Lawrence of Arabia is one of my favorite movies. I go back and forth between that, Becket, and Avengers: Infinity War. The latter comes from a childhood of reading Marvel Comics.
The film, starring Peter O'Toole, was based on the life of T. E. Lawrence and his 1926 book Seven Pillars of Wisdom (also known as Revolt in the Desert). Lawrence went so deep into character as a wannabe Arab that he lost his mind. I won’t give you the plot of the movie that was so long it required an intermission at 3 hours 47 minutes in the 1988 restored version. Take my word that by the time Lawrence went out of his way to attack an already defeated enemy, shouting, “No Prisoners,” he was quite insane.
Pete Hegseth is an actor as well. He has acted his way through life. As a Fox News host, he positioned himself as a defender of “ordinary Americans” against elites, often framing his commentary in terms of patriotism, faith, and traditional values. He leaned into a confrontational approach, attacking “woke culture,” liberal politicians, and mainstream media.
His segments often featured sharp one‑liners and emotional appeals rather than policy nuance. Hegseth frequently criticized government bureaucracy, higher education, and even military leadership when he felt they embraced diversity or progressive reforms. Hegseth gave the people what they wanted, rather than having strong ideals of his own.
Hegseth pretended to be a strong Christian and a good husband, failing at both. He admitted to having five affairs during his first marriage, telling his wife he was a “f — -ed up individual.” Hegseth cheated on his second wife with Fox producer Jennifer Rauchet, who later became his third wife.
He has faced accusations of sexual harassment and even assault, though he denies them. These allegations stand in stark contrast to the Christian values of respect and integrity he claims to uphold.
On Fox News, Hegseth built his brand around Christian family values, patriotism, and faith. Critics argue his personal scandals — adultery and misconduct — undermine the credibility of that persona.
His scandals also include multiple allegations and documented incidents of alcohol abuse, including drinking on the job at Fox News, being forced out of veterans’ advocacy groups due to intoxicated behavior, and involvement in a sexual assault investigation where witnesses described him as visibly drunk.
Reports highlight at least five separate instances over three years where Hegseth appeared with alcohol on the job at Fox News, sometimes visibly drinking during segments. When undergoing Senate confirmation, Hegseth made the unusual promise that he wouldn’t drink if given the job of Defense Secretary.
Once given the job, Hegseth quickly discovered what most already knew: he was unqualified for it. His early tenure as Secretary of Defense in 2025 has been marked by several high‑profile missteps, ranging from operational blunders to political controversies. These incidents have fueled criticism that he was unprepared for the role.
In March 2025, Hegseth mistakenly sent classified military details via Signal chat, raising alarms about his judgment and operational security. Even Trump allies began questioning his competence. Hegseth followed his boss's example and lied his way through. He claimed the information wasn’t classified, even though it contained details of a military operation yet to take place. Hegseth constantly has to prove to others he belongs, all the while knowing he’s acting.
When called upon to carry out possibly illegal attacks on boats in the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, Hegseth didn’t question; he needed to prove how tough he was. He dismissed criticism, saying, “Biden coddled terrorists; we kill them.”
He posted on X that the operations in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific were “lawful under both U.S. and international law” and praised them as “highly effective lethal, kinetic strikes”. He argued that every trafficker killed was part of a “Designated Terrorist Organization” and that the strikes were protecting Americans from drugs. Multiple reports suggest that at least some of those killed in Hegseth’s Caribbean boat strikes may have been ordinary fishermen rather than drug traffickers. While the Pentagon insists all targets were “narco‑terrorists,” independent investigations and eyewitness accounts have raised serious doubts.
A new report from the Washington Post described the September 2025 strike near Trinidad, where SEAL Team 6 was ordered to “kill everybody.” After the initial missile strike, two survivors were seen clinging to wreckage. A second strike was ordered to eliminate them. According to multiple investigative reports, Pete Hegseth personally gave the order to kill survivors of at least one boat strike in the Caribbean. So much for “Thou Shalt Not Kill.”
Ordering the killing of survivors without confirming combatant status violates the Geneva Conventions. Caribbean governments have quietly protested, fearing their citizens were misidentified and unlawfully killed. Ordering the deliberate killing of survivors without confirming their combatant status would violate standard U.S. military Rules of Engagement (ROE) and international law.
That Hegseth has no morals and a lack of self-control has long been established. Not to mention infusing his racism and misogyny throughout the military he oversees. Since Hegseth has no personal strengths to rely on while playing the Secretary of Defense, now renamed the Secretary of War. He appears to have taken the persona of Lawrence from my aforementioned fave.
Those surrounding Lawrence knew he was touched upstairs, but allowed him to perform his role as he was useful. Reports of the “no survivors” order spread within military leadership. Senior officers raised concerns that the directive was violated. A top admiral overseeing naval operations resigned in protest, citing ethical and legal concerns about Hegseth’s orders. His departure was widely interpreted as a direct response to the September strike and the “kill them all” directive. It is no coincidence that six former military and intelligence people made a videotape saying soldiers don’t have to follow illegal orders. Now we know at least one of the unlawful orders they were talking about.
The Pentagon calls the strikes lawful, but an admiral’s resignation and claims of fishermen among the dead tell another story. With survivors ordered killed and accountability elusive, America’s credibility now drifts with the wreckage in the Caribbean. And an actor shall lead them.