Gordon Robinson | We were complicit!

There’s turmoil in Caribbean waters not caused by Melissa.

CNN: “US military has been steadily massing a large number of troops, naval and air assets in the Caribbean over the last two months, conducting training missions off the coast of Venezuela, reopening a military base in Puerto Rico that had been shuttered for decades and attacking speedboats carrying suspected drug traffickers from Venezuela and Colombia.”

Attacking? Foreign boats in foreign seas?

Why? What have these boats or their passengers done to USA? Which Caribbean/Latin American nation has perpetrated any act of war against USA? Multiple media sources confirm CNN’s reporting that the boats were “carrying suspected drug traffickers.”

So the penalty for drug trafficking is death? No, it’s worse! Apparently USA law purports to have extra-territorial effect and mandates death penalty for people SUSPECTED of drug smuggling especially if they’re from Venezuela or Colombia. No charge. No trial No conviction.

What’s going on? Latin American cartels have been transporting drugs to USA since Adam was a boy. But, suddenly, CNN reports:

• As of Tuesday, a significant percentage of all deployed US naval assets globally are also now located in US Southern Command - responsible for military operations in the region. That includes over 4,500 Marines and sailors, three guided-missile destroyers, an attack submarine, a special operations ship, a guided missile cruiser and P-8 Poseidon reconnaissance aircraft;

• Simultaneously, US deployed 10 F-35 fighter jets and at least three MQ-9 reaper drones to Puerto Rico, which has become a hub for US military as it increases focus on the Caribbean;

• At least one AC-130J Ghostrider, a heavily armed plane used as air support to ground troops, was photographed equipped with Hellfire missiles at José Aponte de la Torre Airport in Puerto Rico;

• Over 200 military flights have been conducted in the Caribbean over the last two months;

• Several intelligence gathering assets may also have been diverted from Eastern Europe to the Caribbean;

• In early October, “Little Bird” light attack helicopters (highly specialized helicopters used by US Special Forces for covert missions) and MH-60M Black Hawk helicopters were also spotted conducting training operations off the Trinidad and Tobago coast;

What’s this excessive muscle flexing about? Surely all this military might isn’t needed to blow up a few suspected drug smugglers’ boats? Based on Agent Orange’s recent form, another grand spectacle is planned that should further distract Americans from demanding the Epstein files.

Bigly!

Especially now his grandstanding announcement of Mid-East peace has taken off like a lead balloon, he needs continued drama to ward off increasing calls for those files to be released. What better concocted demon on which to focus redneck American hatred than Maduro? What better excuse, however flimsy, than to blame him for USA’s fentanyl surfeit?

Sigh.

Fentanyl was first developed in USA in 1959 and introduced in the 1960s as an anaesthetic. Like many drugs, illegal distribution for maximum profit became common and drug cartels made fortunes lacing party drugs with fentanyl. Another USA creation bites USA in the tuckus as overdose deaths from fentanyl analouges started causing concern in 2011 and have mushroomed since.

Fentanyl crosses USA’s leaky borders from Canada, Mexico and from as far away as Columbia and Venezuela. Bombing Venezuelan boats (and even Venezuela) won’t stop Fentanyl overdose deaths from rising. Flexing military muscles in the Caribbean won’t frighten Venezuela. This is just another example of stupidity running amok.

But what does CARICOM, currently chaired by Jamaica, say about this frightening frivolity? For weeks CARICOM was silent. On October 18, CARICOM finally found its forked tongue and issued a statement:

“[CARICOM Heads of Government] met and discussed various issues… including increased security build up in the Caribbean and the potential impacts on Member States. Save [for] Trinidad and Tobago who reserved its position, Heads agreed on the following:”

Trinidad and Tobago RESERVED its position? Why?

“They reaffirmed the principle of maintaining the Caribbean Region as a Zone of Peace and the importance of dialogue and engagement towards the peaceful resolution of disputes and conflict. CARICOM remains willing to assist towards that objective.”

