Morning Joe Lawmakers want answers after boat strike reporting
Dec 1, 2025
Mark Hertling, a retired U.S. Army Lieutenant General, shares military insights on rules of engagement amid alarming reports of lethal strikes on a suspected narco-boat. Jim VandeHei, CEO of Axios, weighs in on the political fallout for Secretary Pete Hegseth and the GOP's nervous reactions. They delve into potential war crimes, legal implications, and the need for congressional oversight. The discussion highlights moral injuries within the military and broader strategic questions facing U.S. involvement in drug interdiction in the region.
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Shackled College Student Deported At Logan
- Joe described a Babson College student who was shackled at Logan Airport and deported to Honduras after visiting family.
- He used the story to question whether aggressive deportation tactics make Americans safer or portray the country as cold and callous.
Bipartisan Outrage Over Reported Kill Orders
- Bipartisan lawmakers demand answers after The Washington Post reported lethal follow-up strikes on a suspected narco- trafficking boat.
- Legal experts say ordering or executing strikes that kill shipwrecked survivors would constitute war crimes or murder under U.S. and international law.
Former JAGs Call The Orders Illegal
- Former JAGs unanimously said orders to 'kill everybody' or double-tap survivors are clearly illegal and amount to war crimes.
- They urged Congress to investigate and warned service members must disobey patently illegal orders.
