Hypocritical Generals and Media Have No Standing to Condemn Livestreamed Execution as 'Exploitative Broadcasting'
Source: M.D. Kittle. "Generals, Journos Are Now Squeamish On Live Executions." October 16, 2026. thefederalist.com
The Gist
The author says the retired generals, the media, and Eric Holder are hypocrites for condemning a livestreamed execution when they were involved in or promoted graphic footage of killing in the wars and mishandled the Hasan case. He still agrees the livestream would be a bad idea, but says these critics have no right to lecture anyone.
Conclusion
Retired generals, media outlets, and figures like Eric Holder have no standing to lecture the public about the 'exploitative broadcasting' of Nidal Hasan's execution, because of their own past roles in producing or promoting graphic footage of death and in mishandling Hasan's attack; the author nonetheless agrees the livestream itself would be inappropriate.
Premises
- The 72 retired generals and admirals condemned the proposed livestream of Hasan's execution as exploitative broadcasting that debases human dignity and taints the military's honor.
- The military establishment these officers belonged to ran drone wars whose strike footage was broadcast to the public, and those wars killed many people, including innocents.
- Media outlets such as NBC News have aired graphic footage of death, such as the aftermath of the 2013 Yemeni wedding drone strike, and so have indulged in 'morbid pornography' of death.
- Eric Holder served under an administration that classified Hasan's attack as 'workplace violence' rather than terrorism, which denied victims and families benefits.
- Those who produced or promoted graphic death footage, or who mishandled the Hasan case, are hypocrites who lack standing to criticize a livestreamed execution as exploitative.
- Livestreaming the execution would nonetheless be gratuitous and could inspire more Islamist extremists seeking martyrdom, which is a view most Americans share.
Assumptions
- Past participation in or promotion of graphic war footage makes someone's current moral criticism of livestreamed executions illegitimate (lack of standing).
- Broadcasting drone strike aftermath footage is morally equivalent to livestreaming a state execution.
- The retired officers' letter was motivated by partisan hostility to Trump rather than sincere principle.
- The generals personally ordered or are responsible for the broadcast of the footage the author cites.
- Hypocrisy of the critics is relevant to evaluating the merits of the criticism.
- NBC's publication of the Yemen strike aftermath was prurient rather than newsworthy accountability journalism.
- The 'workplace violence' classification is relevant to the standing of Holder to comment on the execution.