Scott Ritter: Did Hegseth Violate the Geneva Conventions?

This piece looks at a serious accusation against Secretary of Defense Hegseth regarding an order that may have violated international law. It explores the events leading up to the alleged order and the legal implications, drawing parallels to historical events and established international agreements.

• Secretary of Defense Hegseth is accused of ordering the killing of two survivors clinging to boat wreckage.
• Initial denials were made by Hegseth and the White House, but later contradicted by the White House press secretary.
• The order, if given, is described as 100% illegal and potentially a war crime.
• The Geneva Conventions of 1949 prohibit targeting individuals in the water after a ship has been sunk.

Earlier today, Secretary of Defense Hegseth reportedly tweeted that he did not authorize or order the killing of two survivors. These individuals were clinging to the remnants of their boat after it was attacked by the U.S. military. This statement came after The Washington Post published a report citing seven sources claiming Hegseth issued a verbal order to kill them.

Hegseth denied the report, and the president also denied it last night. However, about an hour and a half ago, the White House press secretary admitted that Hegseth did, in fact, issue the order. This admission raises significant questions about the legality of the order and whether following it constitutes a war crime.

As a second lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps, the law of war is taught at the basic school. One of the videos shown to classes depicted American submariners who had sunk Japanese merchant ships. After the sinking, the submarine circled back, and the sailors were seen shooting at Japanese sailors in the water, essentially slaughtering them.

This kind of action was apparently common practice during World War II. The world was sickened by these events. Similar actions were carried out by Germans against American sailors in the water, and some German submariners were arrested, tried, and executed for those crimes.

Because of these horrific events, the Geneva Conventions, established in 1949, made it illegal to target individuals in the water after a ship has been sunk. These individuals are automatically considered "hors de combat," a French term. In the Marine Corps, it’s often pronounced "horses combat" because, well, we don’t know how to speak French. But it means you are out of the fight. You are literally out of the fight, and you are required to rescue them.