Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass., just leveled heavy accusations against Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, linking current maritime operations to the actions of WWII Nazis. During a budget hearing before the House Armed Services Committee, Moulton challenged Hegseth regarding the ongoing U.S. strikes against suspected drug boats in the Caribbean and the Eastern Pacific.
The congressman argued that ordering the killing of survivors who are clinging to wreckage constitutes a war crime under the Geneva Conventions. It’s a pretty intense accusation, but according to Fox News, Moulton has been vocal about his concerns regarding the legality and morality of these operations. In an interview with CNN, Moulton was asked point-blank if he believed Hegseth was guilty of war crimes. His response was direct: “Absolutely.”
He went on to explain his position, noting that the administration seems to have invented the term “narco terrorists” specifically to justify these lethal actions. Moulton highlighted that there is significant evidence suggesting many of those killed were simply fishermen trying to earn a living to support their families. He expressed his belief that these individuals aren’t war criminals at all.
The known circumstances support his view
What makes this even more troubling, according to Moulton, is the tactic of the “double tap.” This is where the military hits a vessel and then returns to strike again, specifically to eliminate those who survived the initial blast and are left floating in the water.
To drive his point home, Moulton invoked a historical comparison. He pointed out that Allied countries actually prosecuted Nazi submarine captains for committing these exact types of actions during World War II.
He reminded the Secretary of War of the outcome of those trials, stating, “And guess what the conclusion was? They got executed.” He then added, “Listen to that, Mr. Secretary.”
The military operations themselves are massive in scale. According to a report by Fox News, the Pentagon recently announced another lethal strike on a vessel in the Eastern Pacific, which resulted in the deaths of three people.
This latest incident marks the 55th strike since the campaign began in early September. The total death toll is now at least 186 people, all killed under the administration’s policy of targeting these boats.
Despite the rising number of fatalities, the Pentagon has consistently refused to release the identities of those killed or provide any concrete evidence that drugs were actually on board these vessels.
The U.S. Southern Command, led by Gen. Francis L. Donovan, maintains that these strikes are directed at vessels operated by what they call Designated Terrorist Organizations. They claim that intelligence confirms these boats were transiting known drug-trafficking routes. However, the lack of transparency is a major issue for many observers.
As reported by the New York Times, the military has actually ramped up its efforts recently, deploying more secret fixed-wing attack aircraft and armed MQ-9 Reaper drones from bases in Puerto Rico and El Salvador. This escalation has made the campaign significantly more lethal, reducing the chance for a vessel to evade detection from 50 percent down to about 25 percent.
The administration’s defense hinges on the claim that the United States is in a formal state of armed conflict with a secret list of 24 drug cartels and criminal gangs. They argue this provides the legal basis for the strikes, even though Congress has never authorized such a war. Legal experts and some members of Congress, like Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., remain deeply skeptical.
Paul has been a fierce critic of the policy. He has questioned the ethics of killing people without due process, highlighting that many of those targeted are likely just poor individuals from countries like Venezuela or Colombia.
During a discussion in January, Paul didn’t hold back his frustration. He stated, “I look at my colleagues who say they’re pro-life, and they value God’s inspiration in life, but they don’t give a s— about these people in the boats.”
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has stood by the program, previously arguing that Operation Southern Spear is restoring deterrence against cartels that profit from drug trafficking. During his testimony, he defended the military’s actions by stating that they abide by the “rules of engagement” and praised the effectiveness of his forces.
Meanwhile, the military continues to release short statements and videos after each strike, showing boats bursting into flames, all while declining to provide specific evidence or details about the individuals being targeted. The ongoing situation remains a point of significant friction, with critics arguing the campaign has bypassed the rule of law entirely.
Published: May 2, 2026 10:06 am