Geopolitical Economy Report US war secretary encourages military to commit war crimes, as Trump threatens 'enemy within' USA
Oct 1, 2025
The podcast dives into alarming rhetoric from the US Secretary of War, urging military actions that flout international law. Trump’s call for using US cities as military training grounds raises eyebrows about the government's stance on internal threats. Hegseth's advocacy for a more aggressive military strategy suggests a shift toward 'peace through strength'. The discussion critiques media focus on cultural wars, emphasizing the greater danger of militarization and imperial ambitions, especially in relation to targets like Venezuela and China.
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Empire Rebrands As Department Of War
- The U.S. administration publicly rebranded the Pentagon as the Department of War and prioritized offensive, not defensive, posture.
- Ben Norton argues this signals an official shift toward maximizing imperial lethality and ignoring international constraints.
War-First Doctrine Declared Publicly
- Pete Hegseth announced an explicit war-first doctrine: prepare for war, not defense, and 'fight to win.'
- Norton highlights this as an Orwellian shift from defense norms to punitive global power projection.
Loosen Rules Of Engagement Now
- Hegseth ordered loosening rules of engagement and 'untie the hands' of warfighters to maximize lethality.
- Norton warns that this effectively instructs forces to ignore Geneva Conventions and international humanitarian law.
