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BumRushDaShow

(160,828 posts)
Mon Sep 29, 2025, 07:17 AM 21 hrs ago

Stephen Miller takes leading role in strikes on alleged Venezuelan drug boats

Source: The Guardian

Mon 29 Sep 2025 06.00 EDT
Last modified on Mon 29 Sep 2025 06.01 EDT


Stephen Miller, the White House deputy chief of staff, has played a leading role in directing US strikes against suspected Venezuelan drug boats, according to three people familiar with the situation. At times, his role has superseded that of Marco Rubio, the secretary of state and national security adviser.

The strikes on the Venezuelan boats allegedly carrying narcotics, which the administration has claimed were necessary because interdiction did not work, have been orchestrated through the homeland security council (HSC), which Miller leads as the homeland security adviser.

Miller empowered the HSC earlier this year to become its own entity in Donald Trump’s second term, a notable departure from previous administrations where it was considered part of the national security council and ultimately reported to the national security adviser.

As a result, the HSC has taken the lead on engaging the Venezuelan boats, the people said, a situation evidenced by his top deputy, Tony Salisbury, and others being the gatekeepers to details about what boat to strike until they are about to occur.

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/sep/29/stephen-miller-venezuela-drug-boat-strike

24 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Stephen Miller takes leading role in strikes on alleged Venezuelan drug boats (Original Post) BumRushDaShow 21 hrs ago OP
The Shadow President no_hypocrisy 20 hrs ago #1
He's counting on a blanket pardon from Trump before he's 25th Amendmented muriel_volestrangler 18 hrs ago #12
A blanket pardon liberalgunwilltravel 13 hrs ago #20
Wouldn't it be luvverly if an incoming Democratic president and Congress signed up to the ICC muriel_volestrangler 13 hrs ago #22
"Miller exposed as leader in strikes on Venezuelan drug boats". There, title fixed. nt Javaman 20 hrs ago #2
This Nazi ghoul probably gets off on it. nt Dulcinea 20 hrs ago #3
He loves killing people. All legal. Irish_Dem 20 hrs ago #4
Who is actually giving the US Navy commands to fire on the boats? Miller's position can't have that kind of authority ChicagoTeamster 20 hrs ago #5
Most likely, Miller orders Hegseth to issue the orders. No proof of drug smuggling needed. Lonestarblue 19 hrs ago #10
SecDef should only take orders from President. Miller didn't undergo Congressional approval hearings. ChicagoTeamster 17 hrs ago #13
my guess is, Blackjackdavey 15 hrs ago #16
When this finally ends, and Miller has been sentenced in Nuremberg II, Buns_of_Fire 20 hrs ago #6
He did the same type shit last time orangecrush 19 hrs ago #7
Put him on a boat Marthe48 19 hrs ago #8
Matador loves blood and gore IronLionZion 19 hrs ago #9
This is all about creating an incident, finding a pretext for an invasion of Venezuela and overthrowing Maduro. sop 19 hrs ago #11
I can see that Bayard 14 hrs ago #18
Well, presumably, Miller doesn't enjoy a "Get Out of Jail Free" immunity shield as does his orange Texin 17 hrs ago #14
Pardons will be issued to everyone on the way out the door. sop 16 hrs ago #15
Miller will sit in the dock of the war crimes trials Mysterian 15 hrs ago #17
When we take back this country drmeow 14 hrs ago #19
Great! When the time comes Turbineguy 13 hrs ago #21
No surprise there. amcgrath 13 hrs ago #23
Little Nazi Stephen, sexual dynamo. louis-t 13 hrs ago #24

muriel_volestrangler

(104,844 posts)
12. He's counting on a blanket pardon from Trump before he's 25th Amendmented
Mon Sep 29, 2025, 10:00 AM
18 hrs ago

I reckon Vance wouldn't give him one, because that would be a very convenient way for Vance to eliminate a rival.

20. A blanket pardon
Mon Sep 29, 2025, 02:43 PM
13 hrs ago

Won’t protect from “crimes against humanity” charges or the multitudes of enemies he’s made.

muriel_volestrangler

(104,844 posts)
22. Wouldn't it be luvverly if an incoming Democratic president and Congress signed up to the ICC
Mon Sep 29, 2025, 02:54 PM
13 hrs ago

so that it could prosecute crimes against humanity that the ridiculous US presidential pardon prevents?

