In reports from the newspaper and the broadcaster CNN it was said that Hegseth had previously given the order to “kill everyone”. However, according to CNN, it is unclear whether he knew about the survivors before the second attack. Hegseth himself recently denied direct responsibility for the second attack. He personally didn’t see any survivors. It was only a few hours later that he learned that the commander in charge, Admiral Frank M. Bradley, had made the decision for a second attack, “for which he was fully authorized.”
Observers fear that Bradley could be used as a scapegoat in the affair. On Thursday he exonerated Hegseth: The admiral had stated to members of Congress that he had not received an order to “kill everyone,” said Republican Senator Tom Cotton and the Democratic member of the House of Representatives, Jim Himes.
But demands for clarification about the US actions and Hegseth’s role should not be off the table. The Democratic US Senator Jack Reed, for example, now demanded on Platform X that the Pentagon should publish the complete and unedited video material of the second attack.
The debate about the controversial US attack was sparked by media reports that cited people familiar with the situation. The case is an example of how relevant reporting on US military actions can be – even if access to the Pentagon for journalists was restricted under Hegseth.
Since October, new guidelines have been in place that stipulate that reporters are not allowed to publish any information without the permission of the ministry – otherwise their accreditation could be withdrawn. Reporters who did not agree to comply with the requirement had to vacate their workplaces. Almost all major US media companies have rejected the rules, including the Republican-affiliated channel Fox News, for which Hegseth previously worked, and the New York Times.
The renowned daily newspaper has now filed a lawsuit against the Pentagon and Hegseth. In it, she argues that the new policy violates the First Amendment and aims to “restrict the ability of journalists to do what journalists have always done: ask government employees questions and gather information.” This is necessary in order to publish articles that offer more than official announcements. The First Amendment to the US Constitution protects, among other things, freedom of the press.
