Ghost of Hugo Grotius
@hugogrotiusghost.bsky.social
ابن البطة السودة
Live, Laugh, Lethality
Law, Ethics, War
Live, Laugh, Lethality
Law, Ethics, War
Reposted by Ghost of Hugo Grotius
Kinda cute: the Finnish public broadcaster livestreams the NATO ceremony today when Finland, Sweden and Denmark officially switch from Joint Force Command (JFC) Brunssum to JFC Norfolk to join Iceland and Norway that are already under Norfolk
Suomi siirtyy Natossa Norfolkin alaisuuteen – seuraa Helsingissä järjestettävää seremoniaa suorana kello 12.25
Suomi, Ruotsi ja Tanska siirtyvät tänään perjantaina samaan Nato-joukkoon Norjan ja Islannin kanssa.
yle.fi
December 5, 2025 at 10:07 AM
Kinda cute: the Finnish public broadcaster livestreams the NATO ceremony today when Finland, Sweden and Denmark officially switch from Joint Force Command (JFC) Brunssum to JFC Norfolk to join Iceland and Norway that are already under Norfolk
Reposted by Ghost of Hugo Grotius
Bonkers stuff in the NSS. It is like a far-right caricature of itself. The Trump admin believes it needs to save Europe from itself by backing far-right forces within Europe.
As State Dept reprograms funding, get ready for the US to be the funders of far-right civil society in Europe.
As State Dept reprograms funding, get ready for the US to be the funders of far-right civil society in Europe.
The new US National Security Strategy makes for scary reading. I wrote about how the US wants to support forces in Europe to tear itself apart back in November 2024, and last May. This NSS confirms that's exactly the US objective for Europe.
www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/u...
www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/u...
December 5, 2025 at 12:06 PM
Bonkers stuff in the NSS. It is like a far-right caricature of itself. The Trump admin believes it needs to save Europe from itself by backing far-right forces within Europe.
As State Dept reprograms funding, get ready for the US to be the funders of far-right civil society in Europe.
As State Dept reprograms funding, get ready for the US to be the funders of far-right civil society in Europe.
December 5, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Reposted by Ghost of Hugo Grotius
December 3, 2025 at 4:52 AM
Reposted by Ghost of Hugo Grotius
Himes: "What I saw in that room was one of the most troubling things I've seen in my time in public service ... any American who sees the video that I saw will see the US military attacking shipwrecked sailors."
December 4, 2025 at 7:24 PM
Himes: "What I saw in that room was one of the most troubling things I've seen in my time in public service ... any American who sees the video that I saw will see the US military attacking shipwrecked sailors."
Reposted by Ghost of Hugo Grotius
1. This is not how anyone talks to an O-10.
2. This is certainly not how a 40 year-old ex-O-4 talks to an O-10.
3. This is the most dumbshit company grade officer crap imaginable. No competent commander tells a senior officer not to ask questions.
4. He may as well have called Holsey "boy."
2. This is certainly not how a 40 year-old ex-O-4 talks to an O-10.
3. This is the most dumbshit company grade officer crap imaginable. No competent commander tells a senior officer not to ask questions.
4. He may as well have called Holsey "boy."
December 4, 2025 at 4:24 AM
1. This is not how anyone talks to an O-10.
2. This is certainly not how a 40 year-old ex-O-4 talks to an O-10.
3. This is the most dumbshit company grade officer crap imaginable. No competent commander tells a senior officer not to ask questions.
4. He may as well have called Holsey "boy."
2. This is certainly not how a 40 year-old ex-O-4 talks to an O-10.
3. This is the most dumbshit company grade officer crap imaginable. No competent commander tells a senior officer not to ask questions.
4. He may as well have called Holsey "boy."
Reposted by Ghost of Hugo Grotius
Trump tries to read President Tshisekedi's name
December 4, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Trump tries to read President Tshisekedi's name
Reposted by Ghost of Hugo Grotius
Dept of No Comment
December 4, 2025 at 11:14 AM
Dept of No Comment
Reposted by Ghost of Hugo Grotius
Reagan and both Bushes made the case. Seems like a Democrat could do as much.
www.youtube.com/shorts/J5upA...
www.youtube.com/shorts/J5upA...
