Legality of U.S. boat strikes in the Caribbean gets blurrier after latest Washington Post report

Allegations of Illegal Military Action - News reports suggest deadly strikes were launched on survivors of an initial military strike near Venezuela on September 2nd, raising questions about potential violations of international law [1][4] - The core allegation is that Secretary Hegsth gave verbal orders to "kill everybody," ensuring no survivors, which, if true, could constitute a violation of international law or even murder, depending on whether the action occurred during an armed conflict [4][5][6] - A bipartisan group of members of Congress is reportedly planning to investigate the incident thoroughly [6] Legal and Political Implications - If the White House's claim that the operation was part of fighting against narcotism is true, then the rules of engagement apply, and a "no quarters" order would violate international law; otherwise, it could be considered an extrajudicial killing [5][6] - Investigations are expected within the military and the Justice Department to determine the facts and accountability, potentially leading to resignations, impeachment proceedings, or formal legal action [8] - Democrats who issued a video reminding military members not to follow illegal orders are now under investigation by the FBI and Pentagon, while Democrats in Arizona are asking Hegsth to drop his investigation of Senator Mark Kelly [9] Pardons and Executive Orders - The President has an unrestricted pardon power except for impeachment, meaning pardons cannot be reversed, although attempts to do so might lead to court challenges [12][13] - The current President might attempt to reverse executive orders related to the former President's use of the autopen, including pardons, but such efforts are unlikely to succeed [12][13] JAG Structure - Secretary Hegsith previously eliminated most of the JAG (Judge Advocate General) structure, leading to an informal JAG working group that issued a rare statement deeming the military action illegal [11]