To the Editor:
Re “Officials Deny Hegseth Order of Boat Deaths” (front page, Dec. 2):
Our secretary of defense, Pete Hegseth, continues to approach the gravest responsibilities of national security as if he were an 8-year-old with a fresh box of toy soldiers. His decisions show little understanding of the real-world consequences for human life or the decades of international law that guide responsible nations.
His disregard for the law of armed conflict and the complexity of rules of engagement doesn’t project strength — it destabilizes the delicate balance of international relations we depend on.
This is a tragedy on many levels, not least because it brings shame upon a country that once stood as a champion of international norms and mutual respect. With great strength comes great responsibility — and we should expect leadership that reflects it.
Nancy Roberts Easton, Md.
To the Editor:
Your article says the suggestion that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth or Adm. Frank M. Bradley targeted shipwrecked survivors in the Sept. 2 attack on a boat in the Caribbean Sea “has been galvanizing because that would apparently be a war crime.”
No, it would not be a war crime. No responsible expert in international law could conclude that these attacks are part of a war, despite the Trump administration’s claims to the contrary.
The use of epithets like terrorist and narcoterrorist to describe alleged drug traffickers changes nothing. These killings are simply murder — extrajudicial killings in violation of United States and international human rights law because the boats’ occupants are not attacking the United States, nor do they pose an imminent threat of attack.
Whatever risk of harm they do pose can be neutralized by interdiction and arrest, as has been the practice for years. While it is true that killing an incapacitated person is an especially heinous human rights violation, the initial use of lethal force against these boats is just as unlawful.
Gabor Rona New York The writer is a professor of practice at Cardozo Law School and a former international legal director of the nonprofit organization Human Rights First.
To the Editor:
All of us should wonder which possibility is worse: Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth ordering a second strike on a defenseless vessel; the secretary not having knowledge or control of or over the actions of his subordinates; or his blithely minimizing the significance of following the laws of combat by posting of a juvenile parody of the incident.
Maybe what is worst of all is that these are actually the options.
Gregory J. Stamos Woodbridge, Conn.
Fixing Penn Station
To the Editor:
Re “Despite Decades of Attempts, Penn Station Remains Broken” (front page, Nov. 22):
Madison Square Garden owners’ refusal to move continues to be cited as a factor in the renovation delays. McKim, Mead & White’s original Penn Station should have been better maintained and ultimately restored.
The magnificent main waiting room was inspired by the ancient Roman Baths of Caracalla — a bit different from its underground successor. But we cannot reverse its demolition, and the replacement Madison Square Garden is worth preserving.
Its massive circular structure among city buildings evokes a similar feeling from my visit to the Colosseum (another reference to Rome). And Madison Square Garden is not a ruin. While much older than similar arenas, it is arguably still the premier venue to watch sporting and other events.
In New York City, we have recently witnessed the conversion of LaGuardia Airport from a dump to a gem. With better minds and political skills, there must be a way, as was proposed in 2023, to keep Madison Square Garden and continue to rebuild a Penn Station that is both beautiful and better functioning. Moynihan Train Hall was an impressive start.
Jeffrey B. Freedman New York
Trumpism After Trump
To the Editor:
Re “The Core of the Republican Party Is Not Reaganism,” by Damon Linker (Opinion guest essay, Nov. 9):
Mr. Linker astutely points out that we have been here before. While I disagree with virtually everything Ronald Reagan stood for, he had a pragmatic and hopeful view of America as a “shining city on a hill” and a land of opportunity for people all around the world. That is the genius of America, and that is what has lent us the swagger to be a global superpower.
I agree that Trumpism is most likely here to stay when President Trump ultimately exits the stage, and I fear that the consequences will be far greater than we can calculate. America’s swagger is gone, the world won’t trust us, and in the long term that has tremendous implications for American superiority.
If America is to regain the aura of a shining city on a hill, the next president and the American people must reject nationalism and populism. The next president, whoever that may be, has a lot of work ahead.
Aaron Salhotra Portland, Ore.
The post Hegseth Under Scrutiny in Lethal Boat Strikes appeared first on New York Times.
