The military lawyer who advised Bradley during the operation, whom The Post is not identifying because they serve in a secretive unit, has emerged as a key figure as members of Congress seek to understand Bradley’s state of mind at the time of the strike. During such operations, military lawyers are expected to advise their commanders on the law of armed conflict, particularly in moments of uncertainty.
Stars & Stripes
A top House Republican plans to summon the senior military lawyer present during a controversial U.S. strike that killed the survivors of an initial attack on their alleged drug smuggling boat in the waters off Venezuela.
Rep. Mike D. Rogers (R-Ala.), chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, said in a short interview at the Capitol that he wants Adm. Frank M. Bradley, the commander who oversaw the Sept. 2 operation, to return to Washington next week and provide a briefing for all committee members.
“I want the lawyer there, too,” Rogers said.
The request to hear from another official involved in the operation suggests Rogers wants the committee to have a firsthand picture of the legal considerations that preceded Bradley’s order to strike the boat again despite the presence of survivors. The admiral spent about eight hours on Capitol Hill last week meeting with select lawmakers, Rogers among them. The Washington Post on Thursday published a detailed account of the revelations that emerged from those classified discussions.
Earlier this week, Rogers had signaled that he planned to end his committee’s probe, one of two underway in Congress, telling reporters he was satisfied with the information he had been provided. He had previously expressed a desire for Bradley to return to Capitol Hill so more lawmakers could hear directly from the admiral and see video footage of the operation.
A spokesperson for Rogers said the committee was working to schedule the next briefing.
A spokesperson for U.S. Special Operations Command, where Bradley is the top officer, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The Sept. 2 operation killed 11 people, including the two survivors. After The Post reported late last month that Bradley ordered the follow-on attack, lawmakers and legal experts have questioned whether the law of armed conflict had been violated by killing defenseless targets. The House and Senate Armed Services committees quickly opened separate inquiries.
