Leading Intelligence Committee Democrats are accusing the Trump administration of leaving them in the dark on strikes in the Caribbean that have killed more than 40 people, demanding information about the intelligence community\u2019s role.<\/p>\n
The letter requests the legal justifications for the strikes, which has targeted a series of boats the Trump administration has claimed without evidence are ferrying drugs off the coasts of Venezuela and Colombia.<\/p>\n
\u201cDespite our repeated requests, the intelligence committees have received virtually no information about the Intelligence Community\u2019s support for these operations,\u201d Rep. Jim Himes (D-Md.) and Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), the top Democrat on each chamber\u2019s Intelligence Committee, wrote to Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have not been told which agencies are providing intelligence support, the nature of that assistance, or the amount of IC resources and personnel dedicated to this effort,” they continued. “Nor have we been advised about the IC\u2019s role in collecting and analyzing intelligence after the strikes to assess the identities of those targeted, the type and quantity of drugs that may have been onboard, and the impact of the strikes.\u201d<\/p>\n
The strikes have exacerbated tensions in the region, with Colombian President Gustavo Petro accusing the U.S. of murder after an operation in Colombian waters that he said killed a \u201clifelong fisherman.\u201d<\/p>\n
The deaths \u201care not war casualties, they are murders,\u201d he said Friday on social media.<\/p>\n
The lawmakers asked for more information about how the intelligence community has been involved in the military strikes, including any \u201cpost-strike assessment.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGood intelligence is critical to ensure that these operations do not kill innocent people with no connection to the drug trade. There have already been public reports that these strikes have killed individuals who were not affiliated with any drug trafficking organization,\u201d they wrote.<\/p>\n
Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), previously criticized the strikes, noting that similar operations carried out by the U.S. Coast Guard fail to find drugs in about a quarter of interdicted boats.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe can\u2019t have a policy where we just blow up ships where we don\u2019t even know the people\u2019s names,\u201d or whether they actually are transporting drugs, he said earlier this month.<\/p>\n
The Office of the Director of National Intelligence did not respond to request for comment.<\/p>\n
The Trump administration has beefed up its military presence in the Caribbean, deploying warships, fighter jets and at least one nuclear-powered submarine in the region. There are about 10,000 U.S. forces supporting<\/a> counternarcotics operations in the region.\u00a0<\/p>\n