Michael Gordon

Part of that meant relaxing rules of engagement, which are put in place to govern the use of military force.

Hegseth argued that the rules had been too restrictive in the past and that they needed to be eased.

So I don't think it's surprising that the administration has taken a pretty assertive use and aggressive use on these bus strikes.

It's pretty much what Secretary Hegseth said he was going to do.

His recommendation that the ROE, Rules of Engagement, be used is highly controversial within military circles.

I've talked to generals who are currently serving, and they say the previous ROE were fine and necessary even to regulate the use of force.

The next month, there was an instance in which the U.S.

struck a semi-submersible vessel.

There were two survivors.

They were rescued and they were repatriated to their countries.

And so a question I have in my mind is how does the administration explain an action that killed the two survivors in September and a set of decisions just a month later in which it not only rescued the survivors but sent them home scot-free?