Ronald Reagan's last speech on what made America great. 🎥 Credit: @nowthis
YouTube video by 1990 Institute
www.youtube.com
December 4, 2025 at 1:18 AM
Reagan and both Bushes made the case. Seems like a Democrat could do as much.
www.youtube.com/shorts/J5upA...
www.youtube.com/shorts/J5upA...
Reposted by Ghost of Hugo Grotius
Rangers 🤝 Caribbean fishermen
Fighting on to the objective and accomplishing the mission though they be the lone survivor
Fighting on to the objective and accomplishing the mission though they be the lone survivor
A top admiral is expected to tell lawmakers tomorrow that he and his legal adviser concluded that the two survivors of a boat strike in September were attempting to continue their drug run, making them and the damaged vessel legitimate targets for another attack.
www.wsj.com/politics/nat...
www.wsj.com/politics/nat...
Exclusive | Survivors of Boat Strike Were Actively Continuing Drug Mission, Admiral to Tell Lawmakers
Adm. Frank “Mitch” Bradley, the commander of the September attack, is set to provide an account of his role for the first time in a closed briefing.
www.wsj.com
December 4, 2025 at 1:33 AM
Rangers 🤝 Caribbean fishermen
Fighting on to the objective and accomplishing the mission though they be the lone survivor
Fighting on to the objective and accomplishing the mission though they be the lone survivor
Reposted by Ghost of Hugo Grotius
AIDE: Secretary, you need to consult lawyers
HEGSETH: you know what I called those lawyers back when I was in the service?
AIDE: ...
HEGSETH: Say it
AIDE:you called them JAGo
HEGSETH: JAGoffs, that's right. Because they are. I don't need rules, war has no rules.
AIDE: [clicks "end recording"]
HEGSETH: you know what I called those lawyers back when I was in the service?
AIDE: ...
HEGSETH: Say it
AIDE:you called them JAGo
HEGSETH: JAGoffs, that's right. Because they are. I don't need rules, war has no rules.
AIDE: [clicks "end recording"]
December 3, 2025 at 10:18 PM
AIDE: Secretary, you need to consult lawyers
HEGSETH: you know what I called those lawyers back when I was in the service?
AIDE: ...
HEGSETH: Say it
AIDE:you called them JAGo
HEGSETH: JAGoffs, that's right. Because they are. I don't need rules, war has no rules.
AIDE: [clicks "end recording"]
HEGSETH: you know what I called those lawyers back when I was in the service?
AIDE: ...
HEGSETH: Say it
AIDE:you called them JAGo
HEGSETH: JAGoffs, that's right. Because they are. I don't need rules, war has no rules.
AIDE: [clicks "end recording"]
Reposted by Ghost of Hugo Grotius
"We confirmed Dr. Warcrimes, The War Crimes Specialist out of a life of chaos and bad behavior and... well... now that I say it out loud it kind of-"
"several members of Congress and aides interviewed for this report said the GOP’s support for the secretary and other top Pentagon officials has atrophied" www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
Republicans begin to tighten the screws on Hegseth’s Pentagon
GOP frustration with Trump’s defense secretary has intensified, with some lawmakers questioning their confidence in him as key committees pursue an aggressive oversight campaign.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 4, 2025 at 1:11 AM
"We confirmed Dr. Warcrimes, The War Crimes Specialist out of a life of chaos and bad behavior and... well... now that I say it out loud it kind of-"
Reposted by Ghost of Hugo Grotius
>believes the boat strikes might be illegal
>>the drunk asks him to retire
>>>he retires
>>the drunk asks him to retire
>>>he retires
Exclusive: The four-star admiral in charge of Caribbean operations had concerns about the legality of the boat strikes. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth asked him to retire shortly after they started.
Hegseth Asked Top Admiral to Resign After Months of Discord
The relationship between the Pentagon chief and military leader had been rocky since Trump’s inauguration.
on.wsj.com
December 4, 2025 at 12:17 AM
>believes the boat strikes might be illegal
>>the drunk asks him to retire
>>>he retires
>>the drunk asks him to retire
>>>he retires
Reposted by Ghost of Hugo Grotius
A top admiral is expected to tell lawmakers tomorrow that he and his legal adviser concluded that the two survivors of a boat strike in September were attempting to continue their drug run, making them and the damaged vessel legitimate targets for another attack.
www.wsj.com/politics/nat...
www.wsj.com/politics/nat...