So there’s dispute/conflict. About what? With whom? Does CARICOM seriously expect to address citizens’ murder by first calling it “increased security build up” and then by “dialogue and engagement”?

How does CARICOM call a region, where USA bombs small boats incapable of being any military threat to USA, “zone of peace”? Then CARICOM offers to “assist” in “maintaining” that “zone of peace”? How does anybody “maintain” what USA has already shattered? Who are we assisting? How?

“CARICOM Heads of Government reiterated their continued commitment to fighting narcotrafficking and illegal trade in small arms and light weapons which adversely affect the Region. They underscored that efforts to overcome these challenges should be through ongoing international cooperation and within international law.”

Did CARICOM co-operate in the strikes against the small boats? Is that why it was so silent for so long? That’s the only way the strikes could be within international law.

“They reaffirmed unequivocal support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of countries in the Region and the safety and livelihoods of the [Region’s] people.”

This mealy-mouthed nonsense is exacerbated by the cowardly “continued commitment to fighting narcotrafficking…” Why say this? Who are we appeasing? What has this historical tautology to do with US hostilities in our waters which, if unilateral, are flagrant international law breaches?

CARICOM leaders “support” Caribbean sovereignty, territorial integrity and citizen safety? Well, whoop-di-doo! When and how? Not recently!

CARICOM citizens were murdered on those boats. Taking Agent Orange’s allegations at their highest CARICOM citizens were victims of USA extra-judicial killing outside USA jurisdiction. And all we can do is “support” territorial integrity?

Waffles for breakfast?

The following day Trinidad and Tobago made its position crystal clear:

“Ministry of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs refers to the recent Statement from [CARICOM] issued on 18th October.

The Government of Trinidad and Tobago wishes to once more, categorially express its strong support for the on-going military intervention of USA in the Region.”

OMG! Trini Government not speaking with water in mouth. In direct contrast to CARICOM’s obfuscation, T&T ADMITS it was in on the action and actually applauds citizens’ slaughter without due process.

Lookie here: No USA President, not even The Orange Buffoon, would order these strikes without a heads up to CARICOM and at least tacit approval.

We. Were. Complicit!

“These operations aimed at combatting narco and human trafficking and other forms of transnational crime are ultimately aimed at allowing the Region to be a true “Zone of Peace” where all citizens can in reality, live and work in a safe environment.”

Zones of peace are created by acts of war? Really? Seriously?

“The Government of Trinidad and Tobago affirms that these operations are not meant to target law abiding persons, specifically fisherfolk and other seafaring individuals [earning] an honest living.”

On. What. EVIDENCE?

“Alternatively, all persons who may seek to engage in, or indirectly support, any illegal activities in the Region, are warned that should they be so inclined, they do so at their own peril. ”

ALTERNATIVELY? So T&T concedes USA “operations” could be targeting innocents but doesn’t give a rat’s rear? Your citizens can be tried, convicted and executed extra-judicially because they’re suspected of being engaged in or indirectly supporting illegal activity? Wow.

Just Wow!

In the new Colonies slave masters shoot first so needn’t ask questions later.

Did T&T’s statement really come from a sovereign state? It sounded like earlier USA “Department of War” messaging. Did USA State Department write a script for T&T to swallow and regurgitate?

We were “diplomatic” on Ukraine. We were “diplomatic” on Gaza. Now we should ponder a profound poem by German Pastor Martin Niemöller, initially an antisemitic Nazi supporter whose views changed when imprisoned in a concentration camp for speaking out against Nazi control of churches:

First they came for the Communists

and I did not speak out

because I was not a Communist.

Then they came for the Socialists

and I did not speak out

because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the trade unionists

and I did not speak out

because I was not a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews

and I did not speak out

because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me

and there was no one left

to speak out for me … .

Peace and Love.

Gordon Robinson is an attorney-at-law. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com