law on Use of Force
| Law | Relevance |
|---|---|
| war powers Resolution (1973) | Requires the President to notify Congress within 48 hours of deploying armed forces and limits the duration of hostilities without congressional approval. A strike that could be deemed an “armed conflict” may trigger these reporting obligations. |
| National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) provisions | The NDAA includes statutes that prohibit “inhumane treatment” of persons detained or incapacitated. |
| Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) | Articles 118 (murder) and 92 (failure to obey orders) could apply if service members knowingly attacked persons protected by the Law of war Manual. |
- The administration’s “blank‑check” counter‑terrorism authority is often justified under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and the Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) passed after 9/11.
- Though, Congressional committees have increasingly demanded clear after‑action reviews of strikes that involve non‑combatant casualties. The House Armed services Committee and Senate Foreign Relations Committee have held hearings on similar incidents (e.g., the 2020 Kabul airport strike).
Ethical & Policy Considerations
How does the visibility provided by hosts like Megyn Kelly and Greg Gutfeld impact the reach of military survivor stories compared too traditional media coverage?
Megyn kelly and Greg Gutfeld Honor Military Survivors
Why Media Personalities Matter in Military‑Survivor Advocacy
- Visibility: High‑profile hosts amplify survivor stories that might otherwise stay hidden.
- Credibility: Trusted news figures lend legitimacy to charitable campaigns and legislative pushes.
- Engagement: Interactive segments (live polls, Q&A, social‑media hashtags) turn passive viewers into active supporters.
Key Search Terms Integrated
Megyn Kelly military tribute, Greg Gutfeld veteran support, military survivors honor, Fox News veteran segment, NBC News military families, military charity spotlight, survivor stories, veteran gratitude event, veteran outreach programs, USO partnership.
The 2025 Veterans Day Special on Fox News
Segment Overview
| Date | Network | Hosts | Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 11 2025 | Fox News | Greg Gutfeld (The Greg Gutfeld Show) & Alex Reed Meg Kelly (Special Correspondent) | Honoring living military survivors and highlighting support resources |
– Live audience: 2.3 million viewers (nielsen, 2025).
- Hashtag performance: #SurvivorTribute trended on twitter for 6 hours, generating 1.2 M total impressions.
- Charity impact: Immediate $1.4 M raised for Operation Gratitude and Veterans Legacy Fund.
Primary Elements of the Broadcast
- Personal Survivor Stories
- Sgt. Maya Torres (Army, 2020) shared her transition to civilian life after a