But I'm not holding my breath. More likely, it'd just stop Miller visiting civilised countries, and restrict him to Russia, China, North Korea etc. Which are probably the only places he wants to go anyway.

ChicagoTeamster

(30 posts)
5. Who is actually giving the US Navy commands to fire on the boats? Miller's position can't have that kind of authority
Mon Sep 29, 2025, 08:29 AM
20 hrs ago

Doesn't a command like that have to follow a chain along the lines of someone in the Joint Chiefs to a Navy or Coast Guard admiral to the ship commander? Supposedly, the crews on these ships were asking their commanders for some kind of immunity from prosecution because they're not convinced of the legality of the orders.

Lonestarblue

(12,946 posts)
10. Most likely, Miller orders Hegseth to issue the orders. No proof of drug smuggling needed.
Mon Sep 29, 2025, 09:19 AM
19 hrs ago

Venezuela isn’t even the biggest source of illegal drugs coming into the US. The majority come through Mexico. Perhaps Trump is making a case to declare war on Venezuela and take over their oil and gas resources.

ChicagoTeamster

(30 posts)
13. SecDef should only take orders from President. Miller didn't undergo Congressional approval hearings.
Mon Sep 29, 2025, 10:50 AM
17 hrs ago

That means Trump probably isn't even consulted, just advised during or after. So, he's not even running anything, just acting like it's his plan when he vomits word salads or signs executive orders.

Blackjackdavey

(240 posts)
16. my guess is,
Mon Sep 29, 2025, 01:17 PM
15 hrs ago

they don't necessarily need to take over the oil. I'm assuming they are simply trying to destabilize the oil market and drive up prices because their drill baby drill isn't working out according to plan as the oil supply surplus make it cost ineffective. It's about oil, but not to take, just to make the price per barrel increase. And this plan is so far also not working as each provocation simply seems to cause OPEC nations to just release more oil.

Buns_of_Fire

(18,779 posts)
6. When this finally ends, and Miller has been sentenced in Nuremberg II,
Mon Sep 29, 2025, 08:32 AM
20 hrs ago

he's the one I most expect to take the Hermann Goering route to avoid execution -- a cyanide capsule.

sop

(16,213 posts)
11. This is all about creating an incident, finding a pretext for an invasion of Venezuela and overthrowing Maduro.
Mon Sep 29, 2025, 09:28 AM
19 hrs ago

ExxonMobil and ConocoPhillips had their investments in Venezuela nationalized in 2007 by the Venezuelan government. Big Oil is behind this.

Bayard

(27,172 posts)
18. I can see that
Mon Sep 29, 2025, 01:41 PM
14 hrs ago

Follow the money. Business as usual. Forget the subtlety of an Economic Hit Man.

Texin

(2,806 posts)
14. Well, presumably, Miller doesn't enjoy a "Get Out of Jail Free" immunity shield as does his orange
Mon Sep 29, 2025, 10:50 AM
17 hrs ago

master, and perhaps he can be prosecuted at some point.

Mysterian

(5,952 posts)
17. Miller will sit in the dock of the war crimes trials
Mon Sep 29, 2025, 01:18 PM
15 hrs ago

when the rule of law is re-established in the USA.

drmeow

(5,780 posts)
19. When we take back this country
Mon Sep 29, 2025, 02:03 PM
14 hrs ago

this demon spawn needs to be turned over to the ICC for trial.

amcgrath

(415 posts)
23. No surprise there.
Mon Sep 29, 2025, 03:07 PM
13 hrs ago

He is a deviant. His involvement would be expected, it may not be his department but wherever there is cruelty or death, Miller will be drawn to it. It excites him.

louis-t

(24,476 posts)
24. Little Nazi Stephen, sexual dynamo.
Mon Sep 29, 2025, 03:18 PM
13 hrs ago

Getting his rocks off killing people. Who cares if we don't know whether they are actually drug dealers on the boat, "this is fun" says Steverino.

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