Hegseth says Iran received’t be a ‘politically correct’ struggle as he lays out US aims: ‘No democracy-building exercise’ | EUROtoday

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth championed President Donald Trump’s strikes on Iran in a press convention Monday morning, refuting issues from “fake news” media and “political left” that the battle would result in an “endless war.”

“To the media outlets and political left screaming ‘endless wars,’ stop. This is not Iraq. This is not endless,” Hegseth mentioned. “Our generation knows better and so does this president.”

The protection secretary insisted the strikes which have led to a lethal alternate of fireplace within the area would stop Iran from creating a nuclear weapon and forestall extra Americans from dying on account of the four-decade-long battle between the U.S. and Iran.

“We didn’t start this war, but under President Trump, we are finishing it,” Hegseth instructed reporters.

Striking a dogmatic tone, Hegseth praised U.S. companions who supported the mission, “unlike so many of our traditional allies who wring their hands and clutch their pearls, hemming and hawing about the use of force.”

But when pressed with additional questions concerning the aim of the operation, what number of U.S. troops have been concerned and when officers anticipated its finish, Hegseth declined to reply, taking on a well-known tone towards the media.

“I heard the question about four weeks,” Hegseth said, referring to a reporter’s question about whether the operation would take four weeks.

“It’s the typical NBC gotcha-type question. President Trump has all the latitude in the world to talk about how long it may or may not take,” the secretary of defense said before pivoting to claim former President Joe Biden “didn’t even know” what was going on.

When asked if U.S. boots were on the ground in Iran, Hegseth replied, “Why in the world would we tell you, you, the enemy, anybody, what we will or will not do in pursuit of an objective?”

Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Dan Caine gave reporters some details about the logistics of “Operation Epic Fury,” which had been months, in some cases years, in the making.

Caine mentioned the president gave the ultimate orders round 3:30 p.m. Friday, telling army officers: “Operation Epic Fury is approved. No aborts. Good luck. Close.”

Those orders promoted hundreds of U.S. troops from numerous army branches to hold out the operation, which included greater than 100 plane launched from land, sea and tankers.

Caine acknowledged that the U.S. would possible expertise extra casualties.

While Hegseth and Caine insisted the aim of the operation is to remove Iran’s skill to construct a nuclear weapon, it additionally led to the loss of life of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Hegseth inspired Iranians to benefit from the chance for regime change.

“This is not a regime change war, but the regime sure did change,” Hegseth mentioned.