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underpants

(195,550 posts)
Tue Dec 2, 2025, 02:33 PM Dec 2

Pentagon confirms Trump and Hegseth made the call on the boat strikes

BREAKING: Pentagon Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson just put all of the responsibility of the Caribbean strikes on President Trump and Secretary Pete Hegseth.

"“The Secretary (Hegseth) has been very clear in every statement that we have released about these strikes that they are Presidentially directed and the chain of command functions as it should… At the end of the day, the Secretary and the President are the ones directing these strikes and any follow-on strikes like those directed by Admiral Bradley, the Secretary 100% agrees with.”


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The Pentagon just blew up the White House’s entire cover story.

Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson openly confirmed that the Caribbean strikes,including the follow-on strike that hit survivors, were “presidentially directed” and fully backed by Pete Hegseth.

No more hiding behind “rogue commanders.”

No more blaming the Navy.

No more pretending Hegseth “didn’t know.”

“The Secretary and the President are the ones directing these strikes… the Secretary 100% agrees with.”

This puts Trump and Hegseth directly on the hook for the operation the Senate and House are now investigating as a potential war crime.



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Pentagon confirms Trump and Hegseth made the call on the boat strikes (Original Post) underpants Dec 2 OP
Well. This could get interesting. mwmisses4289 Dec 2 #1
I'm joining you eShirl Dec 2 #6
The buck stops with Trump - he is guilty of cold blooded murder. Blues Heron Dec 2 #2
T💩p is also responsible for at least 500,000 dead Americans due to his Covid-19 BULLSHIT! OMGWTF Dec 2 #18
Yes but pinning responsibility to markodochartaigh Dec 2 #27
All people involved with that war crime Jerry2144 Dec 2 #3
Oh no, can't do that Stardust Mirror Dec 2 #45
the guy who wanted to shoot civilians in the legs? eShirl Dec 2 #4
yep KS Toronado Dec 2 #23
Miles Taylor was on Thom Hartmann today. markodochartaigh Dec 2 #28
Oops! That's not going to sit well with Hegseth and Trumpkins. MineralMan Dec 2 #5
What's funny is it's the first day for the knew compliant Pentagon Press Core. underpants Dec 2 #8
Exactly. MineralMan Dec 2 #9
We'll get more "fake news" comments. KS Toronado Dec 2 #24
Well uh "direct" and "directing" can mean different things... underpants Dec 2 #25
Trump was bragging he's going to do more strikes on land orangecrush Dec 2 #32
Check F'ing Mate purr-rat beauty Dec 2 #7
Wonder who's gonna take the fall for this.... Nittersing Dec 2 #10
Karoline Leaveitt just gave General Bradley all the credit. dixiegrrrrl Dec 2 #41
So they flat out admitted to a war crime? MarineCombatEngineer Dec 2 #11
Bradley knew better - not off the hook lame54 Dec 2 #12
Here's Bradley's Wikipedia bio Zorro Dec 2 #14
I'm not sure Bradley was involved. louis-t Dec 3 #63
Get him in front of a microphone lame54 Dec 3 #65
Anyone else here that used to play "Hot Potato" as a kid? Midnight Writer Dec 2 #13
Lol! Dave Bowman Dec 2 #31
There's a blast out of the past! Permanut Dec 2 #34
Oh Yeah! Ilsa Dec 3 #58
Kingsley's Pentagon career is over. sop Dec 2 #15
He'll get fired before the day is over. CanonRay Dec 2 #16
She Tanuki Dec 2 #20
So now rambler_american Dec 2 #17
I'll volunteer for free KS Toronado Dec 2 #29
Drastic way to distract from Epstein BOSSHOG Dec 2 #19
Yes, a "drastic distraction" indeed! n/t Another Jackalope Dec 2 #53
Whoa, Pentagon! Calling out the Cha Dec 2 #21
Hegseth and Trump have lost control. DoD is acting independently. paleotn Dec 2 #22
They are pushing back because clearly Hegseth and Trump were trying to scapegoat Bailey drray23 Dec 2 #51
LOL!! She looked so smug with her answer.... Sogo Dec 2 #26
Was she smug because she was defying her handlers or doing their bidding? Ilikepurple Dec 2 #40
Miller has to be at the top Traildogbob Dec 2 #30
As I recall trump can't be prosecuted for anything he does as the president per the Supreme Court. Biophilic Dec 2 #33
Can he pardon Hegseth? highplainsdem Dec 2 #39
I don't see why not. He seems to be able to pardon everyone else. Biophilic Dec 2 #43
Yep that's the plan thought crime Dec 2 #50
I heard that he can pardon Pete. nt Ilsa Dec 3 #59
He can, just 2 times as hard uponit7771 Dec 2 #56
So they lied? Permanut Dec 2 #35
Pentagon confirms that Trump and Hegseth are issuing illegal orders nakocal Dec 2 #36
Well there it is. sheshe2 Dec 2 #37
BOOM is right! 2MuchNoise Dec 2 #44
Watching more about it on Ari's show. sheshe2 Dec 2 #48
Want to see what REAL soldiers . . . not drunk woman-chasers . . . do when confronted with war crimes? AverageOldGuy Dec 2 #38
Hegsbreath renaming defense to WAR shows intent! BidenRocks Dec 2 #42
So, now will House and Senate rethugs STILL do NOTHING about this? bluestarone Dec 2 #46
Duh, malaise Dec 2 #47
LOCK THEM UP NameAlreadyTaken Dec 2 #49
trump said I don't know kacekwl Dec 2 #52
*Some people* find it unfortunate that there was no 'second strike' in Jack Valentino Dec 2 #54
This admin is hot ass garbage uponit7771 Dec 2 #55
What a surprise. B.See Dec 2 #57
Pete and all the military officers involved must be court-martialed ecstatic Dec 3 #60
The finger pointing begins. But we know Trump and Hegseth are liars. surfered Dec 3 #61
Ooh, get ready for fireworks! With emphasis on "fire." Martin68 Dec 3 #62
None of this alters the fact that it was an illegal order. The commander in the field was obligated to say no. flashman13 Dec 3 #64
Surprisingly, or not, FormerOstrich Dec 4 #66
Finally, someone with courage. travelingthrulife Dec 4 #67

