Pentagon Pete's Attempt to Shift Blame Fails

Pete Hegseths efforts to evade accountability for a controversial strike on a vessel in the Caribbean have drawn sharp criticism, particularly from his own team. The 45-year-old Secretary of Defense has been under intense scrutiny after allegedly authorizing a second deadly U.S. strike on a suspected drug boat on September 2, following a revealing Washington Post report earlier this week.

Two survivors from the initial strike were reportedly clinging to the burning vessel when the second attack occurreda move that, if verified, could constitute a war crime. The operation was allegedly conducted under Hegseths direct instruction to eliminate everyone on board.

Multiple sources within the Department of Defense and the White House told Zeteo that they were outraged by Hegseths attempts to blame subordinates. His aggressive actions against suspected drug-smuggling boats have provoked bipartisan condemnation among lawmakers.

At least try to be less transparent about it, one Defense Department official commented, highlighting the growing frustration with Hegseth, who has begun referring to himself as the Secretary of War. White House insiders revealed that federal lawyers have warned that the second strike, if true, would violate U.S. and international law, citing the Pentagons own Law of War Manual.

Even without a legal background, it was clear this would be illegal, a Trump administration official stated. Theres protecting the country, and then theres criminal conduct.

Initially, Hegseth dismissed reports of the second strike as false and inflammatory. Within a day, however, he shifted responsibility to Admiral Mitch Bradley, claiming during a Cabinet meeting that leaders must accept accountability for subordinates, yet quickly asserting that Bradley had given the orders and that he only learned about it afterward. I watched the first strike live, but theres a lot happening at the Department of War, Hegseth said. I moved on to my next meeting after a short while.

Even former President Trump appeared to distance himself from the second strike. I wasnt aware of the second strike, he said. I knew they took out a boat, but I didnt know the details.

Since early September, U.S. military strikes in the Caribbean have resulted in over 80 deaths. Typically, the Pentagon releases footage to verify targets, but in this case, little evidence has been shared to confirm the boats were involved in drug trafficking. Democrats have called for the release of this footage, and lawmakers from both parties have demanded an investigation. Outrage and concern over the attacks have grown across the political spectrum, especially as Republican lawmakers expressed frustration over the lack of information provided by the administration. There are also rising fears that an American citizen could have been among those killed.

Author: Chloe Ramirez