Exclusive | Survivors of Boat Strike Were Actively Continuing Drug Mission, Admiral to Tell Lawmakers
Adm. Frank “Mitch” Bradley, the commander of the September attack, is set to provide an account of his role for the first time in a closed briefing.
www.wsj.com
December 4, 2025 at 1:15 AM
A top admiral is expected to tell lawmakers tomorrow that he and his legal adviser concluded that the two survivors of a boat strike in September were attempting to continue their drug run, making them and the damaged vessel legitimate targets for another attack.
www.wsj.com/politics/nat...
www.wsj.com/politics/nat...
Reposted by Ghost of Hugo Grotius
The Pentagon knew there were survivors after a September attack on an alleged drug boat in the Caribbean Sea and the U.S. military still carried out a follow-up strike, according to two people familiar with the matter. https://to.pbs.org/3MhwCWT
Pentagon knew boat attack left survivors but still launched follow-up strike, AP sources say
The additional information comes as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is under growing scrutiny over the department’s strikes on alleged drug traffickers in the Caribbean and Pacific, and in particular t...
www.pbs.org
December 4, 2025 at 1:17 AM
The Pentagon knew there were survivors after a September attack on an alleged drug boat in the Caribbean Sea and the U.S. military still carried out a follow-up strike, according to two people familiar with the matter. https://to.pbs.org/3MhwCWT
Reposted by Ghost of Hugo Grotius
I don’t want to be pollyannish about the past, but it was basically inconceivable twenty years ago that a president would say this publicly
Trump: "It’s a hellhole right now. And those Somalians should be out of here. They've destroyed our country. And all they do is complain, complain, complain. You have her. She’s always talking about the Constitution provides me with – go back to your own country and figure out your constitution."
December 3, 2025 at 11:01 PM
I don’t want to be pollyannish about the past, but it was basically inconceivable twenty years ago that a president would say this publicly
Reposted by Ghost of Hugo Grotius
Only in the Trump admin is archival footage of someone saying “don’t do illegal things” considered embarrassing
www.cnn.com/2025/12/02/u...
(Another good find from @kfile.bsky.social nonetheless)
www.cnn.com/2025/12/02/u...
(Another good find from @kfile.bsky.social nonetheless)
2016 video shows Hegseth saying the military cannot carry out unlawful orders | CNN
Hegseth described the refusal of illegal commands as part of the military’s ethos — a message he now condemns Democrats for spreading.
www.cnn.com
December 3, 2025 at 1:21 PM
Only in the Trump admin is archival footage of someone saying “don’t do illegal things” considered embarrassing
www.cnn.com/2025/12/02/u...
(Another good find from @kfile.bsky.social nonetheless)
www.cnn.com/2025/12/02/u...
(Another good find from @kfile.bsky.social nonetheless)
You’ve been given free access to this article from The Economist as a gift. You can open the link five times within seven days. After that it will expire.
The wrong sort of peace leads to the next war
economist.com/internationa...
The wrong sort of peace leads to the next war
economist.com/internationa...
The wrong sort of peace leads to the next war
Donald Trump’s approach to peacemaking ignores crucial lessons from history
economist.com
December 3, 2025 at 12:50 PM
You’ve been given free access to this article from The Economist as a gift. You can open the link five times within seven days. After that it will expire.
The wrong sort of peace leads to the next war
economist.com/internationa...
The wrong sort of peace leads to the next war
economist.com/internationa...
Reposted by Ghost of Hugo Grotius
There’s abundant evidence too that an army that abandons its own moral restraints quickly begins to abandon other things too, like its discipline and cohesion. An army operating in bad faith with its own putative values becomes a bad army.
December 3, 2025 at 11:47 AM
There’s abundant evidence too that an army that abandons its own moral restraints quickly begins to abandon other things too, like its discipline and cohesion. An army operating in bad faith with its own putative values becomes a bad army.
