Marc Abear: International institutions, American interests can diverge

To The Daily Sun,

The UN human rights chief demands the United States cease military operations against drug trafficking vessels directly challenging American efforts to combat narcotics smuggling at sea.

Volker Türk, the Austrian leading the UN’s human rights office called for an immediate halt to “extrajudicial killings” of individuals aboard cartel vessels. That’s his characterization of the American military strikes; violations of international human rights law in need of justice.

Does the U.S. have a right to interdict drugs destined for its shores? The UN seems to be asserting it does not; raising the question of national sovereignty.

President Donald Trump authorized the military campaign through an August executive order specifically targeting designated narco-terrorist organizations operating from Latin America.

The president explains the move is necessary protection of American people and territory from the flood of illicit drugs. This position is a fundamental shift in how the U.S. approaches drug trafficking. We are now treating it as a military threat rather than a law enforcement function.

This is an example of how international institutions and American interests can diverge.

From the U.S. perspective, these are not civilian vessels engaged in legitimate commerce. They are the maritime component of criminal enterprises, narco-terrorist organizations, responsible for harming American communities through distribution of fentanyl, cocaine, heroin and other dangerous substances.

The cartels have ruthless disregard for human life, at home and in the U.S. An international body headquartered in NYC has chosen to prioritize the welfare of individuals, members of narco-terrorist organizations, actively engaged in narcotics trafficking over the security interests of its host nation.

Does national sovereignty include the right to defend one’s borders and citizens through military means against transnational criminal organizations? Did we give up our sovereignty? Must we now defer to international legal frameworks? When did we vote on that?

Marc Abear

Meredith