“That’s Murder”: Dem Demands Accountability After Defense Chief Orders War Crimes

At a recent House Armed Services Committee hearing, Democratic Rep. Seth Moulton confronted Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth over chilling remarks that amount to an order for war crimes. Just weeks into the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, Hegseth declared the military would show “no quarter, no mercy” to the enemy — a phrase that under the Geneva Conventions explicitly forbids sparing any combatants, constituting murder.

“You understand, that’s murder. Do you stand by that statement?” Moulton pressed, citing legal experts who have repeatedly warned such orders violate both international law and U.S. military code, potentially exposing Hegseth and others to criminal liability.

Unfazed, Hegseth doubled down, boasting that the Pentagon fights to win and ensures its warfighters have the “rules of engagement necessary to be as effective militarily as possible.” But Moulton wasn’t buying it, highlighting the hypocrisy of an administration that has tried to prosecute Democrats for reminding soldiers of their duty to disobey unlawful orders.

The exchange laid bare a pattern of reckless militarism and disregard for legal norms. Hegseth’s “no survivors” command reportedly led to multiple strikes aimed at killing those left alive after initial attacks — actions condemned by UN human rights experts as illegal.

Moulton also challenged Hegseth on the war’s purpose, which remains murky. Hegseth claimed the goal is to destroy Iran’s “ambitions” for nuclear weapons — despite U.S. intelligence assessments finding Iran has not pursued such weapons. The so-called “Operation Midnight Hammer” has obliterated Iranian nuclear facilities but accomplished nothing on the broader strategic front, leaving the U.S. stuck in the same place.

The hearing revealed another grim truth: the staggering financial cost of the conflict. The Pentagon’s acting comptroller pegged it at $25 billion so far, with initial strikes alone costing over $11 billion. When asked about the strike on an Iranian school that killed 155 people, including 120 children, Hegseth offered no accountability, saying the incident remains “under investigation” and refusing to assign a cost.

This hearing exposed the dark underbelly of the Trump administration’s war policy — one that flouts international law, wastes billions, and sacrifices innocent lives without clear purpose or accountability. As Hegseth claimed Congress was the Pentagon’s “biggest adversary,” it’s clear the real threat to democracy and rule of law is coming from the top down.