Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al-Mayadeen's correspondent in southern Lebanon: Israeli occupation forces withdraw from the Blida municipality building two hours after occupying it, and the Lebanese army enters
Pakistani army: 6 soldiers and 7 militants killed in clash near the Afghan border
Israeli media: Sirens sound in the settlement of Kerem Shalom in the Gaza envelope area
Afghan source to Al Mayadeen: We still believe in dialogue and prioritize diplomatic solutions with Pakistan; though we are ready for all possibilities.
Afghan source to Al Mayadeen: Pakistan purposely obstructed negotiations in Turkey by making unrealistic demands.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: More than 70 martyrs in Israeli attacks on Gaza since dawn.
Death toll from latest Israeli strikes on Gaza rises to 30
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Five killed in the Israeli bombing of a civilian vehicle on Al-Qassam Street in Khan Younis, south of the Gaza Strip
Hamas confirms that it has no connection to the shooting incident in Rafah and affirms its commitment to the ceasefire agreement
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Two civilians were killed and four others, including a child and an infant, were injured in an Israeli bombing of a house belonging to the Al-Banna family in the al-Sabra neighborhood, south of Gaza City

Rep. Senator calls Vance remarks on Venezuela boat strike 'despicable'

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: News websites
  • 8 Sep 2025 09:16
  • 1 Shares
4 Min Read

JD Vance faces backlash after defending the US boat strike on a Venezuelan boat that killed 11, with critics warning his stance glorifies executions without justice.

Listen
  • x
  • Vance sparks outrage for endorsing US extrajudicial killings at sea
    US Vice President JD Vance speaks to the press as second lady Usha Vance looks on the tarmac of Minneapolis' Saint Paul International Airport, Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025, St. Paul, Minn. (AP)

The Republican head of the Senate Homeland Security Committee has sharply criticized Vice President JD Vance for remarks appearing to endorse extrajudicial killings by the US military.

“Killing cartel members who poison our fellow citizens is the highest and best use of our military,” Vance wrote Saturday on X, defending last week’s US strike on a Venezuelan boat in the Caribbean Sea that left 11 people dead. The administration has alleged the victims were drug traffickers.

Vance added, “Democrats: let’s send your kids to die in Russia. Republicans: actually, let’s protect our people from the scum of the earth.”

Glorifying killing someone without a trial

Sen. Rand Paul, chair of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, responded to Vance's remarks and took a swing at his expression of the "highest and best use of the military," linking it to the extrajudicial killings.

“JD ‘I don’t give a shit’ Vance says killing people he accuses of a crime is the ‘highest and best use of the military.’ Did he ever read To Kill a Mockingbird?” Paul posted on X, citing Harper Lee’s novel about a wrongly convicted Black man shot while trying to escape prison.

He also denounced the vice president's approach to the issues as "despicable" and "thoughtless".

“Did he ever wonder what might happen if the accused were immediately executed without trial or representation? What a despicable and thoughtless sentiment it is to glorify killing someone without a trial."

'Counterterrorism operation' or extrajudicial killing?

Related News

Trump directs Pentagon to begin nuclear weapons testing

Trump: South Korea to build nuclear submarine in Philadelphia shipyard

Casting the boat attack as a "counterterrorism operation", US President Donald Trump promised further military action against what he described as "alleged traffickers", saying after the boat strike, “there’s more where that came from.”

No evidence of the alleged drug trafficking was submitted in the process.

“The strike occurred while the terrorists were at sea in international waters transporting illegal narcotics, heading to the United States,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “The strike resulted in 11 terrorists killed in action. No U.S. Forces were harmed in this strike … Please let this serve as notice to anybody even thinking about bringing drugs into the United States of America. BEWARE!”

Strained relations

The attack has further strained US-Venezuelan relations. In August, Trump deployed warships and Marines to the Caribbean, moves supporters said were aimed at pressuring Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. On Friday, reports surfaced that 10 US F-35 fighter jets were being sent to Puerto Rico to back operations against suspected traffickers.

Some analysts warn that the escalation could spiral into direct conflict between US and Venezuelan forces.

Last month, Washington placed a $50 million bounty on Maduro, twice the amount once offered for Osama bin Laden, and in July, Trump signed a classified directive authorizing military action against Latin American cartels designated as "terrorist groups", including the Venezuelan Cartel de los Soles, which US officials have linked to Maduro.

Maduro deploys 25,000 troops to Colombia border, Caribbean coast

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro announced earlier the deployment of 25,000 armed forces to the border region with Colombia and along the Caribbean coast, saying the mobilization is intended to strengthen rapid reaction operations and safeguard national security.

“The main objective of this mobilization is to defend national sovereignty and national security and to fight for peace,” Maduro said.

In previous statements, Maduro warned that Venezuela would “enter the stage of armed struggle” if attacked, while stressing that the country remains open to dialogue but demands respect.

Maduro warned on Friday that his country is prepared to “enter a stage of armed struggle” if subjected to foreign aggression, while stressing that Venezuela “has always been open to dialogue, but demands respect.”

In a televised address, Maduro dismissed attempts by US President Donald Trump’s administration to pursue regime change in Caracas, describing them as “a mistake".

“No disagreement between Venezuela and the United States should lead to military conflict,” he said, calling on Washington to abandon what he described as reckless plans for interference.

Maduro rejected Trump’s accusations that his government leads a “drug cartel", stressing that Venezuela is free of cocaine cultivation and production. He likened US claims to the fabricated allegations of weapons of mass destruction used to justify the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

  • United States
  • JD Vance
  • Venezuelan boat
  • US boat strike

Most Read

'Israel’s Digital Iron Dome: Weaponizing the web against Palestine

'Israel’s Digital Iron Dome: Weaponizing the web against Palestine

  • Technology
  • 24 Oct 2025
Arab League chief exposes secret US deal shielding 'Israel’s' nukes

Arab League chief exposes secret US deal shielding 'Israel’s' nukes

  • Politics
  • 27 Oct 2025
Hi-tech holocaust: Microsoft’s role in Gaza genocide

Microsoft's role in world’s first AI-driven genocide, in Gaza, exposed

  • Technology
  • 28 Oct 2025
What Marr evidently didn't seem to understand was that Hedges isn't saying that Western journalists manipulate the truth, but that they systematically amplify Israeli narratives they know are false. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)

Western journalists know they have a case to answer for their betrayal of Gaza, and it frightens them

  • Opinion
  • 24 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Displaced Sudanese who fled El-Fasher after the city fell to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), rest near the town of Tawila in war-torn Sudan's western Darfur region (AP)
Politics

UAE directly funded RSF, leading to fall of El-Fasher: Sudan

'You’re not welcome in Greece': Israelis face port protests
Politics

'You’re not welcome in Greece': Israelis face port protests

This photo released by the Israeli military on Thursday, Nov. 2, 2023, shows ground operations inside the Gaza Strip (AP)
Politics

IOF soldier who fought in Gaza, Lebanon denied entry to Czech Republic

UN inquiry exposes 'Israel’s' four genocidal crimes against Gaza
Politics

'Israel' committed four genocidal acts in Gaza, UN inquiry finds

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS