Hegseth’s Bloodlust at Sea: War Crimes in the Caribbean?
Do you want to make a difference? Let Congress know what you think about SECDEF Hegseth's actions of late.
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth reportedly ordered U.S. forces to conduct lethal "boat strikes" on Venezuelan migrant vessels, including a second strike explicitly targeting survivors in the water after the initial sinking—directions framed as "kill them all" by officials, sparking outrage from former JAGs who deem it a blatant denial of quarter.
Shredding the Law of War
This isn't tough-guy leadership; it's a reckless violation of ironclad treaties. Geneva Convention II (1949), Article 12, demands wounded, sick, and shipwrecked be "respected and protected in all circumstances"—no firing on swimmers clinging to debris. Hague Convention X (1907), Article 16, mandates post-battle searches for shipwrecked survivors to the fullest extent possible. Customary IHL Rule 47 bans attacks on anyone hors de combat, period.
DoD Directive 2311.01E enforces a Law of War Program requiring obedience to these rules, with training to spot and reject illegal orders like "no survivors." The DoD Law of War Manual (2023) explicitly forbids killing shipwrecked or denying quarter, labeling it a grave breach—reportable as a war crime.
No Excuses, No Mercy for Excuses
Superior orders? Laughable defense, rejected since the Peleus Trial (1945), where U-boat killers machine-gunning lifeboats got no pass at Nuremberg. Commander's Handbook (§6.3) flags willful survivor slaughter as prosecutable. Hegseth's crew had every duty to disobey and report—following this endangers U.S. troops by shredding reciprocal protections.
America deserves better than a SECDEF greenlighting atrocities. Demand accountability before this poisons our military honor forever.
If you want to speak out, this is the right time to do so. Let Congress and the Senate know that this is unacceptable.
Dear Senator/Representative Name,
I write to you as a veteran of the armed forces deeply troubled by recent reports regarding Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s authorization of lethal strikes on Venezuelan vessels in the Caribbean, particularly the documented targeting and killing of shipwreck survivors after the initial attacks. This alleged directive to “kill them all,” including defenseless survivors, is a flagrant violation of established international and U.S. military law.
Under the Geneva Convention II (1949), Article 12, and the Hague Convention X (1907), Article 16, shipwrecked and wounded persons must be respected and protected in all circumstances. Customary International Humanitarian Law explicitly prohibits attacks on persons hors de combat, such as survivors at sea. Furthermore, DoD Directive 2311.01 enforces the Law of War within U.S. forces, mandating obedience only to lawful orders and requiring the refusal and reporting of illegal commands. Following illegal orders to kill survivors constitutes a war crime, with no defense available under the doctrine of superior orders—as affirmed repeatedly since the Nuremberg trials.
The apparent disregard for these fundamental laws under Secretary Hegseth’s command undermines the honor and integrity of our military forces and places U.S. servicemembers at risk by eroding reciprocal protections. Such actions demand immediate, thorough congressional investigation to hold accountable those responsible and to ensure that illegal orders are never followed or tolerated without consequence.
I urge you to use your office’s oversight powers to investigate these disturbing allegations and to enact or reinforce policies that protect both our troops and our core values by strictly upholding international law and military justice.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Respectfully,