PETE HEGSETH'S PERSONAL LIFE INDICATES LACK OF MATURITY & 

            FAILURE TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY. REPORTS OF HIS PUBLIC 

            DRUNKENESS INDICATES HIS REFUSAL TO SEEK HELP FOR A SERIOUS 

            PROBLEM. WHEN A PERSON BECOMES SO INTOXICATED THAT THEY 

            HAVE TO BE CARRIED OUT, THAT IS NOT A QUALIFICATION FOR 

            LEADERSHIP. AND WE CONTINUE TO DISCOVER MORE? 

            THIS IS A PERSON WHO IS A NATIONAL SECURITY RISK....

Exclusive: Pete Hegseth Defended “Carpet Bombing,” Blowing Up Homes, and Targeting Civilians in 2016 Speech MeidasTouch uncovers Trump’s Defense nominee disregarding civilian casualties… again. MeidasTouch Network Jan 2 Written by J.D. Wolf MeidasTouch has again uncovered Trump’s Defense nominee callously disregarding civilian casualties. Pete Hegseth’s comments defending “carpet bombing” and the killing of civilian non-combatants reveal a troubling disregard for the rules of warfare and the value of human life. Pete Hegseth / C-SPAN In a 2016 speech at the Heritage Foundation, Hegseth argued that civilian casualties are acceptable if military targets, such as an enemy’s headquarters or fuel trucks, are near civilian homes: “And so what I do take issue with is the way people characterize Ted Cruz and Donald Trump's, whether it's carpet bombing or the willingness to un-handcuff the enemy. Their focus is on doing whatever it takes to destroy the Islamic State—not, 'We want to find a way to kill civilians.' So carpet bombing is not targeting civilians. Carpet bombing is if we know where the headquarters of ISIS is in Raqqa, then we're going to bomb it, even if there happen to be some homes nearby. Or when we're looking at the fuel trucks leaving to head to Turkey to sell on the black market, we're not going to bomb them with leaflets because we think the drivers are civilian casualties—we're going to bomb the oil trucks. So, I think it's a difference of disposition, for sure.” Hegseth framed this as a necessary part of defeating an enemy, suggesting that the goal should be doing whatever it takes to destroy the enemy, even at the cost of innocent lives. This mentality, which minimizes civilian casualties in favor of military objectives, directly contradicts the principles of proportionality and distinction that underpin international humanitarian law. These principles exist to prevent the indiscriminate killing of civilians during wartime. Pete Hegseth: “…We're going to bomb it, even if there happened to be some homes nearby.” Pete Hegseth / Instagram This isn’t the first time Hegseth has expressed disregard for the killing of civilians in combat. In November, MeidasTouch reported that Hegseth previously advocated against prosecuting soldiers who kill civilians during combat—a stance that further normalizes and endorses recklessness in military conduct. Pete Hegseth: “…We're not going to bomb them with leaflets because we think the drivers are civilian casualties, we're going to bomb the oil trucks.” Exclusive: Liquor Stash Photos Bolster NBC Report on Pete Hegseth Drinking Allegations December 20, 2024 Pete Hegseth: “Carpet bombing is not target civilians.” Hegseth’s comments display a failure to acknowledge the moral and legal implications of targeting civilians. These comments make him unfit to lead the U.S. military. Meidas+ is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.