Hegseth Proudly Discussed Ignoring War Crimes in His Own Book

Last year, in his book The War on Warriors, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth recounted an episode from his service in Iraq in which he openly dismissed official legal guidance on combat engagement. He wrote that a JAG officer briefed his unit on when soldiers were permitted to fire, using the scenario of an enemy fighter holding a rocket-propelled grenade. When asked if they should shoot, the troops immediately answered yes. The legal adviser responded that they were prohibited from doing so unless the weapon was aimed with intent to fire.

According to the memoir, the platoon reacted with shock, after which Hegseth privately told them that such restrictions should not influence their decisions on the battlefield. He reportedly instructed his soldiers to eliminate anyone they viewed as a potential threat, promising to support them and insisting that the rule would endanger their lives.

The book contains repeated attacks on U.S. military protocols that govern combat, with Hegseth arguing that rigid standards force American forces to risk additional casualties for the sake of international approval. He questioned why U.S. troops should prioritize global opinion over winning conflicts under their own terms.

Hegseth also repeatedly praised his commander, Colonel Michael Steele, who was later reprimanded for allegedly ordering troops to kill all military-aged men during a 2006 operation in Iraq.

These accounts have resurfaced amid recent developments in the Caribbean. After a September 2 strike targeting suspected drug smuggling vessels, Hegseth is reported to have authorized a follow-up attack intended to eliminate two survivors. A separate investigation suggested he ordered the death of every person on board, though the White House has rejected that claim and shifted responsibility to Admiral Frank Mitch Bradley.

Hegseths previously stated disdain for rules of engagement now draws heightened scrutiny, as such an order would violate international war standards and the Defense Departments Law of War Manual, which bars operations carried out on the assumption that no one should be left alive.

Author: Ava Mitchell