The American Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, has also mentioned Kosovo in a statement through which he defended the legality of American military operations in Iran, opposing the efforts to dismiss him through the procedure known as “impeachment”, writes Express.
In a press conference while commenting on the intentions for his dismissal, Hegseth recalled the American military interventions during the administrations of previous presidents, mentioning also the intervention of NATO in Kosovo in 1999, during the presidency of Bill Clinton.
“During the 250 years of the American republic, no Secretary of War or Secretary of Defense has faced impeachment for conducting legal military operations. Never. Not during Reagan in Lebanon. Not during Clinton in Kosovo. Not during Obama in Iraq or Syria. Not during Biden in Iraq or Syria. This is the standard. The history is clear,” declared Hegseth.
He has criticized the initiative of American congressman Thomas Massie, whom he described as unhappy, for trying to change this precedent due to disagreements with the military policies of the current administration.
“That's what's going on, policy disagreements. Not felonies, not misdemeanors, not treason, not bribery, not the kind of offenses the US founders had in mind when they drafted the impeachment clause,” he added.
Hegseth's statement comes as Republican Congressman Thomas Massie has launched a motion to impeach him, presenting eight counts of impeachment. They are mainly related to US military involvement in Iran without congressional authorization, as well as operations in Yemen and Venezuela.
Massie accuses Hegseth of carrying out illegal orders and violating the US Constitution. The Secretary of Defense has rejected these claims, describing the initiative as politically motivated
