One step closer to bombing civilians By Miles Taylor, Sep 03, 2025 --- Overview This article warns of the dangerous escalation in the Trump administration's use of military force, particularly concerning a recent missile strike on a drug boat in the Caribbean. The author, Miles Taylor, draws on his experience during the first Trump administration to highlight how certain advisors envisioned expanding military action against non-traditional enemies, which now appears to be materializing. --- Key Points Background Incident During Trump's first administration, Taylor attended a presidential visit to a counter-drug command center in Florida focused on combating fentanyl trafficking. Instead of focusing on the drug crisis, Trump and advisor Stephen Miller fixated on the idea of using military drones to destroy drug boats in international waters. Miller pressured a U.S. Coast Guard Admiral about the legality and possibility of using drones equipped with missiles to obliterate migrant boats, dismissing international law concerns. Recent Military Strike The Trump administration recently announced a missile strike on a boat allegedly operated by the Tren de Aragua gang in the Caribbean, killing 11 people. The White House did not provide evidence that those aboard were armed or posed an imminent threat, nor why a lethal strike was chosen over arrest. This drug cartel was designated a “foreign terrorist organization,” a label previously reserved for groups like al-Qaeda or ISIS, providing a pretext to use military force. Legal and Ethical Concerns The strike represents a departure from usual drug interdiction practices, which focus on arrest and prosecution via cooperation with partner countries, U.S. Navy, or Coast Guard operations. The author compares this to a domestic analogy: police setting a house on fire instead of making arrests. The administration's conflation of criminals with terrorists risks militarizing law enforcement and normalizing lethal force against suspected criminals or even unarmed migrants and political dissidents. Broader Implications This shift aligns with the previously secret conversations within Trump’s inner circle about weaponizing wartime powers for political theater. Federal courts have recently blocked the use of wartime laws to deport Venezuelan gang members, rejecting the administration’s broad interpretation of terrorist designation. However, Trump's priorities appear to involve spectacle and intimidation rather than adherence to legal distinctions. Warning and Call to Attention Taylor emphasizes the danger of this aggressive military posture, warning it puts America "a step closer to bombing civilians." He highlights the authoritarian tendencies within the administration, influenced by advisors like Stephen Miller. The author urges vigilance as these decisions threaten free speech, legal norms, and innocent lives. --- Reader Engagement The article has sparked discussion, with commenters expressing alarm at perceived unlawful presidential actions and comparing Trump’s administration to dangerous authoritarian precedents. Followers are encouraged to subscribe to the newsletter for more insights and support whistleblower legal defenses. --- Conclusion Miles Taylor's firsthand experience and analysis reveal disturbing trends in U.S. policy under Trump—blurred lines between crime fighting and military action, erosion of international law, and a readiness to use lethal force against non-combatants. The article chronicles a critical moment where political objectives risk overriding legal and ethical constraints, cautioning the public about the escalating militarization of law enforcement and its broader societal consequences.