Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Latest Breaking News

Showing Original Post only (View all)

groundloop

(13,738 posts)
Mon Mar 2, 2026, 09:40 AM Monday

Hegseth: 'We didn't start this war but under President Trump we're finishing it' [View all]

Source: NPR

Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth said Monday the U.S.-Israeli action against Iran was in response to the Islamic republic's years-long targeting of the U.S. military and interests around the world.

"We didn't start this war but under President Trump we're finishing it," he said.

The remarks are the administration's first in public to reporters since the U.S.-Israeli military operations against Iran began Saturday despite weeks of talks designed to stave off a conflict. That operation – and Iran's retaliation – has resulted in the death of Iran's supreme leader and some of its senior leadership, embroiled other Middle Eastern nations in the conflict, and led to the deaths of four American service members in Kuwait.

"This is not a so-called regime change war, but the regime sure did change," Hegseth said. "And the world is better off for it."



Read more: https://www.npr.org/2026/03/02/nx-s1-5732258/us-iran-hegseth-caine



tRump's chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff also commented that the military objective will be difficult to achieve.

What the hell is the objective of Operation Epic Distraction?
35 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
WTAF? Nonsensical babbling idiot says what? Whyisthisstillclose Monday #1
The pedo and the Nazis did start this war Farmer-Rick Monday #15
The objective is to declare an emergency. Hugin Monday #2
Didn't John Wayne use that line in one of his movies? Maybe it was Clint Eastwood? sop Monday #3
They think they are in a movie and its all scripted. Srkdqltr Monday #4
professional actor Whip-poor-will Monday #26
..Hunger Games.. thomski64 Monday #27
That works. I had Marvel Universe in mind. Srkdqltr Monday #28
If WE didn't start the war then who the hell did? groundloop Monday #5
So much winning. Ferrets are Cool Monday #6
Israel and the US most definitely started this war .. as they did the earlier one karynnj Monday #7
And if you want to trace it all the way back back, the U.S. started this war with Iran in 1953, thesquanderer Monday #17
It is even sadder in that it could have led karynnj Monday #18
CIA and MI6 operation Ajax.. thomski64 Monday #29
Netanyahu and Trump 100% started this war Prairie Gates Monday #8
Operation Epstein Fury. tblue37 Monday #9
Hegseth... did not point to any threat of an imminent nuclear threat from Iran, and he said again that last riversedge Monday #10
That's some twisted bullshit. Emile Monday #11
Bull sh*t. Karma13612 Monday #12
You mean operation Epstein distraction! kimbutgar Monday #13
Nail it republianmushroom Monday #21
BINGO mahina Yesterday #34
Wut? City Lights Monday #14
ah yes, the new narrative. Javaman Monday #16
The US did start this war...in 1953! GCG Monday #19
Two more lies MW67 Monday #20
Congress Starts Wars Not the POTUS modrepub Monday #22
"We" didn't start this war? I guess maybe it was leprechauns or Hobbits. raccoon Monday #23
As usual, he's under some kind of drunk delusion. mdbl Monday #24
What do you mean "we"? Speak for yourself , traitor! Wonder Why Monday #25
"four to five weeks" Skittles Monday #30
and pigs will fly creon Monday #32
If Persia is attacked, a great empire will be destroyed creon Monday #31
The Epstein/Trump war with Iran will never end...Russia and China are happy to continue sending missiles and drones wcmagumba Monday #33
Should we all feel better now? ProudMNDemocrat Yesterday #35
Latest Discussions»Latest Breaking News»Hegseth: 'We didn't start...