Amb. John D. Feeley on U.S. Troops and "Gunboat Diplomacy"

John Feeley is former U.S. Ambassador to Panama who advised the Trump and Biden administrations on Latin America. He resigned over policy differences during Trump's first term. He had previously served as a Captain in the US Marine Corp, flying helicopters that ferried troops from US naval vessels to shore. "We are in...literally uncharted waters." A former U.S. Ambassador and Marine helicopter pilot, John Feeley, joins Jim Clancy for a thorough discussion of the Trump Administration's military buildup in the Caribbean. Feeley, who resigned his diplomatic post as Ambassador to Panama during the first Trump Administration, says the current U.S. posture jeopardizes America's leadership position in a rules based order. "Gunboat diplomacy" is putting U.S. service members into murky legal territory. Amb. Feeley warns putting politics over professionalism is not going to solve America's drug problem and Sec. of Defense Pete Hegseth chest thumping about "warriors" can't shield American soldiers and sailors from international law. "There are a lot of bad people around the world, there are bad regimes, and there are threats to the United States. And we need a professional warrior class more than ever right now in this very difficult world. But what we don't need are a bunch of renegade war criminals hopped up on monster drink and push-ups like Pete Hegseth has."