The debate over the September 2 boat strike has turned into another predictable media feeding frenzy, with Democrats and left-leaning activists demanding the release of every unedited frame as if doing so will change the basic fact: our country has a right to defend itself from narcoterrorists trying to flood our streets with deadly drugs. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made it plain that the Pentagon will not release the full unedited footage to the public, citing long-standing operational and security policies that protect sources and methods.
Meanwhile, the same self-righteous crowd that cheered for weak border policies is acting shocked after a classified briefing showed the grim reality of confronting armed narco-traffickers at sea, with some members of Congress publicly flailing for headlines rather than solutions. Lawmakers who were briefed described disturbing images and pressed for transparency, but their outrage looks more like performative virtue signaling than a serious effort to keep Americans safe.
Senator John Kennedy, appearing on Fox News’ The Story, did what too few in Washington will do: he called out the critics for their reflexive condemnation, blasting them as “masterclass dumb” for pretending they know better than commanders on the scene and intelligence officers who vetted the target. Kennedy rightly emphasized that these strikes were based on solid intelligence and that throwing American operators under the bus to score political points is irresponsible and dangerous.
Not every Republican wants to play the transparency-for-the-sake-of-transparency game; Senators like Tom Cotton have said they see no problem with releasing footage if it does not compromise sources, emphasizing that the action looked lawful and necessary when viewed in context. The sober, conservative response should be to support sensible oversight while respecting operational security — not to hand a propaganda victory to cartels and hostile regimes by dumping classified material into the public domain.
President Trump and his team have framed these strikes as part of a legitimate campaign to choke off the narco-networks that are killing Americans, and the administration has been candid about attributing the targets to designated narcoterrorist groups. The gut reaction from the left to shout “war crime” without waiting for facts is exactly why our men and women in uniform and intelligence risk their lives — so politicians in Washington can posture without the burden of command.
At the end of the day, patriotic Americans should stand with leaders who act, not with critics who weaponize grief and uncertainty to tie the hands of those protecting our homeland. If lawmakers want answers, demand thorough classified briefings and responsible oversight that preserves our capacity to fight cartels and defend the border; don’t let the media circus or partisan score-settling weaken America’s resolve.
