In the midst of an escalating conflict with Iran, the long-standing support for violence and disregard for established rules of war by President Donald Trump and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has come into sharp focus. Their actions and rhetoric raise serious concerns about the future of American military conduct and the potential consequences for both troops and civilians.
The Seeds of War
Trump's campaign promises to end "forever wars" always seemed like a facade, given his megalomaniacal tendencies and violent temperament. His disdain for previous administrations' handling of conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq was often expressed with a desire to take a more aggressive approach. Trump's confession of support for torture and his belief that the U.S. should have seized Iraq's oil resources further highlight his aggressive mindset.
Pardoning War Criminals
A pivotal moment in Trump's presidency was his decision to pardon service members and contractors accused of war crimes. This move, made over the objections of military leaders, sent a clear message about his attitude towards warfare. Trump's philosophy was summed up in a tweet where he defended soldiers as "killing machines" and questioned their prosecution for killing. This tweet, directed at Pete Hegseth, revealed a shared mindset between the two men.
Hegseth's Appointment
Hegseth's appointment as Defense Secretary was met with horror by many observers due to his character flaws and lack of experience. However, his support for war criminals and his defense of torture practices at Abu Ghraib prison were perhaps the most concerning aspects of his nomination. Since his confirmation, Hegseth has embarked on a crusade to rid the Pentagon of any semblance of "wokeness," which he defines as diversity, intolerance of racism, and adherence to the rules of war. His actions, including the purging of Black and female officers and the overhaul of the military justice system, are all in service of his "warrior ethos" - a simplistic call for more machismo and violence.
The Growing War with Iran
With Trump's launch of a growing war with Iran, his conviction that this conflict will bring Middle East peace seems increasingly delusional. The recent airstrike on an elementary school in the Iranian town of Minab, which reportedly killed over 175 civilians, many of them children, is a stark example of the potential consequences of this war. The administration's callous dismissal of American troop deaths and the president's nonchalance towards potential reprisals on American soil are deeply troubling.
The Erosion of Moral Authority
America has a long history of atrocities in warfare, from the massacres of Indigenous peoples to the My Lai massacre in Vietnam. However, the development of rules of warfare was an attempt to minimize such bloodshed, especially in the wake of the horrors of the 20th century. Trump and Hegseth's hubris and disregard for these rules threaten to further erode America's already diminished moral authority on the world stage. Their rhetoric, celebrating the absence of "stupid rules of engagement" and praising Israel as a "good partner" in contrast to "traditional allies," will likely have severe consequences for the U.S. military's reputation and its ability to operate with any semblance of legitimacy.
A Mercenary Foreign Policy
Trump's own words, stating that the only limit to his global powers is his own morality, are a stark reminder of the dangerous path America is now on. The Iraq debacle and Trump's embrace of a mercenary foreign policy, devoid of rules and restraint, have left the U.S. with little moral high ground. The consequences of this approach are likely to be severe, both for American interests and for the innocent civilians caught in the crossfire.