Reposted by Ghost of Hugo Grotius
A modern military does not need to prove how lethal and dangerous it is. That is obvious to any civilian.
It DOES need to prove how ethical and moral it is because that is very much in doubt for civilians on the battlefield.
It DOES need to prove how ethical and moral it is because that is very much in doubt for civilians on the battlefield.
December 3, 2025 at 10:11 AM
A modern military does not need to prove how lethal and dangerous it is. That is obvious to any civilian.
It DOES need to prove how ethical and moral it is because that is very much in doubt for civilians on the battlefield.
It DOES need to prove how ethical and moral it is because that is very much in doubt for civilians on the battlefield.
Reposted by Ghost of Hugo Grotius
Hegseth has a high school football player's understanding of the Law of War.
Professionals understand that protecting civilians on the battlefield is a moral and legal obligation that often entails enhanced risk to combatants. That's part of the job.
Professionals understand that protecting civilians on the battlefield is a moral and legal obligation that often entails enhanced risk to combatants. That's part of the job.
“Should we follow the Geneva Conventions?” Pete Hegseth asked in 2024.
It’s almost as if there were signs!
bsky.app/profile/anna...
It’s almost as if there were signs!
bsky.app/profile/anna...
December 3, 2025 at 10:11 AM
Hegseth has a high school football player's understanding of the Law of War.
Professionals understand that protecting civilians on the battlefield is a moral and legal obligation that often entails enhanced risk to combatants. That's part of the job.
Professionals understand that protecting civilians on the battlefield is a moral and legal obligation that often entails enhanced risk to combatants. That's part of the job.
Reposted by Ghost of Hugo Grotius
After becoming a congressional leader, a politician’s stock portfolio beats out those of peers by 47 (!!!) percentage points a year through trades timed around bills and firms that later get government contracts
www.nber.org/papers/w34524
via @florianederer.bsky.social
www.nber.org/papers/w34524
via @florianederer.bsky.social
December 3, 2025 at 1:42 AM
After becoming a congressional leader, a politician’s stock portfolio beats out those of peers by 47 (!!!) percentage points a year through trades timed around bills and firms that later get government contracts
www.nber.org/papers/w34524
via @florianederer.bsky.social
www.nber.org/papers/w34524
via @florianederer.bsky.social
How many times will the story change?
US Secretary of Defense Peter Hegseth defends controversial second strike on alleged drug boat in the Caribbean Sea.
US defence chief says he did not see survivors before follow-up boat strike
US Secretary of Defense Peter Hegseth defends controversial second strike on alleged drug boat in the Caribbean Sea.
bit.ly
December 3, 2025 at 3:01 AM
How many times will the story change?
Reposted by Ghost of Hugo Grotius
Good point from @swin24.bsky.social and team here: Trump and Hegseth suddenly refusing to take credit for the second strike, after they've spent weeks sadistically yukking it up over their killings, is a key tell:
zeteo.com/p/trump-hegs...
zeteo.com/p/trump-hegs...
Trump Admin Lawyers Now Warn Boat Strike May Be Illegal, as Hegseth Passes the Buck
‘If the Washington Post is right, then a crime was committed,’ a Trump admin lawyer tells Zeteo, as Pete Hegseth tries to pass the buck.
zeteo.com
December 3, 2025 at 2:38 AM
Good point from @swin24.bsky.social and team here: Trump and Hegseth suddenly refusing to take credit for the second strike, after they've spent weeks sadistically yukking it up over their killings, is a key tell:
zeteo.com/p/trump-hegs...
zeteo.com/p/trump-hegs...
Reposted by Ghost of Hugo Grotius
The Defense Department Inspector General’s eight-month investigation into Pete Hegseth’s usage of the Signal app has been completed and is expected to be released as soon as this week, NBC News reported in an exclusive story.
Report: Investigation Into Pete Hegseth’s Use Of Signal Is Complete, Will Be Released Soon
www.huffpost.com
December 3, 2025 at 1:08 AM
The Defense Department Inspector General’s eight-month investigation into Pete Hegseth’s usage of the Signal app has been completed and is expected to be released as soon as this week, NBC News reported in an exclusive story.