'Deeply Troubling': Military Expert Warns Trump Is Unilaterally 'Deciding To Kill People'

[babylonsister]

‘Deeply Troubling’: Military Expert Warns Trump Is Unilaterally ‘Deciding To Kill People’
by Ailia Zehra | September 16, 2025 - 5:33am

— from Alternet


Rachel VanLandingham, a retired Judge Advocate General's Corps officer, strongly criticized President Donald Trump over his announcement that the U.S. military forces “literally shot out a boat” believed to be carrying narcotics from Venezuela.

During an appearance on CNN Monday, she said the administration was using "lethal force in the American people's name in a very unique manner," calling the action "deeply troubling."

"It sure looks like the president, on his own accord, is deciding to kill people, extrajudicial killings outside of an armed conflict, outside of war. And there's a binary here. The president can use lethal force, can kill people either because they're posing an imminent, deadly threat against Americans or American interests, or we're at war," VanLandingham said.

She added: "And the president has properly identified them as being a member of an armed group, either a military or some type of terrorist organization for which he has authority to to designate that we're at war against from Congress and is killing them based on their status. And we really don't see evidence of either," she continued.

VanLandingham, a former active duty judge advocate in the US Air Force, asked: "Why not just arrest them? Why not detain them and prosecute them in a U.S. court of law?"

more...

http://www.smirkingchimp.com/thread/ailia-zehra/114906/deeply-troubling-military-expert-warns-trump-is-unilaterally-deciding-to-kill-people

[Walleye]

1. Trump has a bloodlust. It will never be satisfied. Supreme Court keeps indulging him.

He is posting snuff films. Personally, I don’t feel right killing people in votes in international waters. But I don’t feel right calling the cities in emergency and in the army they’re just going about their normal lives.

[Blues Heron]

2. Trump has tasted blood and likes it, wants more. He will kill again, I'm certain. He is a dangerous lunatic

Arresting people does not satisfy this monster’s bloodlust, so he orders his agents to kill for him. Much like the Gilgo beach serial killer, but by proxy.

[Nasruddin]

32. Messianic

He appears to have become messianic. If that assassination attempt in 2024 was legit, he has truly been changed by it. He thinks he is some kind of being apart. And his calling is not a peaceful one.

[Irish_Dem]

3. Trump must keep exerting his brutal power over people to make up

for the fact he feels deeply inadequate and powerless on the inside.

He keeps hoping his sadistic power will fill up the hole in his soul, but it won't.

[greatauntoftriplets]

4. He's enjoying it.

Even if it's not happening on Fifth Avenue.

[some_of_us_are_sane]

27. TRUMP

Last edited Tue Sep 16, 2025, 03:56 PM - Edit history (1)

RUNS ON REVENGE. It's like gasoline to a car.

So it's time take the wheels off that car. He LOVES that Kirk's murder takes the national attention OFF of his own ignominy.

RELEASE TO FU*CKING EPSTEIN FILES!!

[mwmisses4289]

5. He wants their resources.

And he will use any means to try to get them.

[rambler68]

22. One more scary thought

Why is our military carrying out these suspect orders? What will they do when the orders are directed at U.S. citizens?

[Shipwack]

28. Not making excuses for this, but...

I think that the orders are being carried out because:

1) it’s easy for sailors to think of the attack as “shooting at a boat” and not as “murdering three people” when you are attacking from a distance and can’t see anyone “.

2) they train for this all the time. When you repeatedly drill to do something as practice, it is easier do it without thinking it through in reality.

3) No one person is responsible for the assault; it’s a group effort to fire a missile or something else.

4) It’s harder to dissent when you’re part of a group. You don’t know what other people are thinking and you think you’re the only one with doubts.

5) Fear of retribution for disobeying orders, even if they are illegitimate.

Now, there are probably some MAGA types in the crew (especially the officers). There are probably some who are uncomfortable with this. The crew of any ship is a slice of the general population.

I also wish there was someone resisting this. Maybe if we start getting some hard info on the victims to drive home the point that they were innocent this will happen. Since the media is complicit in going along with the attacks, I don’t think this will happen any time soon.

[Attilatheblond]

29. Recently read 54% of the us public reads at, or below a 5th grade level. That's part of the problem.

And as much as I honor and support out military personnel, it is sadly true that a lot of the rank and file are not the brightest people. Leadership? Seems the good ol boy system is still a problem. Look at how difficult it is for the females who decide to charge sexual attackers.

Never forget, FOX news plays in too many mess halls on too many bases.

I used to think our military wouldn't fire on us. Now, I put it at 50/50. Not great odds and one reason so many of us older people are manning the protests. We might become fodder, but the young patriots behind us will pick up the flag if we fall.

[multigraincracker]

6. Tough guy? Not at all. Challenge HIM to a fight.

He’ll run away in a second.
With those giant hands, like to see in a slap fight.

