On President Trump’s behalf, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shamelessly ordered the killings of non-combatant and presumably foreign civilians.
We likely will never learn the identities of those who occupied all of those small boats operating in Caribbean and Eastern Pacific waters, but the count so far totals 83 dead. None of the boats was operating near U.S. territory. The administration’s justification is as phony as a three-dollar bill. These killings were illegal murders.
Most informed Americans realize we’re not at war with the sovereign nation of Venezuela, despite claims by Trump and Hegseth that we are. Moreover, the specific order to kill survivors of one of the strikes violated, at the very least, the laws of war and U.S. military regulations.
If the command to kill the two survivors was given by Adm. Frank Bradley, it was surely illegal. He should be court-martialed.
If the evidence proves that Hegseth ordered the illegal killings that Admiral Bradley should have disobeyed, then Hegseth should be fired by Trump (“You’re fired!”) or impeached by Republican senators who ignored multiple indicators of his unfitness and still recklessly confirmed him.
David Kahn, Boca Raton
Too dangerous at Defense
If there were any doubt about Hegseth’s gross ineptitude, his “fog of war” remark in explaining the shooting of survivors of a sunken ship made it all too clear.
“Fog of War,” as credited to Carl von Clausewitz in the early 19th century, referred to the overall confusion and frenzy found on the battlefield, not literal fog caused by our exploding weapons.
How dangerous that this Fox News talking head, who berated our generals for being overweight, knows so little but has his finger on the trigger that could send us to war.
Harvey Starin, Boca Raton
On Wednesday, Dec. 10, the city of Hollywood will vote whether to change public oceanfront land from community space to medium-high residential. The deed for the land states, “This conveyance is for open space, park, recreational, and other public and municipal purposes.”
The city Planning and Development Board unanimously voted to recommend rejection of this zoning change. The project is in conflict with the city’s Zyscovich Master Plan.
Residents have also asked the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to require a full review for the acre that was purchased with land and water conservation funds.
This oceanfront property is in a mandatory hurricane evacuation zone and has many challenges with flooding. It will only get worse with a projected three feet of sea-level rise. Commissioners should reject this land-use amendment. Residents should be allowed to vote by referendum.
Catherine Uden, Hollywood
The writer is a Hollywood city commission candidate and former candidate for mayor.
Preserve Hollywood’s character
As a 52-year transplant from Buffalo, N.Y., to Hollywood, Fla., and a 32-year resident owner on the beach, I have become a strong advocate for local preservation — especially when it comes to our most precious treasures on our beach and in the Hollywood Lakes neighborhood.
The land use for city-owned properties, I feel, must reflect conserving all that contributes to the famed Hollywood culture of being quaint and a bit quirky.
With development and redevelopment issues and projects currently being planned, it is essential for many different reasons that we save what has become rare in our city and on our beach. Low building heights with low density and limiting traffic and addressing resiliency are all important factors.
I therefore continue to oppose any land-use change at any time for properties as precious as that of 1301 S. Ocean Dr. on Hollywood Beach. I am in strong opposition.
Kathy DiBona, Hollywood
A dangerous precedent
Approval of a land-use change to allow for the 1301 Project to go forward will set a dangerous precedent that will enable additional developers to build on what little remains of our publicly owned land.
Claire Garrett, Hollywood
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