Journo On CNN Straight-Up Asks Ex-Trump Honcho ‘Is Trump Committing A War Crime?’

Journalist and author Garrett Graff straight-up asked Trump ally and former Secretary of the Interior, Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-MT), if President Donald Trump “is committing a war crime” with his airstrikes on suspected drug boats.

Trump has ordered at least two deadly strikes on Venezuelan boats he claims were carrying drugs to the United States, strikes that have drawn bipartisan condemnation and accusations of war crimes.

On Wednesday morning’s edition of CNN This Morning, Cornish led a discussion of the issue with a “Group Chat” panel consisting ofGraff, ex-GOP lawmaker Charlie Dent, and Democratic strategist Antjuan Seawright.

When Graff bluntly asked Zinke about the accusations, his response contained a whopper of a qualifier:

CORNISH: I want to ask you about one more thing, because you mentioned Venezuela halfway in your answer earlier. Garrett and I were looking at the papers and noticing, it’s kind of buried this ongoing militarization of the war on drugs against Venezuela, as Venezuela is described as a narco terrorist state, correct? And we were wondering if you see military special ops —

ZINKE: Well, I see —

CORNISH: What do you see in this moment of us taking this action?

ZINKE: I see — I see two parallels. One is, I see gunboat diplomacy going back to Teddy Roosevelt. And from the halls of Montezuma, if you’re a Marine. I also see a lot of Panama, because I was a SEAL during — during Panama. The participation, the control of narco drug trafficking. Clearly, the U.S. has said that organization is a terrorist organization.

And look, there’s a Marine amphibious unit sitting off the coast of Venezuela and a lot of firepower. You look at the — our naval disposition.

CORNISH: But is this how it typically goes, Garrett?

GARRETT GRAFF: Yes, and, you know, you’re an ex-SEAL. You understand the laws of war. Is the president committing a war crime with these Venezuelan boat hits?

ZINKE: You know, I don’t — I don’t think so. I think he has the power. And look, when the prime ministers of Tobago, you know, say, look, kill them all, they understand. They’re in the front line. They understand the problems with what’s going on, on the drugs.

I would say if — if the Venezuelan regime, if Maduro does not change his modus of operandi. things are going to get — are going to be a lot tighter.

CORNISH: But are we skipping steps between here and blowing up a boat with 11 people?

ZINKE: Well, my — the war on — the war on drugs is a war on drugs when you got drug traffickers out there. Look, they’re — they’re — they’re no better than pirates in the sea. Yes. Yes, as long as the intelligence is good, you know? And that’s — and that’s where —

GRAFF: And we have some indication it’s not. Let’s be clear.

ZINKE: Well, you know, it needs to be better, shouldn’t it?

GRAFF: But that’s one of the reasons you don’t —

ZINKE: I mean, look, you know, look, I’ve been —

GRAFF: (INAUDIBLE) —

CORNISH: Yes.

ZINKE: I’ve been, you know — you know, a SEAL commander before. I’ve been there. Your intelligence, you know, should be, when — when you’re going to go after and destroy a boat at sea. And boarding a boat at sea is enormously dangerous.

CORNISH: Yes.

ZINKE: You saw the loss of life with SEALs that do this for a living out in the Gulf. So, boarding a ship is — is tough. But if you’re going to destroy it, you want to make sure your intelligence is spot on.

Watch above via CNN This Morning.