U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Thursday a military operation to remove "narco-terrorists," amid growing concerns that a U.S. naval build-up in Latin American waters could presage a wider conflict. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/11/14/world/us-latin-america-new-military-plan/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #worldnews #us #petehegseth #drugs #gangs #venezuela
Amid the growing threat of conflict with China, U.S. defense chief Pete Hegseth has hinted that Washington is eyeing “flexibility” for using U.S. troops in South Korea in the event of a “regional contingency.” https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/11/04/asia-pacific/politics/us-south-korea-china-military/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #politics #southkorea #us #usmilitary #china #pla #northkorea #petehegseth
Alex Akselrod
boosted
The #US #military has carried out another lethal strike on alleged drug smugglers in the #Caribbean Sea, #Defense Sec #PeteHegseth announced.
#Hegseth in a social media posting said the vessel was operated by a US designated terrorist organization but did not name which group was targeted. He said 3 people were killed in the strike.
#Trump #criminal #law #murder #ExtrajudicialKillings #InternationalLaw #Congress #WarPowers #AbuseOfPower #Authoritarianism #fascism
https://www.npr.org/2025/11/02/nx-s1-5594753/us-strike-caribbean-kills-3-drug-smugglers
The #US #military has carried out another lethal strike on alleged drug smugglers in the #Caribbean Sea, #Defense Sec #PeteHegseth announced.
#Hegseth in a social media posting said the vessel was operated by a US designated terrorist organization but did not name which group was targeted. He said 3 people were killed in the strike.
#Trump #criminal #law #murder #ExtrajudicialKillings #InternationalLaw #Congress #WarPowers #AbuseOfPower #Authoritarianism #fascism
https://www.npr.org/2025/11/02/nx-s1-5594753/us-strike-caribbean-kills-3-drug-smugglers
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth held talks Friday with counterparts from China and India, among a series of face-to-face meetings at an ASEAN defense summit as Washington seeks to boost its regional security ties. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/11/01/asia-pacific/politics/hegseth-us-talks-asia/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #politics #southeastasia #asean #petehegseth #dongjun #china #usmilitary #defense #uschinarelations #india #philippines
If #military separation boards decide to allow #transgender service members to remain in uniform, commanders can override that decision, acc/to an Oct 8 memo to all the services from the #Pentagon’s undersecretary for personnel & readiness, Anthony Tata. That breaks with longstanding policy that boards act independently.
It is the #Pentagon’s latest step to drive #transgender troops out of the #ArmedFrces following an executive order from #Trump. He & #Defense Secy #PeteHegseth have targeted #diversity, #equity & #inclusion efforts in what they say is an effort to make the #military more lethal.
The admin’s policies have faced pushback in courts as #trans troops & supporters say they have proven their worth to the military, but #SCOTUS in May allowed the ban to be enforced while legal challenges proceed.
In her first week as prime minister, Sanae Takaichi impressed at home and abroad through deft diplomacy with ASEAN leaders and a successful summit with Donald Trump that strengthened the Japan-U.S. alliance. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/editorials/2025/10/31/takaichi-shines-on-dilomatic-stage/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #editorials #sanaetakaichi #donaldtrump #shinzoabe #malaysia #asean #philippines #ferdinandmarcosjr #anthonyalbanese #australia #china #apec #petehegseth #ldp #russia #northkorea #southkorea #leejaemyung #xijinping
In his first meeting with new Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, U.S. defense chief Pete Hegseth said Washington never demanded Tokyo further hike its defense spending, calling Japan's current spending plans "wonderful." https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/10/29/japan/politics/koizumi-hegseth-defense-talks/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #usjapanrelations #us #defense #petehegseth #shinjirokoizumi
Alex Akselrod
boosted
#Hegseth says #US carried out 3 strikes on alleged drug-running boats in eastern Pacific, murdering 14
#Defense Secy #PeteHegseth announced that the US #military carried out 3 strikes Monday in the waters of the Eastern #Pacific against boats *suspected* of carrying drugs, killing 14 & leaving one survivor.
#Trump #law #InternationalLaw #murder #Congress #WarPowers
https://apnews.com/article/drug-cartels-hegseth-pacific-8f9f65dd67c0bc55b6dd70b109df0216?utm_source=onesignal&utm_medium=push&utm_campaign=2025-10-28-Breaking+News
#Hegseth says #US carried out 3 strikes on alleged drug-running boats in eastern Pacific, murdering 14
#Defense Secy #PeteHegseth announced that the US #military carried out 3 strikes Monday in the waters of the Eastern #Pacific against boats *suspected* of carrying drugs, killing 14 & leaving one survivor.