[Vinca]

7. How can this type of activity possibly be legal? It's more like Somali pirates than anything else.

Can't Venezuela bring charges at the World Court? Shouldn't other governments and the US be condemning it? This is slaughter for the purpose of looking like tough guys. Imagine if the money being spend blowing little fishing boats out of the water was spent on prevention instead.

[twodogsbarking]

8. Let's cut to the chase. He is a murderer.

[OldBaldy1701E]

9. And, an idiotic one at that.

Were it not for the Supremes, he would already be in a jail cell.

Oh wait, we had him but we didn't lock him up. Darn...

[Kid Berwyn]

10. If he wasn't Fuehrer, it'd be against the law.

And after all is said and done, Trump is a traitor.

[allegorical oracle]

11. Minutes ago on Morning Joe, video aired of Stephen Miller vowing to go after

the left-wing "terrorist cells" -- organizations that plan "riots" -- with all the power of the DOJ and DHS -- "in the name of Charlie Kirk."

Hope I'm wrong, but believe ICE and other military will be used to stop non-violent protests during djt's administration. Once Miller has removed all possible immigrants, the detention camps will come in handy for "dangerous" people who oppose djt's policies.

[IbogaProject]

12. Started w targeted assasanations in the middle east

We've been going down this slippery slope for awhile.

[Mossfern]

13. And wher TF is the Media?

Damn, I've never felt so helpless.
Where are the sane legislators protesting and making a ruckus in congress?

Honestly, I don't think demonstrations are doing anything.

[Scalded Nun]

21. Hiding in the corner until they are allowed out again to attack the left , their cowardice finally on full display.

[raccoon]

33. Wish I could rec this more than once.

[spanone]

14. trmp can add murderer to his disgusting resume

[Ray Bruns]

15. g "lethal force in the American people's name in a very illegal manner,"

FIFY

[newdeal2]

16. He got rejected by Xi, Putin, and Kim

Blowing small boats up is his way of acting out like a fake tough guy.

[Attilatheblond]

30. Excellent point!

Would REC 1000 times if possible.

[Old Crank]

17. The Roberts Supine Court

Said anything he does is okay.
Or that is his translation of it. He can commit no crimes defending the US.

[travelingthrulife]

18. Yes. And you in the military and those in Congress swore an oath to protect us from this

tyranny. Where are you so-called patriots?

[JustAnotherGen]

20. She's retired

I could see this evil empire taking back her benes or putting her in jail for saying this. It's to be expected with these crooks.

[JustAnotherGen]

19. I'm glad it's being documented and spoken about

Someday - it will come back to haunt the people in this Admin.

[muriel_volestrangler]

23. The US military is operating as a Death Squad. And that's what got Duterte in jail awaiting an ICC trial

Philippines' Duterte in The Hague after ICC arrest over drug war

A plane carrying former Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte has arrived in the Netherlands where he is to face charges of crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court (ICC) over his deadly "war on drugs".
...
Duterte, who contested his extradition, led the Philippines from 2016 to 2022 and presided over a violent "war on drugs" that saw thousands of small-time drug dealers, users and others killed without trial.
...
The ICC investigation covers 2011-2019, which includes the period when Duterte was mayor of Davao, a sprawling metropolis in the country's south, where his family has held power for decades.

Complaints filed against Duterte at the ICC allege that he kept a "death squad" of bounty hunters to go after drug suspects in Davao, and later replicated this model on a national scale when he was elected president.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c9819r2en4do

Hopefully, some of the US officers in the chain of command will also face charges one day - Trump may die before being held accountable, but they won't.

[Wednesdays]

24. OT: I see that smirkingchimp.com is still around

Most people under 20 likely have no clue who "Smirking Chimp" refers to.

[allegorical oracle]

31. Innocent times compared to now.

[wolfie001]

25. "Deeply troubling"? How 'bout blatant murder!

The US Navy could've pulled alongside and done an inspection. Then they could have detained them if said contraband was aboard. They didn't, therefore they murdered.

[twodogsbarking]

26. Shoot first, ask questions and we'll shoot you too.

[pfitz59]

34. He likely achieves sexual gratification while watching the murders

Melania surely isn't giving him any.

[Queso Delicioso]

35. It's an act of war.

That's generally the case when one country starts killing another's citizens without provocation or any kind of due process. Venezuela would be well within their rights to retaliate. That doesn't have to mean open armed conflict, as that would almost certainly be a losing proposition for them, but they might decide it would be neat to host some Chinese or Russian bases. Or maybe they get a bunch of hackers on payroll and start fucking with US infrastructure. Trump wants to play like he's Billy Badass, but what he's really playing are the opening rounds of FAFO.

[moonshinegnomie]

36. i wouldnt blame venezuela if they retaliated

not shoot up a boat but start seizing then in international waters. ideally yachts belonging to billionaires. accuse the owners of being drug traffickers.

and if the US tries to seize them back,sink them

[Hekate]

37. Stay safe, Judge