Topic: Rules Of War

The Washington Post reported that Secretary Pete Hegseth allegedly ordered a "double tap" strike on a suspected drug boat, killing survivors who were clinging to the wreckage. Critics argue this would be a violation of the laws of war regarding imminent threats. The hosts compare the media's current outrage to the lack of accountability for similar strikes in Iraq revealed by Chelsea Manning and Julian Assange.

Democratic lawmakers like Senator Chris Murphy and Congressman Jason Crow have urged Israel to reconsider its military approach in favor of a more "proportionate" campaign. The hosts question why the "rules of war" are being emphasized now when they were largely ignored in other recent conflicts.

Military analysts suggest that civilians in active combat zones often fail to follow safety protocols, such as signaling to aircraft, which leads to tragic misidentifications. In the case of the Baghdad air strike, the lack of visible "Press" markings and the presence of armed individuals in the vicinity contributed to the pilots' decision to engage. The segment concludes that such incidents are an inherent, albeit grim, reality of urban warfare rather than unique evidence of war crimes.