#Trump #law #InternationalLaw #murder #Congress #WarPowers
https://apnews.com/article/drug-cartels-hegseth-pacific-8f9f65dd67c0bc55b6dd70b109df0216?utm_source=onesignal&utm_medium=push&utm_campaign=2025-10-28-Breaking+News
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will make a stop in Japan during a visit to the Indo-Pacific region this week, during which he is scheduled to meet Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi for talks. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/10/27/japan/politics/us-defense-chief-japan-visit/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #petehegseth #shinjirokoizumi #usjapanrelations #defense #defenseministry
Alex Akselrod
boosted
New #Trump Order Among ‘Scariest Things I’ve Seen in US Politics,’ #CivilRights Attorney Says
The new order, he says, would essentially allow “random #fascist #vigilantes” to “sign up to be a #Brownshirt” for Trump’s militarized occupation forces.
Stephen Prager
Aug 26, 2025
"An executive order signed Monday by US President Donald Trump may permit 'random #FascistVigilantes' to help him #crackdown on protests across the country, according to one prominent civil rights lawyer.
"The new order, which comes amid wider concern about Trump’s #militarized takeover of #WashingtonDC, directs Secretary of Defense #PeteHegseth to ensure that each state’s #NationalGuard is equipped to 'assist Federal, State, and local law enforcement in quelling civil disturbances and ensuring the public safety.' "
Read more / listen:
https://www.commondreams.org/news/trump-vigilante-portal
Archived version:
https://archive.ph/H30Nm
#USPol #Fascism #TrumpIsAFascist #Authoritarianism #BellRiots #Brownshirts #CorporateColonialism #Corporatocracy #CapitolGuards #HungerGames #SilencingDissent #CharacteristicsOfFascism
Alex Akselrod
boosted
JFC
#Congress has to stop this!
The #Trump admin carried out another deadly strike against alleged drug traffickers on Wednesday, targeting a vessel in the eastern #Pacific Ocean for the second straight day, #Defense Secy #PeteHegseth said in a social media post.
#law #murder #WarPowers #war #AbuseOfPower
https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/10/22/us/trump-news/fc56d2b3-335a-576e-8524-73265a5fddb4?smid=url-share
JFC
#Congress has to stop this!
The #Trump admin carried out another deadly strike against alleged drug traffickers on Wednesday, targeting a vessel in the eastern #Pacific Ocean for the second straight day, #Defense Secy #PeteHegseth said in a social media post.
#law #murder #WarPowers #war #AbuseOfPower
https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/10/22/us/trump-news/fc56d2b3-335a-576e-8524-73265a5fddb4?smid=url-share
In a surprise move, the admiral who leads U.S. military forces in Latin America said he will step down at the end of this year, two years ahead of schedule, amid escalating tensions with Venezuela. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/10/17/world/us-latin-america-admiral-step-down/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #worldnews #us #venezuela #alvinholsey #petehegseth
John Bolton, a former national security adviser of U.S. President Donald Trump who later became one of his most vocal critics, has been charged with mishandling classified information. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/10/17/world/crime-legal/bolton-indicted-classified-information-mishandle/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #worldnews #crimelegal #us #donaldtrump #johnbolton #espionageact #justicedepartment #petehegseth
It was unclear why Admiral Holsey is leaving now, less than a year into his tenure, & in the midst of the biggest operation in his 37-year career.
…Since early Sept, #US Special Ops forces have struck at least 5 boats off the coast of #Venezuela that the #Trump admin claims were transporting drugs, killing 27 people. US officials have privately made it clear that the main goal is to drive Nicolás #Maduro, #Venezuela’s #authoritarian leader, from #power.
…Admiral Holsey, who is #Black, becomes only the latest in a line of more than a dozen #military leaders, many of them people of color &/or #women, who have left their jobs this year. Most have been fired by #Defense Secretary #PeteHegseth or pushed out.
#Trump #US #Venezuela #Caribbean #USSouthCom #Pentagon #law #murder #war #Venezuela #NonInternationalArmedConflict
The association representing journalists who cover the U.S. Department of Defense on Wednesday condemned a new press access policy that could see reporters lose their access as early as next week. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/10/09/world/politics/press-us-defense-media-access/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #worldnews #politics #journalism #pressfreedom #censorship #newspapers #magazines #pentagon #petehegseth #us #donaldtrump
A new Pentagon policy mandating pre-approval for unclassified information poses a serious threat to press freedom and government transparency, potentially undermining established First Amendment protections. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2025/10/06/world/pentagon-press-policy-a-threat-to-free-speech/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #commentary #worldnews #firstamendment #usconstitution #freedomofspeech #petehegseth #penagon
Alex Akselrod
boosted
This will drive Pete Hegseth batshit. Good.
In ‘Boots,’ a Closeted Marine Comes of Age
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/06/arts/television/boots-netflix.html
#FireHegseth #PeteHegseth #RepublicansOwnThis #Trumpkakistocracy #GOPIdiot #GOPRapist #GOPDrunkard #WhiteSupremacist #NoRepublicansEverAgain #USPol
