I strain to imagine a second strike scenario on a small boat after the first strike hit where the person launching ordnance doesn't know the status of the target. The main issue here is what's the SecDef doing calling tactical and giving verbal orders to troops? Unless we're talking a special ops mission like UBL, there's no reason Hegseth needs to be issuing orders at all. If the mission is authorized, it has an objective. If the objective is "kill them all," that's an illegal order. The entire thing must be investigated down to the second, to the word, and to the action.
What do you expect from a Commander in Chief who defends and honors war criminals?
That something like this would happen was entirely predictable, albeit not from the Secretary of Defense (a war criminal fan himself). Pete's a moron, but I didn't think he would be THIS stupid.
I'm calling it now, Trump grants him a pardon before any consequences can actually be levied.
Steve, you wrote several paragraphs asserting the allegations against Hegseth are true. Yet, at the end, you use the word "if".
Mark Kelly conducted precisions strikes and admitted he did not question whether they were really directed toward refugee boats or family reunions. Streiff knows the rules as well as anyone and points out that it depends on the objective.
Love the attempt to muddy the waters here re Mark Kelly, but he was functionally the equivalent of an artilleryman firing rounds from over the horizon at a target he couldn't see. In both cases they rely on others to confirm a valid/legal target, and only if they could first-hand see something that would make them second-guess the order then would they be required to do so.
There does need to be an investigation into what exactly was ordered by Hegseth/Trump. Will it end up being an admiral getting thrown under the bus, or will it go higher? We shall see.
I forgot to note: they've moved on from stating this is a fabricated story to admitting it happened and trying to shield the administration.
I do not believe a Navy pilot is equivalent to an artilleryman. He would be able to see his target in most cases. Mark Kelly is a hypocrite. He was a high-ranking officer and knows very well that orders must be assumed to be legal unless obviously otherwise. As a company grade officer, I knew that much.
Investigations might be ok but accusations without reliable confirmations are not.
Your statement about assuming orders to be legal unless obviously otherwise is the whole point - they'd have to be able to see it is a not legal action. That's where those that ordered the second strike/no quarter - which has been confirmed now - and those that followed said orders are now in severe legal danger.
I strain to imagine a second strike scenario on a small boat after the first strike hit where the person launching ordnance doesn't know the status of the target. The main issue here is what's the SecDef doing calling tactical and giving verbal orders to troops? Unless we're talking a special ops mission like UBL, there's no reason Hegseth needs to be issuing orders at all. If the mission is authorized, it has an objective. If the objective is "kill them all," that's an illegal order. The entire thing must be investigated down to the second, to the word, and to the action.
What do you expect from a Commander in Chief who defends and honors war criminals?
That something like this would happen was entirely predictable, albeit not from the Secretary of Defense (a war criminal fan himself). Pete's a moron, but I didn't think he would be THIS stupid.
I'm calling it now, Trump grants him a pardon before any consequences can actually be levied.
He better not travel internationally
Steve, you wrote several paragraphs asserting the allegations against Hegseth are true. Yet, at the end, you use the word "if".
Mark Kelly conducted precisions strikes and admitted he did not question whether they were really directed toward refugee boats or family reunions. Streiff knows the rules as well as anyone and points out that it depends on the objective.
https://redstate.com/streiff/2025/11/29/washington-post-accuses-pete-hegseth-of-illegal-order-to-kill-drug-runners-but-is-it-real-n2196655
Love the attempt to muddy the waters here re Mark Kelly, but he was functionally the equivalent of an artilleryman firing rounds from over the horizon at a target he couldn't see. In both cases they rely on others to confirm a valid/legal target, and only if they could first-hand see something that would make them second-guess the order then would they be required to do so.
There does need to be an investigation into what exactly was ordered by Hegseth/Trump. Will it end up being an admiral getting thrown under the bus, or will it go higher? We shall see.
I forgot to note: they've moved on from stating this is a fabricated story to admitting it happened and trying to shield the administration.
Admiral Frank Bradley is the one the tires will be *thump*'ing over this time.
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/12/01/white-house-second-boat-strike-00671488
Sure looks like it. Question is whether he'll drag Hegseth with him or not.
I do not believe a Navy pilot is equivalent to an artilleryman. He would be able to see his target in most cases. Mark Kelly is a hypocrite. He was a high-ranking officer and knows very well that orders must be assumed to be legal unless obviously otherwise. As a company grade officer, I knew that much.
Investigations might be ok but accusations without reliable confirmations are not.
See the target from what height and speed?
Your statement about assuming orders to be legal unless obviously otherwise is the whole point - they'd have to be able to see it is a not legal action. That's where those that ordered the second strike/no quarter - which has been confirmed now - and those that followed said orders are now in severe legal danger.