Boat Manifest Destiny

“Most of the nine men were crewing such craft for the first or second time, making at least $500 per trip, residents and relatives said. They were laborers, a fisherman, a motorcycle taxi driver. Two were low-level career criminals. One was a well-known local crime boss who contracted out his smuggling services to traffickers.” Trump has accused boat crews of being narco-terrorists. The truth, AP found, is more nuanced. “As part of hired crews, the father of four spent his days fishing for snapper, kingfish and dogfish. The fisherman wanted to save enough money to buy a 75-horsepower boat engine so he could operate his own boat and not work for others. It was a dream Sánchez knew he was likely to never realize, relatives said: Most of his income — about $100 a month — went to feed his children.”

+ Of course, these strikes are about more than killing the equivalent of street corner dealers. U.S. Sends Attack Aircraft to El Salvador Amid Regional Troop Buildup.

+ Meanwhile, Hegseth Is Purging Military Leaders With Little Explanation.