Pete Hegseth could have endangered troop safety with Signal chat says Pentagon watchdog | BBC News

Key Concepts

• Signal App Controversy: Defense Secretary Pete Hegsth's use of the Signal messaging app to discuss a planned US attack on militants in Yemen.
• Inspector General's Report: An independent Pentagon watchdog's finding that Hegsth's actions could have endangered troops but did not violate rules on classified material.
• Unwitting Inclusion of Journalist: The investigation's focus on a journalist being included in a Signal chat discussing US air strikes on Yemen.
• DoD Policy Violation: The Inspector General's conclusion that Hegsth violated DoD policy by using his personal phone to discuss information marked "secret" but not necessarily "classified."
• Potential Risk to Military Members: The Inspector General's assessment that Hegsth's messaging and platform choice could have put military personnel at risk.
• Hegsth's Defense: Hegsth's assertion that the report exonerates him and that he did nothing wrong.
• White House Support: The White House's backing of Secretary Hegsth amidst the controversies.
• Drone Strikes Controversy (Caribbean): An ongoing investigation into US strikes on alleged drug boats in the Caribbean, with allegations of war crimes.
• September 2nd Incident: A specific strike where an initial attack on a "narco boat" left two survivors clinging to a burning vessel, who were then killed by a second strike.
• War Crime Allegations: Claims by Democrats that the Caribbean strikes could amount to war crimes.
• Admiral Bradley: The officer in charge of the second strike, who is facing scrutiny and testifying before Congress.
• Hegsth's Shifting Account: Hegsth's changing statements regarding his presence during the second strike on the drug boat.
• "Fog of War" and Burning Vessel: Hegsth's explanation for the second strike, citing the vessel being on fire and a "fog of war," which raised questions about the necessity of the second strike.
• Objective of Strikes: The debate over whether the objective was to kill everyone on board or destroy the vessel, and the differing legal implications of each.
• Potential US Military Operation with Venezuela: President Trump's discussions about potential land and sea strikes against drug trafficking operations, and the desire for regime change in Venezuela.
• Muted Support for Venezuela Operations: A lack of widespread enthusiasm among Republican hawks for a potential military entanglement in Venezuela, contrasting with previous actions like Iran strikes.
• America First/Isolationist Wing Concerns: Opposition from the more isolationist wing of the Republican party regarding the President's strategy and foreign entanglements.
• Public Opinion on Drug Boat Strikes: Uncertainty about public support for strikes on drug boats, with the assumption that most Americans might differentiate them from a potential war.

Signal App Controversy and Inspector General's Findings

An independent Pentagon watchdog has determined that Defense Secretary Pete Hegsth may have endangered American troops by using the messaging app Signal to discuss a planned US attack on militants in Yemen. While the Inspector General's office concluded that Hegsth did not violate rules concerning classified material, the investigation focused on the unintentional inclusion of a journalist in a chat group discussing these US air strikes on Yemen.

The core issue revolved around whether Hegsth was using an improper application or device to discuss potentially secret or classified information. The Inspector General found that in a group chat on Signal earlier in the year, Hegsth was in violation of Department of Defense (DoD) policy because he used his personal phone to discuss information that had been marked "secret," though not necessarily "classified." A significant question raised was whether Hegsth had declassified some of this information himself before it was shared on the messaging application.

The report stated that the messaging and the language used on the platform could have potentially put military members at risk of danger. Despite these findings, Hegsth has asserted that the report exonerates him, claiming he did nothing wrong. The White House has also publicly supported Hegsth, stating that the report clears him.

Broader Controversies Surrounding Pete Hegsth

The Signal chat controversy is presented as a further embarrassment for Pete Hegsth, who is also facing strong criticism for deadly strikes on alleged trafficking boats in the Caribbean.

Caribbean Drone Strikes and War Crime Allegations

One particular incident on September 2nd has become a focal point of controversy. An initial strike on a so-called "narco boat" or alleged trafficking boat resulted in two survivors clinging to the burning vessel. A subsequent second strike then killed both of these survivors. Democrats have alleged that these incidents, first reported by The Washington Post, could constitute war crimes. Republicans have also expressed concerns.

This issue has galvanized bipartisan lawmaker reaction, which is noted as being rare on Capitol Hill. Admiral Bradley, the officer in charge of the second strike, is scheduled to appear before Congress to answer questions from both Republicans and Democrats.

Secretary Hegsth's account of the events has also drawn scrutiny. Initially, it appeared he stated he watched the entire incident live. However, after questions emerged about the second strike that killed survivors, he clarified that he was not present for that part of the operation and had left for another meeting. Admiral Bradley is now facing the primary scrutiny and is expected to provide answers.

A key point of contention is Hegsth's statement that after the first strike, the vessel was already on fire and there was a "fog of war." This raised questions about the necessity of a second strike if the vessel was already burning. The debate centers on whether the objective was to kill everyone on board, even those clinging to wreckage, or to destroy the vessel itself. These differing objectives carry distinct legal weights regarding what is considered acceptable.

Potential US Military Operations and Political Landscape

The discussion also touches upon the broader context of potential American military operations with Venezuela. President Trump has spoken about continuing these strikes, potentially extending them to land, and has urged Venezuelan President Maduro to leave the country, indicating a desire for regime change. While some Republican hawks support this, the enthusiasm is described as more muted compared to previous actions, such as the Iran strikes.

Conversely, the "America First" and more isolationist wings of the Republican party have openly questioned the President's strategy, directing their concerns more towards Secretary Hegsth than President Trump. There is a lack of enthusiasm for foreign entanglements within these factions.

Regarding public perception, there is no available polling data on the Caribbean strikes. However, it is speculated that most Americans might view strikes on drug boats differently from a potential war, and that targeting drug traffickers might garner support, especially as the legal complexities are considered "higher brow."