Possible war crime puts Trump's 'illegal orders' freakout in new context

Alleged Illegal Military Actions & Potential War Crimes - The report centers on allegations that former Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth gave an illegal verbal order to kill everyone on board a boat in the Caribbean suspected of drug smuggling [3][4] - A second missile was allegedly fired at two survivors clinging to wreckage to comply with the order, which is described as a textbook example of an illegal order, specifically "orders to fire upon the shipwrecked" [4][5] - A senior military lawyer at Southern Command reportedly concluded the Caribbean boat strikes were illegal and was subsequently sidelined by the Trump administration [5][6] - The UK reportedly stopped sharing intelligence with the US due to the alleged illegality of these strikes [7] - Former military lawyers stated that anyone issuing or following such orders can and should be prosecuted for war crimes, murder, or both [21] Congressional Investigation & Bipartisan Concern - The House Armed Services Committee, including both Democrats and Republicans, is committed to providing rigorous oversight of the Defense Department's military operations in the Caribbean and is taking bipartisan action to gather a full accounting of the operation [8] - Congressman Adam Smith stated that the boat strikes were illegal and that the follow-on strike to kill survivors is a war crime if the reports are accurate [12][13] - The committee is demanding a full explanation, the chain of command, the legality behind the operation, videos, background mail, and explanations from everyone involved in the decision [19] Broader Implications & Motives - Congressman Adam Smith suggests the issue extends beyond drugs and is related to President Trump's personal power and belief in spheres of influence, particularly regarding Venezuela [13][17] - The alleged actions in the Caribbean are contrasted with President Trump's reported intention to pardon a Honduran president convicted of mass-scale drug smuggling, undermining the drug trafficking justification for actions against Venezuela [15][16]