Boat collision briefings assist Hegseth - but releasing shipwreck video may harm

After a Washington Post article questioned a US military strike on a suspected drug trafficking vessel in the Caribbean last September, members of Congress vowed to investigate further. The story sparked rare bipartisan concern over a controversial action by the Trump administration, raising doubts about Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, who was narrowly confirmed in January.

"There is significant concern among members," said Republican Congressman Mike Turner during a Thursday morning TV interview. He noted that lawmakers were questioning the reliability of information provided by the administration.

By Thursday afternoon, however, after senior legislators reviewed operational footage and heard from the admiral responsible for the strike, partisan lines began to reappear. Republicans defended the operation and praised Hegseth, while Democrats criticized it and called for additional scrutiny.

The main point of contention lies in differing views on the legality and morality of the Trump administrations ongoing anti-narcotics campaign in the Caribbean. This includes the policy of labeling drug traffickers as "terrorist organizations" and authorizing lethal action against civilians without external legal oversight.

Since that initial September strike, the US has carried out 21 similar attacks, resulting in over 80 deaths. According to The Post, the strike involved two separate attacks on the same vessel. The second strike reportedly killed two survivors from the first attack who were clinging to the smoldering wreckage. The report also claimed that Hegseth had ordered to "kill them all" prior to the strikes.

Hegseth stated he witnessed the first attack but left before the second took place. After briefings from General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Admiral Frank Bradley, who authorized the second strike, congressional officials said there was no evidence Hegseth issued the "kill everybody" order.

However, lawmakers opinions diverged sharply. Representative Jim Himes, the senior Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, described the video of the second attack as "deeply troubling," emphasizing that two individuals in distress were killed. Conversely, Republican Senator Tom Cotton defended the strikes as "lawful and necessary," noting that the survivors were attempting to recover a drug-laden boat.

For now, Americans must rely on these partisan accounts and the original reporting to form their opinions. This could change if the video of the second strike is released, as President Trump has expressed support for doing so. Should the footage prove disturbing, it could influence public perception, which has largely followed partisan lines.

By Thursday evening, Hegseths position appeared more secure, reinforced by an inspector general report that largely cleared him. The report did find he risked military personnel by discussing classified information on an unsecured apppart of the so-called Signalgate controversybut concluded he did not release secret material, asserting he had declassified it himself.

While two potentially damaging stories have subsided, Hegseth may face renewed scrutiny in the near future as the boat strike video and ongoing investigations continue to unfold.

Author: Maya Henderson