Letters from an American December 2, 2025
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Dec 3, 2025 Explore the shocking allegations around Defense Secretary Hegseth's orders for missile strikes targeting a small vessel, leading to contentious legal battles over their legality. Hear about bipartisan congressional investigations and contradictory narratives from the administration. Delve into Trump's claims on the economy alongside rising inequality, and the administration's embrace of nativist immigration rhetoric, including controversial remarks about Somali immigrants. Local community resistance highlights the contributions of Somali residents amidst these tensions.
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Double Tap Strike Raises War Crime Questions
- The September 2 strike on a vessel that carried 11 people involved multiple hits, with two survivors later targeted again.
- Legal experts and lawmakers call the so-called double tap unlawful and potentially a war crime under U.S. rules.
Hegseth Backs Admiral Amid Conflicting Accounts
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth initially pinned blame on Admiral Frank Mitch Bradley while publicly supporting him.
- A U.S. official later told PBS NewsHour the military struck the boat four times, twice to kill and twice to sink it.
Photo Op Undermines Claims Of Competence
- The administration staged a show of unity to convey competence but the president appeared disengaged.
- Heather Cox Richardson interprets the spectacle as evidence that Trump is 'slipping' politically and physically.