War Crimes, Inexperience, and the Price of 'Above the Law' Thinking

Today, we're diving into a deeply disturbing case that perfectly illustrates what happens when unchecked executive power meets staggering inexperience in the highest levels of government. We're talking about the recent allegations surrounding Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and the deadly Caribbean boat strikes. This isn't just a political scandal; it's a stark, bloody example of accountability, or the lack thereof, coming home to roost.

The Allegations: A 'Kill Everyone' Order and a War Crime

Recent reporting from outlets like The Washington Post has detailed a disturbing incident from early September involving a U.S. military strike on a vessel in the Caribbean suspected of ferrying narcotics.

• The Alleged Order: According to sources, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth gave a verbal order to "kill everybody" on the vessel. This order was given before the initial strike.

  
  

• The 'Double-Tap': After the first missile strike, two survivors were reportedly clinging to the wreckage. In compliance with Hegseth's overarching directive that no one be left alive, the commander overseeing the operation, Adm. Frank M. Bradley, allegedly ordered a second strike, killing the two defenseless survivors.

  
  

• The Legal Consensus: Legal experts, including former military lawyers, have been unequivocal: targeting a person hors de combat (out of the fight), such as shipwrecked survivors, is prohibited under international law and the US Department of Defense’s own Law of War manual. They state that the killing of defenseless people in this manner could constitute a war crime and murder.

  
  

The administration's defense has shifted, attempting to deflect responsibility onto Adm. Bradley and claiming the strikes were lawful against "narco-terrorists," but the fundamental facts remain: an order for no survivors was reportedly given, and people who were no longer a threat were killed.

The Hegseth Case: A Cautionary Tale of Inexperience

The tragedy in the Caribbean is more than just a rogue incident; it is a direct consequence of appointing individuals based on loyalty over competence.

Hegseth’s background before becoming Defense Secretary, a grueling confirmation process he barely survived, was heavily focused on cable news punditry and political campaigning, not the complex, nuanced world of global military command and the Law of Armed Conflict (LOAC).

• Lack of Essential Knowledge: A Secretary of Defense must be intimately familiar with the legal frameworks governing military force, including the rules of engagement and the fundamental principles of LOAC, which protect those who are 'out of the fight.' An order to "kill everyone" is not just morally abhorrent; it shows a profound, dangerous ignorance of one of the military's most basic legal duties.

  
  

• Erosion of Professionalism: Hegseth's actions, including the separate scandal of using the unsecured Signal messaging app to discuss sensitive military operations (risking US personnel), demonstrate a casual disregard for established security protocols and the advice of career professionals. When an administration prioritizes a loyalist who views the Pentagon as a place to instate a "warrior culture" and disregard rules, the chain of command, and human lives, are put at risk. Lower-ranking service members face severe consequences for similar breaches, yet Hegseth is insulated by his political position.

  
  

The military needs civilian oversight, but that oversight must be informed, judicious, and respectful of the law. When a top official without the requisite experience steps in, they don't just put policy at risk, they put lives, and the nation’s international standing, at risk.

The Reckoning: When Being 'Above the Law' Comes Due

This entire crisis is a perfect microcosm of the current administration’s core philosophy: a belief that they are unconstrained by law, convention, or accountability.

We've watched this administration dismantle norms, ignore congressional oversight, sideline career experts, and install unqualified loyalists who believe the rules don't apply to them. The Hegseth scandal, culminating in allegations of war crimes, represents the most horrific manifestation of this belief system.

1. Ignoring the Constitution: The widespread use of "acting" officials and appointing deeply inexperienced loyalists subverts the Senate’s “advice and consent” role, a critical constitutional check on presidential power. It creates a government run by people who are accountable only to the President, not the system of checks and balances.

   
   

2. The Price of Impunity: When a President repeatedly suggests that he, and those who serve him, are above the law, whether in defying subpoenas, ignoring emoluments, or threatening rivals, it creates an internal culture of impunity. Hegseth's alleged order is not an accident; it is the tragic, inevitable result of a system where the leaders truly believe they can do anything without consequence.

   
   

3. Accountability Now: Fortunately, this may be where the tide turns. The sheer horror of killing unarmed survivors has provoked a bipartisan outcry, with both Republican and Democratic-led committees vowing to investigate. This pressure, along with formal complaints being filed by victims' families, is forcing the mechanisms of accountability, however bruised, to finally kick into gear.

   
   

The legacy of this administration’s "above the law" approach is being written in the blood and fire of these alleged boat strikes. We must demand a full and transparent investigation, because the alternative is a world where powerful people can order war crimes with impunity, simply because they were never qualified for the job in the first place.