The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell Lawrence on Hegseth boat strike: 'There was no war and there was no fog'
Dec 5, 2025
Mark Warner, the Vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, and retired U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling join the discussion, shedding light on a controversial boat strike incident. Warner describes a classified video of the victims as chilling, stressing their incapacitation and calling for transparency. Hertling warns about the dangers of military rhetoric and emphasizes the need for accountability. They also tackle the economic impact of Trump's tariffs, with insights on how they negatively affect American businesses.
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'First They Lie' Pattern Erodes Credibility
- The military and its civilian leaders often lie first when confronted with allegations of wrongdoing.
- That reflex undermines credibility and demands documented evidence before accepting defenses.
No Fog Of War Means Legal Exposure
- The strikes on small boats may constitute murder because there was no armed conflict or 'fog of war' in the Caribbean.
- Law experts argue civilians on those boats were not lawful targets under the law of armed conflict.
Partisan Split Over Classified Video
- Republican and Democratic leaders saw the classified video and reacted differently, with only Senator Tom Cotton defending the second strike.
- Most Democrats found the footage deeply disturbing and questioned the justification.