[vunderba]

Plenty of sources have been pretty clear about it. If Hegseth ordered a double-tap to ensure that the two survivors floating in the debris were terminated, then he violated U.S. law.

Section 5.4.7 of the DOD Law of War Manual:

  Prohibition Against Declaring That No Quarter Be Given. It is forbidden to declare that no quarter will be given. This means that it is prohibited to order that legitimate offers of surrender will be refused or that detainees, such as unprivileged belligerents, will be summarily executed. Moreover, it is also prohibited to conduct hostilities on the basis that there shall be no survivors, or to threaten the adversary with the denial of quarter. This rule is based on both humanitarian and military considerations. This rule also applies during non-international armed conflict.

Additionally persons rendered incapacitated in the water in this capacity would be considered "Hors de Combat".

You may want to refresh yourself with actual Department of Defense Law of War Manual - see page 244.

https://media.defense.gov/2023/Jul/31/2003271432/-1/-1/0/DOD...

[DLA]

[Not a JAG] I think there are legal interpretations here that I am not qualified to make. However, countless times in Irag, Afghanistan, and elsewhere target vehicles or compounds were struck, killing some and causing others to flee. Fleeing is NOT surrender. So this gets nuanced really quickly.

[jmye]

Are you suggesting that survivors floating on debris in the middle of the ocean were “fleeing”, or is this just useless equivocation and excuse-making?

Why is media in scare quotes in your original post?

[DLA]

God no I am not saying people floating are fleeing; not even the slightest. I was, however, pointing out events from the past and how post-strike targets were often finished in counterterrorism strikes from land wars. This was not a matter of giving no quarter but one of eliminating threats. The cartels have been designated as terrorist organizations, which does open additional operational options. Not passing judgment; trying to consider the complex nuances here.

Media is quoted because The Atlantic tends to be very biased to one side—-they are not objective; they have an agenda.

[jmye]

I suppose I’m not clear what threat someone clinging to debris in the middle of the ocean continues to pose that would necessitate anything other than rescue and detention.

It seems, rather, that that’s not happening because the military and the Commander-in-Chief are scared that they might find a microphone, rather than any actual real concern about, well, any threat they might pose.

Does having a vague bias make an organization no longer “media”?

[DLA]

ABC News now reporting:

New details emerged Wednesday about the second strike by the U.S. military on an alleged boat on Sept. 2 that killed two survivors, according to a source familiar with the incident.

The two survivors climbed back onto the boat after the initial strike, the source said.

They were believed to be potentially in communication with others in the vicinity and were salvaging some of the drugs that had been the boat’s cargo, the source said, and because of these actions were determined to be "still in the fight" and considered to be valid targets.

https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/new-details-emerge-controver...

[maximinus_thrax]

Don't. Check the user's history, this will not be a good faith debate.

[jmye]

I find myself increasingly concerned that, when not asked to explain their views, people will take vague posts that pretend to be factual as actually factual, because media literacy is basically non-existent.

I don’t need to be in a sixteen comment “debate”, but I think there’s sometimes a lot of value in one or two questions that might expose a comment for what it is.

But your point is definitely well taken!

[DLA]

This is a good faith debate. Notice asking questions and being transparent about what I do not know.

[maximinus_thrax]

I do notice, it's called sealioning