Congress steps in as questions mount over who approved a second strike at sea : NPR

MILES PARKS, HOST:

Since early September, the U.S. army has carried out greater than 20 strikes on what they are saying are drug boats in worldwide waters, killing greater than 80 folks. Now, the Home and Senate Armed Companies Committees say they need extra solutions on these lethal strikes. That oversight comes within the wake of recent reporting that Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth personally ordered strikes, together with a second strike on a ship that had survivors on it, clinging for all times. With extra on this reporting and the congressional probe, let’s herald NPR’s Luke Garrett, who joins me right here in studio. Hello, Luke.

LUKE GARRETT, BYLINE: Hey, Miles.

PARKS: So Secretary Hegseth has been posting movies of those lethal strikes on social media. What’s new right here?

GARRETT: That is proper. By now, we’re used to unclassified army footage of slender motorboats being obliterated at sea. However what’s new right here is the chain of command and the precise orders given by Secretary Hegseth. A supply acquainted however not approved to talk publicly tells NPR’s Tom Bowman that Hegseth ordered the primary strike on an alleged drug boat within the Caribbean on September 2 after which a follow-up strike that killed all survivors on board. The Washington Put up first reported this story that’s elevating critical questions concerning the legality of those strikes and whether or not they’re battle crimes. The Pentagon has denied these stories, and Hegseth himself posted on X that these strikes are, quote, “lawful underneath each U.S. and worldwide regulation.”

PARKS: OK. So regardless of these denials from the Pentagon, we’re nonetheless seeing members of Congress demanding solutions. What precisely do they need to know?

GARRETT: In brief, to determine the veracity of those stories on Hegseth, says Nebraska Consultant Don Bacon. The Republican sits on the Home Armed Companies Committee and tells ABC Information…

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DON BACON: We should always get to the reality. I do not suppose he can be silly sufficient to make this choice to say, kill everyone, kill the survivors, ‘trigger that is a transparent violation of the regulation of battle.

GARRETT: And over on the Senate Armed Service Committee, Democrat Mark Kelly of Arizona says he hopes these stories are simply not true, but when they’re, he tells CNN…

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MARK KELLY: I’ve received critical considerations about anyone in that, you understand, chain of command stepping over a line that they need to by no means step over.

GARRETT: And in a uncommon joint assertion, committee chair Senator Roger Wicker of Mississippi and rating member Jack Reed of Rhode Island wrote, quote, “we might be conducting vigorous oversight to find out the information.”

PARKS: OK. That is what we’re listening to from Congress. What are we listening to from the Trump administration?

GARRETT: Proper. So Lawyer Basic Pam Bondi defended the army marketing campaign in opposition to these alleged drug boats. Right here she is on Fox Information.

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PAM BONDI: We’re dedicated to taking out these narco-terrorists. President Trump is. Marco Rubio is, our total administration.

GARRETT: And the administration does have allies in Congress. Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin, a Republican on the Armed Companies Committee, defended Hegseth on CNN.

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MARKWAYNE MULLIN: These people do not care concerning the lives of our pals and households. Why can we care if we take them out in worldwide water? It’s a battle as a result of they’ve declared battle on our streets.

GARRETT: After which Mullin criticized and even questioned the nameless sources who say Hegseth ordered a strike on survivors, and he pointed to different strikes the place the survivors had been despatched again to their nation of origin.

PARKS: How massive of a deal are these congressional investigations?

GARRETT: So legally, Congress does have actual highly effective levers and instruments at their disposal. You realize, they will name hearings. They’ll ask for paperwork, and even, you understand, they’ve the subpoena energy. However we’ll have to attend and see how aggressive these inquiries are. However politically, it is important as a result of, you understand, GOP-led committees have probably not probed the Trump administration but, so we’ll see what occurs right here.

PARKS: Luke, thanks a lot for being right here.

GARRETT: You wager.

PARKS: NPR’s Luke Garrett.

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