Clarification on Military Orders Regarding Counter-Drug Operations
Adm. Mitch Bradley responded to lawmakers about a statement made by Secretary of the Army, Pete Hegseth. Hegseth had claimed he never issued an order to eliminate all survivors during counter-drug operations, even though he expressed uncertainty regarding the justification of “double tap” strikes.
According to reports, Hegseth alleged that he commanded the individual overseeing a counter-drug strike to “kill them all,” a remark that Bradley interpreted as a directive to eliminate any remaining survivors. “The admiral confirmed there was no such order to kill indiscriminately,” Rep. Jim Himes (D-Conn.) shared with the press following their discussions. Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) supported this, emphasizing Bradley’s clarity on the absence of orders for indiscriminate action.
Debate Over Military Action in the Caribbean
Despite differing views on the aftermath of a September 2 airstrike, which left two survivors, Himes noted the footage revealed these individuals as “shipwrecked sailors.” He described witnessing something alarming in that session when he saw two individuals killed by U.S. forces in desperate circumstances. Although those survivors were allegedly involved in drug trafficking, they were not positioned to continue their mission.
There seemed to be a disconnect between Democrats and Republicans regarding the portrayal of the incident captured in the footage. Cotton argued that the video displayed survivors attempting to reclaim their boat to persist with their activities. On the other hand, Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) expressed deep concern after viewing the recordings, indicating it would be hard to not feel troubled by what they showed. Sen. Jack Reed (R.I.), a leading Democrat on the Armed Services Committee, echoed similar sentiments, demanding the full unedited video of the airstrike be made public.
Rep. Rick Crawford, chair of the House Intelligence Committee, appeared to criticize Democrats for their reactions to the video, suggesting that their concern contrasted sharply with responses to past military strikes carried out under previous administrations.
Legality and Protocols in Military Engagement
In a recent statement, Cotton presented the argument that the military operates within the bounds of the laws of war while targeting these narco-terrorists. He highlighted that military procedures regarding the engagement with survivors remain consistent since operations began in early September. In another incident on October 16, which also resulted in fatalities, two survivors were later returned to Colombia and Mexico.
However, information from a Department of Defense official suggested that the situation might have been perceived differently, with Bradley indicating there was a belief that the survivors could still call for help, which was interpreted as a possible threat.
Hegseth admitted to having observed the initial attack but not the second. He distanced himself from the decision-making regarding the follow-up strike while expressing full support for Bradley’s choices.
Bradley has been occupied with a series of briefings on Capitol Hill, where he aims to clarify the rationale behind his decisions to various congressional committees.
