Pentagon Pete Faces Backlash for His Ranting Comments

Remarks from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have come back into the spotlight as he faces allegations of approving a lethal strike on a suspected Venezuelan drug vessel. On Tuesday, MSNBCs Morning Joe replayed two segments featuring Hegseth that may be critical in the ongoing inquiry into the September 2 airstrikes in the Caribbean, which resulted in 11 fatalities.

In one clip, Hegseth is seen recounting the attack as it happened, while in another he criticized the stupid rules of engagement. Speaking to Fox News the day after the strike, he stated, I can tell you that was definitely not artificial intelligence. I watched it live. We knew exactly who was in that boat. We knew exactly what they were doing, and we knew exactly who they represented.

Questions remain regarding the decision to target the two survivors of the vessel and the specific orders Hegseth may have issued.

/ Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

Morning Joe also aired an edited version of Hegseths speech delivered on September 30 in Quantico, Virginia, before hundreds of military officials. He declared, War is something you do sparingly, on our own terms and with clear aims. We fight to win. We also dont fight with stupid rules of engagement. We untie the hands of our warfighters to intimidate, demoralize, hunt, and kill the enemies of our country. No more politically correct and overbearing rules of engagement, just common sense, maximum lethality, and authority for warfighters.

Hegseth is under intense scrutiny following The Washington Post report that he allegedly ordered a kill everybody approach after two people were observed clinging to the destroyed boat. The attack has prompted debate over whether the Trump administrations actions could constitute a war crime, targeting survivors who posed no immediate threat in the campaign against so-called narco-terrorists.

Both Hegseth and the White House have attempted to place responsibility on Navy Adm. Frank M. Mitch Bradley, who supervised operations at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and reportedly executed the second strike. According to The Washington Post, Bradleys so-called double tap order was issued to comply with Hegseths directive to eliminate everyone on the vessel, resulting in the deaths of two individuals.

/ U.S. Navy

Later reporting by The New York Times, citing unnamed sources, indicated that while Hegseth wanted everyone on the drug boat neutralized, he did not provide explicit instructions regarding any survivors from the first strike. After the Morning Joe clips were aired, Washington Post columnist David Ignatius emphasized the need to establish exactly who said what, when before the second strike.

Ignatius added, The argument is being made that Bradley was targeting the boat, not the surviving individuals. Detailed evidence will clarify this as the investigation continues. Two key points: Hegseth opposes restrictive rules for his forces, and determining the facts will require thorough work from Senate and House committees, which appear committed to pursuing this fully.

The Pentagon has been contacted by The Daily Beast for comment on the matter.

Author: Sophia Brooks