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Defense Secretary Under Fire: Caribbean Strikes Spark War Crime Allegations and Political Firestorm
Published 2 months, 3 weeks ago
Description
Pete Hegseth BioSnap a weekly updated Biography.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has been at the center of a major controversy over the past few days involving military strikes against alleged drug smugglers in the Caribbean. According to BBC News, the White House defended Hegseth on December 2nd over allegations that he authorized a second round of strikes on a suspected Venezuelan drug boat in September. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that Hegseth authorized the strikes but did not give an order to kill everybody, claiming that a top US Navy admiral ordered the strikes within his authority and the law.
The Washington Post reported that Hegseth ordered a second strike in September after not everyone had been initially killed in the first attack, with two survivors reportedly still clinging to the burning vessel. Some US politicians and former military officers have characterized this as a potential war crime. Fox News reported that Hegseth pushed back on these allegations, posting on X that Biden coddled terrorists while the Trump administration kills them, calling reports fake news and defending the strikes as lawful under both US and international law.
In a separate development, Hegseth posted a meme on social media showing the children's book character Franklin apparently launching an RPG at a narco-terrorist drug boat, captioned for a Christmas wish list. This drew sharp criticism from Democratic officials and former representatives who accused him of making light of war crimes.
According to ABC News, Hegseth's team has been holding Pentagon briefings exclusively for conservative media outlets that agreed to his new operational rules, while mainstream outlets have been denied access. Influential Trump ally Laura Loomer was pictured at the Pentagon with newly issued press credentials.
On the legal front, both House and Senate Armed Services Committees announced investigations into the strikes, with Republican Senator Roger Wicker and Democrat Jack Reed vowing vigorous oversight. According to Latin Times, Pentagon officials have expressed concern that Hegseth is throwing Admiral Mitch Bradley under the bus regarding responsibility for the second strike, with some civilian staff reportedly considering leaving the administration.
President Trump denied that Hegseth issued the kill order in an Air Force One interview, though he indicated he wouldn't have issued such an order either. According to Daily Beast reporting, Trump has reportedly considered removing Hegseth multiple times over the past year due to various controversies.
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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has been at the center of a major controversy over the past few days involving military strikes against alleged drug smugglers in the Caribbean. According to BBC News, the White House defended Hegseth on December 2nd over allegations that he authorized a second round of strikes on a suspected Venezuelan drug boat in September. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that Hegseth authorized the strikes but did not give an order to kill everybody, claiming that a top US Navy admiral ordered the strikes within his authority and the law.
The Washington Post reported that Hegseth ordered a second strike in September after not everyone had been initially killed in the first attack, with two survivors reportedly still clinging to the burning vessel. Some US politicians and former military officers have characterized this as a potential war crime. Fox News reported that Hegseth pushed back on these allegations, posting on X that Biden coddled terrorists while the Trump administration kills them, calling reports fake news and defending the strikes as lawful under both US and international law.
In a separate development, Hegseth posted a meme on social media showing the children's book character Franklin apparently launching an RPG at a narco-terrorist drug boat, captioned for a Christmas wish list. This drew sharp criticism from Democratic officials and former representatives who accused him of making light of war crimes.
According to ABC News, Hegseth's team has been holding Pentagon briefings exclusively for conservative media outlets that agreed to his new operational rules, while mainstream outlets have been denied access. Influential Trump ally Laura Loomer was pictured at the Pentagon with newly issued press credentials.
On the legal front, both House and Senate Armed Services Committees announced investigations into the strikes, with Republican Senator Roger Wicker and Democrat Jack Reed vowing vigorous oversight. According to Latin Times, Pentagon officials have expressed concern that Hegseth is throwing Admiral Mitch Bradley under the bus regarding responsibility for the second strike, with some civilian staff reportedly considering leaving the administration.
President Trump denied that Hegseth issued the kill order in an Air Force One interview, though he indicated he wouldn't have issued such an order either. According to Daily Beast reporting, Trump has reportedly considered removing Hegseth multiple times over the past year due to various controversies.
Get the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOta
This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI