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Some military officers worry that Pete Hegseth could turn a blind eye to U.S. war crimes
National Security
Some military officers worry that Pete Hegseth could turn a blind eye to U.S. war crimes
As a Fox News contributor, he persuaded Trump to intervene in the cases of three service members accused of crimes. Would he do it again as defense secretary?
-- -- -- Pete Hegseth at the U.S. Capitol on Dec. 10.Anna Moneymaker / Getty Images file
Jan. 13, 2025, 1:29 PM EST
By Dan De Luce and Courtney Kube
President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, rose to prominence partly based on his searing criticism on Fox News of the rules governing U.S. troops in combat. Having served in Iraq and Afghanistan with the Army National Guard, he argued that American soldiers were hampered by excessive constraints when battling jihadist extremists who “fight like savages.”
“In some cases, our units were so boxed in by rules and regulations and political correctness, we even second-guess ourselves,” Hegseth wrote in his book “The War on Warriors” last year. “That needs to end. Count me out on the Monday morning quarterbacking— I’m with the American warfighter, all the way”
At his Senate confirmation hearing Tuesday, Hegseth will likely be asked about allegations of sexual assault, excessive drinking and mismanagement in his previous jobs. ... But some current and former military officers say Hegseth’s strident statements regarding war crimes prosecutions of U.S. troops — and his advocacy for service members who were convicted by fellow soldiers — risk undermining core principles that have shaped the American military for decades.
A current U.S. military officer who asked not to be named said Hegseth's stance "should be disqualifying." And Paul Eaton, a retired Army major general, said Hegseth’s past support for service members accused of — or convicted of — crimes on the battlefield could have ripple effects through the military. ... “He condoned murder and execution,” Eaton said, referring to Hegseth's past interventions in cases as a Fox News contributor. “That will create a stunning problem for every senior noncommissioned officer out there, every leader down to the squad leader.”
{snip}
Dan De Luce
Dan De Luce is a reporter for the NBC News Investigative Unit.
Courtney Kube
Courtney Kube is a correspondent covering national security and the military for the NBC News Investigative Unit.
Alex Koppelman contributed.
Some military officers worry that Pete Hegseth could turn a blind eye to U.S. war crimes
As a Fox News contributor, he persuaded Trump to intervene in the cases of three service members accused of crimes. Would he do it again as defense secretary?
-- -- -- Pete Hegseth at the U.S. Capitol on Dec. 10.Anna Moneymaker / Getty Images file
Jan. 13, 2025, 1:29 PM EST
By Dan De Luce and Courtney Kube
President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, rose to prominence partly based on his searing criticism on Fox News of the rules governing U.S. troops in combat. Having served in Iraq and Afghanistan with the Army National Guard, he argued that American soldiers were hampered by excessive constraints when battling jihadist extremists who “fight like savages.”
“In some cases, our units were so boxed in by rules and regulations and political correctness, we even second-guess ourselves,” Hegseth wrote in his book “The War on Warriors” last year. “That needs to end. Count me out on the Monday morning quarterbacking— I’m with the American warfighter, all the way”
At his Senate confirmation hearing Tuesday, Hegseth will likely be asked about allegations of sexual assault, excessive drinking and mismanagement in his previous jobs. ... But some current and former military officers say Hegseth’s strident statements regarding war crimes prosecutions of U.S. troops — and his advocacy for service members who were convicted by fellow soldiers — risk undermining core principles that have shaped the American military for decades.
A current U.S. military officer who asked not to be named said Hegseth's stance "should be disqualifying." And Paul Eaton, a retired Army major general, said Hegseth’s past support for service members accused of — or convicted of — crimes on the battlefield could have ripple effects through the military. ... “He condoned murder and execution,” Eaton said, referring to Hegseth's past interventions in cases as a Fox News contributor. “That will create a stunning problem for every senior noncommissioned officer out there, every leader down to the squad leader.”
{snip}
Dan De Luce
Dan De Luce is a reporter for the NBC News Investigative Unit.
Courtney Kube
Courtney Kube is a correspondent covering national security and the military for the NBC News Investigative Unit.
Alex Koppelman contributed.
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