US boat strikes: Senior military commanders questioned by Congress

Key Concepts

• Shipwrecked Persons Protection: The principle that individuals who are shipwrecked and not engaging in hostile acts or attempting to escape should not be attacked.
• Law of War Manual: The Pentagon's internal guidelines on the conduct of military operations in accordance with international law.
• Operational Decision-Making: The process by which military commanders make choices regarding the execution of missions.
• Information Security: The measures taken to protect sensitive information from unauthorized access or disclosure.
• Oversight and Accountability: The mechanisms by which government officials are held responsible for their actions.

Incident in the Caribbean

The video transcript details a controversial incident where a boat in the Caribbean was destroyed by the U.S. military in September. While initial surveillance footage showed the boat being blown up, the subsequent events were not publicly disclosed. Two survivors were observed clinging to the wreckage.

The Second Strike and Legal Questions

Following the initial destruction of the boat, an order was given to "hit them again." This second strike resulted in the deaths of the two survivors. Admiral Frank Bradley, who was in charge of the operation, and General Dan Kaine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, were called before congressional committees to explain the events.

A lawmaker described the experience of viewing the entire video as "one of the most troubling things I've seen in my time in public service," highlighting that "two individuals in clear distress... without any means of locomotion with a destroyed vessel... who are killed by the United States." This raised significant questions about the legality of the action.

Pentagon's Law of War Manual

The Pentagon's own Law of War manual is cited as being "very clear" on this matter. It explicitly states that military personnel "cannot attack persons who have been shipwrecked as long as they abstain from any hostile act and do not attempt to escape."

Defense and Justification

Despite the apparent contradiction with the Law of War manual, at least one prominent Republican, Senator Tom Cotton, defended the decision. He cited concerns about drugs being transported by cartels, stating, "What's disturbing to me is that millions of Americans have died from drugs being run to America by these cartels." He framed the action as part of the administration's effort to "take the battle to them." However, the administration has not provided proof that drugs were on board the destroyed vessel.

Command Responsibility and Secretary of Defense Scrutiny

There were reports suggesting that Secretary of Defense Pete Hgsth ordered the second strike. However, Admiral Bradley informed senators that he made the decision himself.

Secretary Hgsth is facing renewed scrutiny due to a report from the Pentagon inspector general concerning his use of his personal phone. The report details how Hgsth shared information about an upcoming strike on Yemen in March via an encrypted group chat that a reporter was accidentally added to. Specifically, the report found that Hgsth sent out the "quantity and strike times of US aircraft over hostile territory over an unapproved unsecure network 2 to 4 hours before the execution of those strikes." The inspector general concluded that this action "could have resulted in failed US mission objectives and potential harm to US pilots."

Secretary Hgsth's Response and Calls for Resignation

In response to the inspector general's report, Secretary Hgsth posted on social media, "No classified information, total exoneration. Case closed." However, some lawmakers are questioning this assertion, with one stating, "It was unclassified because he said it was." This has led to calls for his resignation, with arguments that if the Secretary of Defense "put American troops in jeopardy, is he fit to lead them."

Presidential Stance

U.S. President Donald Trump has stated that he believes Secretary Hgsth is fit to lead.

Conclusion

The incident in the Caribbean and the subsequent scrutiny of Secretary Hgsth's actions highlight critical issues regarding the application of the laws of war, operational decision-making, and information security within the U.S. military. The events raise serious questions about accountability and the potential for unintended consequences when established protocols are not strictly adhered to.