Key goal of Hegseth’s ominous agenda: rejecting treaties barring war crimes

Re “Trump, Hegseth lecture military brass” (Oct. 1): Pundits hastily assessed whether this gathering politicized our military; impugned an audience with a combined 1,000 years of warrior ethos; suggested that women and minorities do not support national defense objectives; used that platform to promote book sales; and featured the hypocrisy of shaming “fat” generals when their commander-in-chief is overweight.

But something far more sinister occurred. There was in fact a compelling agenda. As a veteran, the somber nuance was immediately evident. The secretary of war should have been more candid about his obscure agenda: the veiled threat targeting U.S. adherence to the Geneva Conventions.

Pete Hegseth implicitly questioned the 196-nation adoption of a treaty regime championed by the U.S. since 1949. It established standards for humane treatment and minimum protections for soldiers, prisoners of war and civilians. They set unassailable limits on the barbarity of war. They uphold human dignity even in times of intense conflict.

— Bill Slomanson, Hillcrest