Hegseth cites 'fog of war' in defending follow-on strike in scrutinized attack on alleged drug boat

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: AP

Updated 2:10 PM EST, December 2, 2025


WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth cited the “fog of war” in defending a follow-up strike on an alleged drug-carrying boat in the Caribbean Sea earlier this year.

During Tuesday’s cabinet meeting at the White House, Hegseth said that he did not see that there were survivors in the water when the second strike was ordered and launched in early September, saying that “the thing was on fire” and citing the “fog of war” in defending the strike.

Hegseth also said he “didn’t stick around” for the remainder of the mission following the first strike, and said that the admiral in charge had “made the right call” in ordering it, which he “had complete authority to do.”

The Washington Post first reported that Hegseth issued a verbal order for the second strike that killed survivors on the boat. On Monday, the White House said that Navy Vice Adm. Frank “Mitch” Bradley acted “within his authority and the law” when he ordered the second strike.

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/hegseth-trump-venezuela-540ae279827e02105e089f1bd5af37a6

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“the thing was on fire”

What is a "thing"? It was a civilian boat with civilians on it. No one bothered to board it to determine what its intentions were.

citing the “fog of war”

When did the U.S. (CONGRESS) "declare war"?

[Irish_Dem]

1. Circling back to kill civilians floating in the water is MURDER, not fog of war.

[hlthe2b]

2. There is no F...king War. Not even a Congressional Resolution, but less a Congressional Declaration of War.

Much less a metaphoric war. Mr. Macho-wannabe, whose insecurity literally SCREAMS from his words and "actions."

But, yes... MURDER!

[Irish_Dem]

12. Exactly. There is NO WAR. We are looking at MURDER.

[yardwork]

20. Right?! What war?

The U.S. aimed a missile at an unarmed fishing boat off the coast of Venezuela and when a couple people survived, we hit them again.

Not a war. We call this terrorism when other people do it.

[Irish_Dem]

21. Killing men just fishing on their boat is called murder.

And yes they are using murder to terrorize everyone.

[RobinA]

49. I Get The Impression

that he thinks "the fog of wear" is actual fog since he seems to use it as a reason for not seeing that was happening.

[ananda]

3. Kelly was right. This is all a big game to them.

They're like spoiled psychopathic children
who think they can get away with anything.

[Ray Bruns]

4. I missed the part where we declared war on Venezuela.

[moniss]

5. More like the fog of too much booze.nt

[Blumancru]

29. Lol, beat me to it!

[2na fisherman]

43. Drunk on Power

Fog of Rum.

[erronis]

6. Gee. If Robert McNamara could go stock free by writing a book about "Fog of War"

why wouldn't little drunkard pete try that exit door?

For those that are too old or too young: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fog_of_War

[FakeNoose]

24. Not defending Robert McNamara, but this is no comparison ...

Vietnam really was a serious war, even though Congress never got around to declaring "war" on Vietnam.

Hogsbreath has a lot of nerve comparing himself to McNamara, and comparing the US bombing a few fishing (or whatever) boats to the Vietnam War.

[RazorbackExpat]

35. There was the Tonkin Gulf Resolution of August 1964

in which Congress essentially left it up to the President to determine how far American involvement in the conflict would go. And remember, there were two Viet Nams at the time. The Tonkin Gulf Resolution was directed at North Viet Nam.

[allegorical oracle]

25. Just heard a replay of Pete's "fog of war" blather. He doesn't even know what

that phrase means. He stated that there was a lot of fire and smoke after one of the boat strikes -- it was hard to see anything. "And that's why they call it the fog of war," he said. He appears to be taking "fog" literally. My understanding is that it's a state of situational unawareness that occurs during the chaos of battle.

[erronis]

28. You are right. From Pete's perspective, the fog is after the 4th or 5th shot of whiskey.

Surprised the supposed teetotaler (but apparently drug addicted) CINC would want someone like that under his 'command'.

[chowder66]

7. What a fucking joke.

[LymphocyteLover]

8. Total fucking bullshit. He's a fucking liar and murderer.

[Rhiannon12866]

9. Since when have we been at war? Did Congress declare war and I missed it??

[Mike Nelson]

10. A leader in his position...

... should be miles above "the fog of war" in decision-making.

[Baitball Blogger]

11. You would need the other side returning fire for it to be a fog of war.

In Hegseth's place, it was more bloodlust than fog of war.

[patphil]

13. The "fog of war"? Inf**kingcredible!

Blowing up some small boats in international waters just because they can doesn't qualify for a "fog of war" condition.
This asshole's drunk on power.

[AverageOldGuy]

14. "fog of war" my old soldier ass

His goddam brain was fogged up on booze.

