Ex-Pentagon Lawyer Doubts Hegseth's Blame Game Strategy in Boat Survivor Killings: 'It Won't End Well'

Ryan Goodman, the former chief legal officer of the Pentagon, has stated that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth bears ultimate responsibility for a deadly strike that killed survivors following a U.S. attack on a suspected drug trafficking vessel in the Caribbean. According to a report by The Washington Post on Friday, Hegseth had ordered that everyone on the boat be killed prior to the September 2 bombing near Trinidad.

After the Navy conducted the initial strike, two survivors were left clinging to the wreckage. Admiral Mitch Bradley reportedly considered these survivors to be legitimate targets and carried out Hegseths directive, resulting in their deaths after a second strike on the boat.

Goodman, who previously served as General Counsel for the Department of Defense, spoke on Mondays OutFront, where host Erin Burnett read Hegseths tweet praising Bradley: Admiral Mitch Bradley is an American hero, a true professional, and has my 100% support. I stand by him and the combat decisions he has made. Burnett pointed out that Hegseth appeared to shift responsibility to Bradley, saying, So its pretty clear what Hegseth is saying. Its not me, its him. She then asked Goodman for his perspective on the situation.

Goodman responded that the outcome could be damaging for Hegseth. He explained that the worst-case scenario, as reported by The Washington Post and CNN, is that Hegseth directly instructed Admiral Bradley to ensure no survivors. Even in a best-case scenario, where Hegseth gave general instructions that Bradley interpreted in a lethal manner, the Secretary would still be held accountable.

He further emphasized that targeting shipwrecked survivors is explicitly cited in the Pentagons Law of War Manual as an example of an illegal order that service members should refuse. It is the textbook example that the Department of Defense Law of War Manual gives for when somebody should refuse a clearly illegal order, Goodman said. The very example they give is firing on shipwrecked individuals.

Former Top Pentagon Lawyer Says Hegseths Finger-Pointing After Boat Survivor Killings Wont Work: I Dont See It Playing Out Well

Author: Sophia Brooks