Firing Line with Margaret Hoover Ret. Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling on Trump’s second-term National Security Strategy
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Dec 13, 2025 Ret. Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling, a retired U.S. Army lieutenant general and expert in military strategy, discusses the nuances of Trump’s new National Security Strategy. He raises ethical concerns over military strikes on drug boats and the lack of congressional oversight. Hertling critiques the administration's values-free approach, emphasizing the need for clearer legal boundaries and accountability. He also debates the relevance of the Monroe Doctrine today and shares insights from his upcoming book, focusing on leadership lessons for future generations.
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Shipwrecked Targets Are Clearly Illegal
- The Law of War Manual cites firing on the shipwrecked as clearly illegal and an order to disobey.
- Hertling explains soldiers should question illegal orders, escalate, and may face moral injury if command culture normalizes them.
Question Orders That Look Illegal
- Question any order that appears unlawful and seek higher authority in the chain of command.
- Persist in escalation until a lawful resolution is provided to avoid committing war crimes.
Strategy Papers Signal Global Intent
- National Security Strategy documents matter to allies, foes, and militaries far beyond being mere paperwork.
- Hertling says the new NSS reads as transactional and unilateral: "America only and everyone else supports us."
