Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has doubled down on his support for US military strikes against alleged drug cartel boats in the Caribbean, arguing that President Trump has the authority to take decisive action without worrying about international law.
Hegseth's comments came amid growing scrutiny over the legality of these strikes, which have killed more than 80 people since September. Critics argue that the strikes are a form of piracy and violate US obligations under international humanitarian law. The Defense Secretary likened suspected drug smugglers to al-Qaeda terrorists, saying if they bring drugs into the country on a boat, the US will find them and sink them.
However, many experts dispute this claim, pointing out that the US is not at war with a designated terrorist organization in the Caribbean, and that the suspected traffickers have not attacked US assets abroad. Regional experts also argue that the strikes are unlikely to significantly reduce fentanyl smuggling, which primarily enters the country via Mexico.
Hegseth's defense has been criticized by some Republicans, who are questioning the justification for these strikes. The Washington Post reported last month that a strike on September 2 was followed by a second attack targeting survivors of the wreckage, with reports suggesting that orders to "kill everybody" came from Hegseth himself.
The Defense Secretary has denied this claim, saying he did not order the follow-up strike. However, his comments have reignited calls for his resignation among Democrats, who say he is incompetent and reckless in his handling of the situation.
Hegseth's remarks also reflect a hardline stance on issues such as climate change and military readiness, which has alienated some Republican leaders. The Defense Secretary repeated Trump's vow to resume nuclear testing, criticizing opponents who argue that climate change poses serious challenges to US military operations.
As the debate over these strikes continues, Hegseth remains unapologetic, repeating Trump's assertion of his authority to take decisive action without worrying about international law.
Hegseth's comments came amid growing scrutiny over the legality of these strikes, which have killed more than 80 people since September. Critics argue that the strikes are a form of piracy and violate US obligations under international humanitarian law. The Defense Secretary likened suspected drug smugglers to al-Qaeda terrorists, saying if they bring drugs into the country on a boat, the US will find them and sink them.
However, many experts dispute this claim, pointing out that the US is not at war with a designated terrorist organization in the Caribbean, and that the suspected traffickers have not attacked US assets abroad. Regional experts also argue that the strikes are unlikely to significantly reduce fentanyl smuggling, which primarily enters the country via Mexico.
Hegseth's defense has been criticized by some Republicans, who are questioning the justification for these strikes. The Washington Post reported last month that a strike on September 2 was followed by a second attack targeting survivors of the wreckage, with reports suggesting that orders to "kill everybody" came from Hegseth himself.
The Defense Secretary has denied this claim, saying he did not order the follow-up strike. However, his comments have reignited calls for his resignation among Democrats, who say he is incompetent and reckless in his handling of the situation.
Hegseth's remarks also reflect a hardline stance on issues such as climate change and military readiness, which has alienated some Republican leaders. The Defense Secretary repeated Trump's vow to resume nuclear testing, criticizing opponents who argue that climate change poses serious challenges to US military operations.
As the debate over these strikes continues, Hegseth remains unapologetic, repeating Trump's assertion of his authority to take decisive action without worrying about international law.
I'm totally with Pete Hegseth on this one 
... like, who needs international law when we're talking about stopping fentanyl smuggling? It's a matter of national security, right? Those drug cartels are basically the terrorist organizations of the sea 
. And let's be real, if they can't be stopped by peaceful means, then maybe we need to take matters into our own hands 
. The US is all about being a force for good in the world, and sometimes that means taking bold action 
. I mean, who needs UN approval when it comes to protecting our citizens? Not me, that's for sure 
.
I'm really worried about what's going on with these strikes in the Caribbean... it feels like we're just trying to sweep the problem under the rug instead of actually addressing the root cause of fentanyl smuggling, which is primarily coming from Mexico 
. It's also super concerning that Hegseth is basically saying that anyone who brings drugs into the country by boat is a terrorist, which just doesn't feel right 
.
is some seriously disturbing stuff. I mean, even if he didn't explicitly order it, he's still basically condoning it by saying that suspected traffickers are like al-Qaeda terrorists 
.
. We need to be more thoughtful about how we're addressing these issues, rather than just resorting to military strikes that might not even make a difference in the long run 
.
I mean, what's next? Is he gonna start telling us that he can just do whatever he wants in the Caribbean and we'll all just magically know it's okay because Trump said so 
. And btw, if you're really worried about fentanyl smuggling, why don't you try focusing on the real problem at hand – Mexico? 
. I think it's crazy that they're just going around sinking boats and killing people without even trying to figure out if they're guilty or not. It feels like a big ol' mess, you know? And what's with the comparison to Al-Qaeda? That's just not fair to those people who are being targeted.
newsflash: piracy isn't okay, and just because it's in the Caribbean doesn't mean we get to play sheriff 
. #NotMyPirateLife
. and let's be real, these strikes are unlikely to make a dent in fentanyl smuggling anyway, so what's the point? #FactsOverFury
give me a break. #ClimateFirst
. #NotImpressed
When you think the US military is above the law... 
Pete Hegseth's got some 'splainin' to do 
He just keeps on spouting that same old nonsense about taking care of business and being the US military's top dog, but honestly, it sounds like he's just trying to cover his own tracks. I mean, come on, if we're not at war with a designated terrorist organization in the Caribbean, then why are we sinking boats full of suspected traffickers? It doesn't add up.
. Can't we find a better way to deal with fentanyl smuggling without resorting to such extreme measures? It just doesn't sit well with me, you know?
. Newsflash, Pete: this isn't Iraq or Afghanistan – we're talking about a region where there are actual human lives at stake. 
. I'm starting to think this guy is more of a danger than the cartels themselves.
.
Who gives him the authority to do that? And what about all the experts saying that these strikes aren't going to stop fentanyl smuggling? Like, doesn't Hegseth want to make sure our country is safe?
. And now you're saying nuclear testing is a good idea? That's just like something out of a Cold War movie, man 
.
It just seems so... extreme. And what's with the al-Qaeda comparison? 
.
️ It's like we're chasin' ghosts here. Meanwhile, Hegseth is over here talkin' about climate change and nuclear testing like they're related to each other 
. Like, no, Pete... just focus on the issue at hand, okay? 
#JusticeForTheVictims #StopTheDroneStrikes