General Discussion

demmiblue

(39,260 posts) Tue Dec 2, 2025, 02:22 PM Dec 2

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

WASHINGTON – 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.”

https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/world/2025/12/02/hegseth-cites-fog-of-war-in-defending-follow-on-strike-in-scrutinized-attack-on-alleged-drug-boat/

Q: So you didn't see any survivors after that first strike?

HEGSETH: I did not personally see survivors. The thing was on fire. This is called the fog of war. This is what you in the press don't understand. You sit in your air conditioned offices and plant fake stories in the Washington Post
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) 2025-12-02T18:58:09.372Z

12 replies

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Highlight:

Hegseth cites 'fog of war' in defending follow-on strike in scrutinized attack on alleged drug boat (Original Post) demmiblue Dec 2 OP

Fog of what war? unblock Dec 2 #1

+1 leftstreet Dec 2 #2

Lol. That's a board game term. Doesn't apply in this circumstance. Solomon Dec 2 #3

The only "fog" is between Hegseth's ears. harumph Dec 2 #4

Aka The Mendacity of Murderers C_U_L8R Dec 2 #5

What did the second strike target? I want to see what they aimed at FullySupportDems Dec 2 #6

It was just like the Battle of the Bulge! Antietam! Gallipoli! Trafalgar! Midway! Ocelot II Dec 2 #7

not looking good for former Fox News drunkard eShirl Dec 2 #8

What war? SheltieLover Dec 2 #9

"This fog of war has a name, and that name is Jack Daniels." flvegan Dec 2 #10

they're a couple of foggy noggins eShirl Dec 2 #12

No Americans were at peril at any time during MineralMan Dec 2 #11

unblock

(55,938 posts)

1. Fog of what war?

Reply to demmiblue (Original post)

Tue Dec 2, 2025, 02:24 PM

Dec 2

"Fog of war" is meant to convey the confusion when you're in mortal peril and the fear is so high it clouds you perception of reality. Combine that with incomplete information, poor communication, differing perspectives, etc., and people make mistakes.

If you're all ganging up peacefully to whomp a small boat that isn't fighting back, where's the fog?

leftstreet

(38,876 posts)

2. +1

Reply to unblock (Reply #1)

Tue Dec 2, 2025, 02:27 PM

Dec 2

Solomon

(12,635 posts)

3. Lol. That's a board game term. Doesn't apply in this circumstance.

Reply to demmiblue (Original post)

Tue Dec 2, 2025, 02:29 PM

Dec 2

harumph

(3,115 posts)

4. The only "fog" is between Hegseth's ears.

Reply to demmiblue (Original post)

Tue Dec 2, 2025, 02:30 PM

Dec 2

C_U_L8R

(48,897 posts)

5. Aka The Mendacity of Murderers

Reply to demmiblue (Original post)

Tue Dec 2, 2025, 02:30 PM

Dec 2

FullySupportDems

(410 posts)

6. What did the second strike target? I want to see what they aimed at

Reply to demmiblue (Original post)

Tue Dec 2, 2025, 02:39 PM

Dec 2

Show the crosshairs on the survivors. Explain that. You expletive nazi hegsdeath. Explain the targeting.

Ocelot II

(129,170 posts)

7. It was just like the Battle of the Bulge! Antietam! Gallipoli! Trafalgar! Midway!

Reply to demmiblue (Original post)

Tue Dec 2, 2025, 02:43 PM

Dec 2

They were shooting at us! We couldn't see anything because of all the smoke from the cannons!

eShirl

(20,089 posts)

8. not looking good for former Fox News drunkard

Reply to demmiblue (Original post)

Tue Dec 2, 2025, 02:43 PM

Dec 2

SheltieLover

(76,923 posts)

9. What war?

Reply to demmiblue (Original post)

Tue Dec 2, 2025, 02:48 PM

Dec 2

flvegan

(65,800 posts)

10. "This fog of war has a name, and that name is Jack Daniels."

Reply to demmiblue (Original post)

Tue Dec 2, 2025, 02:49 PM

Dec 2

- Hegseth, probably

eShirl

(20,089 posts)

12. they're a couple of foggy noggins

Reply to flvegan (Reply #10)

Tue Dec 2, 2025, 02:54 PM

Dec 2

MineralMan

(150,655 posts)

11. No Americans were at peril at any time during

Reply to demmiblue (Original post)

Tue Dec 2, 2025, 02:52 PM

Dec 2

those boat attacks. Not one, and especially none who were directing the attacks.

The fog of war implies danger on the part of all sides. There was no such danger unless you were in those boats, frankly. The worst risk for those in charge is that someone in the officers' mess will overcook their steaks. This war is done by remote control.

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