Jerry2144

(3,210 posts)
3. All people involved with that war crime
Tue Dec 2, 2025, 02:51 PM
Dec 2

Need to face charges. From the sailor who pushed the button to launch the attack, through the Officer of the Deck on Watch on that ship, the CO, that admiral who the felon OSS trying to throw under the bus, and all the way up. Sec Nav, as well.

markodochartaigh

(5,230 posts)
28. Miles Taylor was on Thom Hartmann today.
Tue Dec 2, 2025, 04:38 PM
Dec 2

Mr Taylor was on the inside of the regime and it was a very interesting interview.

MineralMan

(150,864 posts)
5. Oops! That's not going to sit well with Hegseth and Trumpkins.
Tue Dec 2, 2025, 02:54 PM
Dec 2

Nope. They're not going to like that one little bit. Nosiree!

MineralMan

(150,864 posts)
9. Exactly.
Tue Dec 2, 2025, 03:07 PM
Dec 2

And now, that's the official word from the DOD(W).

Straight from the Press Secretary. Hilarious. Watch what happens next. "Err...uhh...she misspoke or something...we'll get back to you...uh...real soon..."

MarineCombatEngineer

(17,866 posts)
11. So they flat out admitted to a war crime?
Tue Dec 2, 2025, 03:09 PM
Dec 2

The Congress now needs to haul everyone involved in these murders before them and finally get the truth out and then those involved need to face justice, except, of course, Pedonald thanks to the UnSupreme Court.

louis-t

(24,582 posts)
63. I'm not sure Bradley was involved.
Wed Dec 3, 2025, 01:39 PM
Dec 3

Rachel Maddow said last night that the incident in question happened in September but Bradley was not at his current position until October.

rambler_american

(930 posts)
17. So now
Tue Dec 2, 2025, 03:58 PM
Dec 2

Pete and the so-called president are injured and clinging to the damaged ship of state.. Will someone order a fatal second strike?

drray23

(8,643 posts)
51. They are pushing back because clearly Hegseth and Trump were trying to scapegoat Bailey
Tue Dec 2, 2025, 09:22 PM
Dec 2

Now of course that Admiral is also guilty but for a few hours, Hegseth and the rest of the clique tried to shift all the blame to him. The pentagon probably got pissed and decided to push back.

Ilikepurple

(462 posts)
40. Was she smug because she was defying her handlers or doing their bidding?
Tue Dec 2, 2025, 05:15 PM
Dec 2

I do hope it’s a sign that all of the Pentagon won’t fall in line publicly with whatever the administration does and says. But, I although I may have become too cynical, I’m leaning towards this statement being authorized by Hegseth or the Trump administration. I’ve seen way too many “gotcha” moments that have gotme rather than gotTrump or anybody in this administration.

Biophilic

(6,469 posts)
33. As I recall trump can't be prosecuted for anything he does as the president per the Supreme Court.
Tue Dec 2, 2025, 04:52 PM
Dec 2

So does that mean Hegseth takes the fall?

AverageOldGuy

(3,553 posts)
38. Want to see what REAL soldiers . . . not drunk woman-chasers . . . do when confronted with war crimes?
Tue Dec 2, 2025, 05:07 PM
Dec 2

Go to Wikipedia and read about HUGH THOMPSON, GLENN ANDREOTTA, AND LAWRENCE COLBURN -- they are in the Wikipedia article about Thompson.

That's what real soldiers are made of.

BidenRocks

(2,940 posts)
42. Hegsbreath renaming defense to WAR shows intent!
Tue Dec 2, 2025, 05:17 PM
Dec 2

We have not declared war on anyone and chump saying it doesn't make it so.

I demand Congress get involved so chump's maga supporters can go on record as supporting war crimes.

We are going to need a bigger gallows!

The only war we are in is the war of unintended consequences.

ecstatic

(35,032 posts)
60. Pete and all the military officers involved must be court-martialed
Wed Dec 3, 2025, 03:30 AM
Dec 3

These disgusting, illegal strikes on fishing boats would not have happened if Naval officers had just said no. Apparently, at least one admiral did and was forced to resign. Kudos to him. But admiral Bradley belongs in jail along with Pete.

tRump's thugs need to understand that even if dump is invincible, they're not. They will get locked up when this shit show is over.

flashman13

(2,216 posts)
64. None of this alters the fact that it was an illegal order. The commander in the field was obligated to say no.
Wed Dec 3, 2025, 02:10 PM
Dec 3

They could have court marshaled that commander, but I doubt that they would. Why? Because the court would have to establish what order was refused. The commander's defense would have shown that the order was illegal under a number of different laws and regulations and why the commander was obligated not to carry out the order. Next question, who issued the illegal order ? The finger would have pointed straight up the chain of command to Hogsbreath and Trump. It's going to arrive at their doorstep now anyway.

It is a little known fact, but there really were a significant number of German soldiers that refused to commit murder or carry out other illegal orders. None of them were ever court marshaled. Why? Because the court would have had to establish what order was illegal. Theoretically the German army was governed by the Geneva Conventions which prohibits murder. No one in the chain of command would have wanted to be fingered for issuing a criminal order. Deniability was a big thing for them. As the war ground on and loss looked more inevitable, commanders didn't want to risk prosecution. Even the upper echelons of the SS tried to cover up their crimes.

I do believe and hope that this may have embolden field commanders to refuse clearly illegal orders.

These are my thoughts. Feel free to disagree.


FormerOstrich

(2,880 posts)
66. Surprisingly, or not,
Thu Dec 4, 2025, 10:17 AM
Dec 4

there is very little said about this on the internets.

I think it needs a lot of exposure....therefore

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