Overview
- At the Reagan National Defense Forum, the defense secretary likened drug traffickers to al-Qaida and vowed continued lethal operations.
- He said Admiral Frank M. Bradley authorized the second strike and said he was informed afterward but fully supports the decision.
- The White House has acknowledged that the follow-up strike hit survivors from a suspected smuggling vessel targeted in early September.
- Reporting has alleged two survivors clinging to the wreck were killed, a scenario experts say could violate international law.
- The Pentagon is weighing release of complete video, as Bradley has briefed Congress and lawmakers demand greater transparency.