Caribbean is active amid push for transparency

NewsNation National Correspondent Robert Sherman has found himself on the frontlines of some of the world's biggest stories: from Ukraine to Israel and across the U.S. He shares what he's seeing on the ground.

Caribbean is active amid push for transparency

Good afternoon from Cieba, Puerto Rico.

I'm currently sitting next to the airstrip at Roosevelt Roads Naval Station, where gunships are taxiing on the tarmac fighter jets periodically take off and land.

A reminder that it's an active, dynamic, and ever-changing world we live in around the globe. Here's what's noteworthy in international affairs today.

CARIBBEAN OPERATIONS

We know at least 22 strikes have been carried out on alleged drug trafficking boats here in the Caribbean since SOUTHCOM began targeting them in recent months. Those will not be stopping, according to Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.

"There aren't many people getting on boats right now running drugs, which is the whole point," Hegseth said over the weekend.

WATCH: Staging of aircraft in Puerto Rico

The administration has been fielding some criticism over a September 2 incident, which involved a second strike being carried out that allegedly eliminated survivors of the first hit.

Secretary Hegseth is defending the move, saying, "I was told, hey, there had to be a re-attack because there were a couple of folks that could still be in the fight, access to radios, there was a link up point of another potential boat." He added, "What I understood then and what I understand now, I fully support that strike. I would have made the same call myself."

U.S. officials contend all 11 people on the boat were known traffickers. Democrats are pushing back on this, including Rep. Jim Himes.

"We might have known one or two, I don't know, but we certainly didn't know the identities of all 11," he said to ABC in an interview.

A PUSH FOR TRANSPARENCY

Some lawmakers have been shown the footage behind closed doors.

Democratic Senator Adam Schiff told NBC's "Meet the Press" he believes it's important for the public to see the video and decide for themselves.

"Let the American people see two people standing on a capsized boat — or sitting on a capsized boat and deliberately killed, and decide for themselves whether they're proud of what their country is doing," Schiff said.

The president told reporters last week he didn't take issue with it. "I don't know what they have, but whatever they have, we'd certainly release, no problem," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Wednesday.

Some Republicans have agreed with the notion of transparency, including Sen. Tom Cotton. His only caution is sharing tactical information.

"The department may have valid concerns about revealing what we know about tactics and techniques that these cartels are using or about our sources or methods," Cotton told NBC's "Meet the Press." "And I would trust Secretary Hegseth and his team to make the decision about whether they can declassify and release the video."

The secretary of war was asked directly this weekend if it would be released.

"We are reviewing it right now," Hegseth said.

UPDATE ON LESSONS FROM THE FRONT

This is the big week! Thursday, my book, "Lessons from the Front: A Rookie War Correspondent in Ukraine and Israel" will officially release.

Unexpectedly, I'll be launching this project while on assignment here in the Caribbean. I happen to think it's quite appropriate. Nearly every word of this book was written while on airplanes heading from story to story, so it seems fitting.

I'll be doing a virtual media tour on radio affiliates across the country, including "The Dan Abrams Show" on SiriusXM Tuesday at 2 pm ET, and Bill O'Reilly's "No Spin News" on Wednesday during the 2 pm ET hour.

Thanks to everyone who has been with me every step of the way. For those still interested in preordering, you can do so through Amazon, Barnes and Noble or Bloomsbury.