# What is a "Declaration Of Vengeance", and is this something we have declared before? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [December 21, 2025, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-declaration-of-vengeance-and-is-this-something-we-have-declared-before/1025908 "2025-12-21T03:30:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2025, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-declaration-of-vengeance-and-is-this-something-we-have-declared-before/1025908/1 "2025-12-21T03:30:42Z")
[US hits ISIS in Syria with large retaliatory strikes, officials say | Reuters](https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/us-strikes-islamic-state-targets-syria-new-york-times-reports-2025-12-19/) The Secretary of “War” has declared that this strike on ISIS is not an act of war, but a “Declaration of Vengeance”. Sound pretty damn petty to me, but I am willing to be corrected on this matter, if possible. ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2025, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-declaration-of-vengeance-and-is-this-something-we-have-declared-before/1025908/2 "2025-12-21T03:44:07Z")
Nope. This “Declaration” is just Hegseth blowing smoke. It should be taken with ~~a grain~~ a shaker of salt. Tripler So much bologna, it’d make a delicatessen proud. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2025, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-declaration-of-vengeance-and-is-this-something-we-have-declared-before/1025908/3 "2025-12-21T03:45:48Z")
Performative macho posturing by the Secretary of WAR, dammit, don’t call it that feeble “Defense” nonsense! ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2025, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-declaration-of-vengeance-and-is-this-something-we-have-declared-before/1025908/4 "2025-12-21T05:46:20Z")
Hegseth is absolutely desperate to be perceived as tough and masculine. Guy’s got more issues than the basement of the Library of Congress. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2025, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-declaration-of-vengeance-and-is-this-something-we-have-declared-before/1025908/5 "2025-12-21T06:24:29Z")
> [@EddyTeddyFreddy](#): > > Performative macho posturing by the Secretary of WAR, dammit, don’t call it that feeble “Defense” nonsense! Posturing? No, friend. It’s actually a genius move. The Geneva Conventions govern actions states may take during wars. There’s nothing governing vengeance. That means he can have the military do anything he wants. It’s ~~a get out of jail free card~~ the very best Christmas/New Year’s card he could give his boss. Just in case someone thinks I actually believe that nonsense move by the disaster of an administration, what I posted above is what I think is their thought process, such as it is. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2025, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-declaration-of-vengeance-and-is-this-something-we-have-declared-before/1025908/6 "2025-12-21T06:36:24Z")
I suspect a lot of members of this maladministration will have to be careful what countries they travel to when this maladministration ends. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2025, 10:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-declaration-of-vengeance-and-is-this-something-we-have-declared-before/1025908/7 "2025-12-21T10:41:22Z")
I do not favor the term “maladministration”. Even that gives it far too much credit. IMO it’s the “current criminal regime”. More words, but only a couple more letters and punchier to read or say. ---
**Author:** ![whitetho](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whitetho/32/1059_2.png) [@whitetho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whitetho)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2025, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-declaration-of-vengeance-and-is-this-something-we-have-declared-before/1025908/8 "2025-12-21T12:17:13Z")
This reminds me of the Korean [s]War[/s] Police Action. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2025, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-declaration-of-vengeance-and-is-this-something-we-have-declared-before/1025908/9 "2025-12-21T12:28:58Z")
I find it to be quite the opposite. The Korean action was at least pretending to be civil, but this “Declaration Of Vengeance” screams of naked aggression with death as the only goal. How do you know when this “vengeance” is successful? ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2025, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-declaration-of-vengeance-and-is-this-something-we-have-declared-before/1025908/10 "2025-12-21T12:32:43Z")
It’s what an 8-year-old girl proclaims after the evil headmaster takes away her dog. > Madeline jumped on a chair. > “Lord Cucuface,” she cried, “beware!” > “Miss Genevieve, noblest dog in France, > “You shall have your VEN-GE-ANCE!” ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2025, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-declaration-of-vengeance-and-is-this-something-we-have-declared-before/1025908/11 "2025-12-21T16:04:59Z")
If I’m understanding Deuteronomy 32:35 correctly, Hegseth is claiming that he is God. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2025, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-declaration-of-vengeance-and-is-this-something-we-have-declared-before/1025908/12 "2025-12-21T16:07:52Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > The Geneva Conventions govern actions states may take during wars. There’s nothing governing vengeance. That means he can have the military do anything he wants. I thought his plan for this was to say somebody else must have committed the war crimes when he was out of the room.