Of all the responses to the new war with Iran, this one had to be the most predictable. As was proper, Defense Secretary Peter Hegseth briefed the nation this morning, focusing on the actual mission itself rather than the announcement given by the White House. We evidently used 30,000 lb bunker-busting bombs on two sites, while a U.S. submarine launched Tomahawk missiles at a third site. Though the nation hasn’t released a bomb-damage-assessment (“BDA”) all parties are saying the mission was a success – they always do the morning after. It will take a while to really evaluate the effectiveness of the bombing itself but no one should be surprised when the best-trained military on earth, using the most expensive ordinance, does a fantastic job. But Hegseth spoke as though Trump drove the bombs over and delivered them himself, leaving a bad taste in the mouth.
The statement is incredibly difficult to embrace – especially when one considers that there should be a desire to support any U.S. president any time that our troops are endangered. Hegseth, among many other issues – including Trump himself, makes it all but impossible.
“It was an incredible and overwhelming success, The order we received from our commander-in-chief was focused, it was powerful, and it was clear. We devastated the Iranian nuclear program.”
Great. The order was to bomb them and was “clear” – what an accomplishment.
“Thanks to President Trump’s bold and visionary leadership and his commitment to peace through strength, Iran’s nuclear ambitions have been obliterated,
“Many presidents have dreamed of delivering the final blow to Iran’s nuclear program, and none could until President Trump. The operation President Trump planned was bold, and it was brilliant.”
Well, it is speculation – but pretty damned safe speculation, and say what one wants about Trump, but he did not “plan” the mission. He surely golfed.
Moreover, while it is true that many presidents wanted to stop Iran’s nuclear capability, Trump is most certainly not the first (And we have no confirmation as to whether this will effectively cripple the effort, Iran spread out its facilities to the point that many were hard to detect). President Obama “eviscerated” Iran’s ability to make a nuclear bomb by binding them to an agreement so tight, so full of real advantages, that they signed it and stuck to it. So it’s a matter of choice, bombs or paper, both work – one leaves Iran as a contributor and more stable presence on the world stage while also leaving innocent Iranians alive – along with many inevitably dead Israelis. Iran is not some podunk poor nation. Given proper incentives, it could be a powerful stabilizing force in the region and an economic powerhouse. Now this.
Additionally, this has to be discussed. While it is true that Trump shouldn’t allow Iran to become a nuclear power – no one should- they state sponsor terrorism, even given that reality, it isn’t hard to understand why Iran wants to develop a nuclear weapon. Wouldn’t you if you were a Muslim nation that practically lives next door to Israel? The flip side to this coin is that until Israel proves it can react with some restraint, Middle Eastern nations will be incentivized to build a bomb. It takes strength to act without fear of being called an anti-Semite while holding the nation of Israel accountable as a player on the world stage. Trump not only cannot do that, he engages in it – calling good people anti-Semitic only because they want Israel to find a third way.
So it is a bit much to listen to Hegseth lather on the praise as if Trump invented the bombs used.
“Just like Soleimani found out in the first term, Iran found out when POTUS says 60 days that he seeks peace and negotiation, he means 60 days of peace and negotiation.I want to give congratulations to our commander-in-chief. It was an honor to watch him lead. And we give glory to God for his providence and continue to ask for his protection.”
There is precious little I hate more than people who invoke God as being on one side or the other in a war. Innocents died last night. Where are the prayers for their family? Being said to God, who is shaking her head with tears.
There is the old maxim that the truly strong don’t need anyone to affirm that strength. For once, I wish we would act like a strong nation and at least come out the next day sounding both resolute and regretful that it came to this. We sound like nothing more than a bully. Trump ripped up the agreement that Obama made with Iran keeping them from building nukes – that is not bold and brilliant leadership.
The truly bold thing to do would’ve been to say that Obama got a good deal and leave it at that. Alas, we don’t have a strong and bold leader, not when people feel compelled to embarrass themselves, lavishing him with praise. We sound like scared North Korea.
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” they state sponsor terrorism, even given that reality, it isn’t hard to understand why Iran wants to develop a nuclear weapon. Wouldn’t you if you were a Muslim nation that practically lives next door to Israel? The flip side to this coin is that until Israel proves it can react with some restraint, Middle Eastern nations will be incentivized to build a bomb.”
For what it’s worth, there already IS a Muslim nation that has nuclear weapons. It’s called “Pakistan.” And it wasn’t all that long ago (just a few weeks, IMS) that Pakistan and India were on the verge of (yet another) nuclear conflict. Pakistan hasn’t exactly been all that innocent when it comes to “state-sponsored terrorism” either. Not even counting India’s accusations that Islamabad is behind all the troubles in India’s part of Kashmir, Osama bin Laden was killed by US troops in a compound IN Pakistan (and Pakistan wasn’t exactly keeping its border with Afghanistan too securely tightened while the Taliban were out of power in Kabul; in fact, whole areas of Pakistan along the border were effectively under Taliban control–or, at least, Pakistani offshoots and sympathizers of the Taliban).
And it’s been pretty well-known that much of Iran’s own program began with help from Islamabad (and more than a little bit of financial aid from the Saudis and the Emirates and the Egyptians trying to keep Iran from funding more Shia-led attacks against those countries as well as their own grievances against Israel).
Bluntly, Kegsbreath can blow me. And I don’t know that he’d even be any good at that. Cripes, what a bunch of hooey. This gives me even more disgust about this whole thing. And more concern, because he doesn’t know how to direct the military. They will *need* directions, soon to come.
Hegseth is just doing his job.
Providing excessive, obsequious, unwarranted, undeserved praise to Dear Leader.
On occasion, I’ve seen some footage of cabinet meetings where lavish, undeserved praise has been heaped on “Wittle Donny,” and it’s quite nauseating. Were I forced into such a situation, you can be sure I’d break every mirror around so I’d never chance to see myself in one.