Hogsbreath is a former National Guard infantry officer. However, he NEVER EVEN ENROLLED IN OR REQUESTED TO BE ENROLLED IN SOME COURSES THAT ALL/MOST INFANTRY OFFICERS AND SOLDIERS COMPLETE.
-- Ranger -- some of the toughest and best small infantry unit training in the world
-- Airborne -- learn how to jump out of airplanes. And land safely.
-- Air Assault -- helicopter operations in combat
-- Pathfinder -- small unit goes in first, clears the way for follow-on small units



I completed all but Pathfinder, never figured I needed it. Active duty 1967-1995, Vietnam 1969-70.

[COL Mustard]

41. You need to change your moniker.

Average guys don't complete Ranger, Airborne and Air Assault.

I did Air Assault back when there was only one, but I work now with guys who have done all four, and a few who've done some others as well (SF, diver, etc.). And one guy who was a Tomb guard in the 3rd Infantry.

[Prairie Gates]

15. "Fog of war" is how women describe the feeling after Hegseth has been near their drinks

[sakabatou]

16. Kegsbreath lying again

[Native]

17. So Bradley will be giving a classified briefing on Thursday,

this should be very interesting.

[Buddyzbuddy]

18. Is that what they're calling drunken stupor now?

[LudwigPastorius]

19. Just exactly how much chaos and uncertainty (fog) is there when no one is shooting back at you?

Criminals!

[Exp]

22. Fog of cosplaying. If he can't HANDLE a fisherman boat, what about a fleet of destroyers? WEAK!!! nt

[sheshe2]

23. "Fog of War"?

More like a "Fog of Alcohol"... he was drunk out of his mind

[Warpy]

26. He's full of shit

He knew there were survivors clinging to wreckage. My guess is that Demented Donny said to kill them all and Hedseth said yes sir and told the loyal admiral to give the order to shoot.

[TomSlick]

27. Hegseth is trying to throw Admiral Bradley under the bus.

Of course, he is lying.

Commanders up and down the chain need to take note that Hegseth will turn on them if they obey his illegal orders.

[Harker]

30. Fog of murder.

[Swede]

31. Us folks that aren't handsome lethal warriors, call it being shit faced.

[BumRushDaShow]

32. Speaking of that, I just spotted this story -

Raccoon passes out on Virginia liquor store bathroom floor after drunken rampage



Figured that was Kegsbreath in a mask.

[eppur_se_muova]

33. That raccoon was framed. He was just the wingman. nt

[COL Mustard]

40. Oh my God, that's hilarious!!!!

I hope the crew put the little guy outside after he slept it off.

On further consideration, I hope they put him outside before he woke up. Raccoons can be mean-tempered when they're sober. I don't want to encounter a drunk one, or one with a hangover!

[Jack Valentino]

34. Does he mean 'the fog of BEER'? I think he means the fog of beer..

[BradBo]

36. The murderous jerk has gone to "the fog of war" defense. Lame. This ain't Vietnam dude.

[Aussie105]

37. 'Fog of War'

Describes what some soldiers experience and do in the heat of battle.
An ill considered, impulsive move.
They make decisions the rest of us can't comprehend.

This wasn't it.

This was orders from above . . . No Witnesses!

[COL Mustard]

38. Paging Admiral Bradley...your bus is waiting....

You may get under it at Gate 6.

You used to have a distinguished career. Now it looks like you should have been on that boat, or at least been boat-adjacent.

Remember, Everything Trump Touches, Dies.

[enigmania]

39. More like

"The Fog of Illegal Strikes on Civilians".

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

42. Hegseth loves terms like "fog of war", it makes him feel manly

[Sneederbunk]

44. The only fog is between his ears.

[DFW]

45. What war? Was anybody shooting back?

That is not war. That is a one-sided attack. In this case, more like an execution.

[Aussie105]

46. Is everyone on Trump's team role playing?

https://tse2.mm.bing.net/th/id/OIP.RVp4SnCvHS1Jtxkplc60iAHaLH?rs=1&pid=ImgDetMain&o=7&rm=3

As Kegsbreath sees himself.

[dedl67]

47. One of the great 'fog of war' scenes is in Stendhal's "Charterhouse of Parma'

The novel's protagonist, Fabrizio, is a non-combatant, but is somehow wandering around in the middle of the Battle of Waterloo, trying unsuccessfully to figure out what the heck is going on. To me, the Battle of Waterloo doesn't seem very similar to the bombing of an outboard motorboat. Although, if I remember the scene correctly, Fabrizio was drunk part of the time, which may be the connection with Hegseth.

[JT45242]

48. Winners call it war. Losers are called terrorists. The law calls it murder or war crime

Either way, it is a major crime.

Like life without parole or death penalty crime. Casually killing two people without due process or if it is a war, the kind of violation of the military code of conduct that would get you a life sentence.

[electric_blue68]

50. Maybe an "alcoholic fog"? Bastards, anyway you cut it!

[liberal N proud]

51. War?

What war?
The fog I believe fog of the drunken clown.