Guardian

Pete Hegseth denies Iran war is a quagmire as cost to US hits estimated $25bn

PBS NewsHour

WATCH: Hegseth calls congressional Democrats, some Republicans 'biggest adversary' in Iran war

The New York Times

Trump News

News Nation

Hegseth Pentagon Budget

New York Post

Hegseth blasts feckless and defeatist Iran war critics  as multi-billion-dollar price tag revealed

Daily Caller

Democrat Rep Adam Smith Presses Pete Hegseth On War Motive If Irans Nuclear Facilities Were Already Obliterated

The Washington Examiner

Hegseth rips into Democrat for calling Iran war 'quagmire'

Coffman Chronicles

Hegseth Defends $1.5 Trillion Pentagon Push As Iran War Costs Trigger Scrutiny

Mother Jones

Hegseth to Congress: We Have No Iran Plan But Give Us 1.5 Trillion Anyway.

PoliticusUSA

Pete Hegseth Was A Complete Train Wreck At Iran War Hearing

The New Republic

Hegseth Struggles to Explain the Imminent Threat Posed by Iran

DeptofWar

EricLDaugh

Bubblebathgirl

Metaculus

Will the United States conduct a ground invasion of Iran before 2027?

Donald Trump

Marco Rubio

J.D. Vance

Esmaeil Baghaei

Rafael Mariano Grossi

John Ratcliffe

Tulsi Gabbard

Nicholas L. Miller

Spencer Faragasso

Darya Dolzikova

Andrea Stricker

Sean Parnell

David Albright

Israel Atomic Energy Commission

"If it [the stockpile of enriched uranium] is intact and Iran is able to keep it that way, they could potentially use it in a new covert enrichment facility to produce material for several nuclear weapons in a matter of months."

"I can say to the American people with great confidence that they [Iranians] are much further away from a nuclear program today than they were 24 hours ago."

"Our nuclear installations have been badly damaged, that's for sure."

"Israel's and U.S. attacks have effectively destroyed Iran's centrifuge enrichment program."

"The American strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities, combined with Israeli strikes on other elements of Iran's military nuclear program, has set back Iran's ability to develop nuclear weapons by many years."

"Iran's key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated."

Have US Strikes Set Back Iran's Nuclear Program?

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, testified Wednesday before the House Armed Services Committee to discuss a proposed $1.5 trillion Pentagon budget — the largest such request in decades.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, testified Wednesday before the House Armed Services Committee to discuss a proposed $1.5 trillion Pentagon budget — the largest such request in decades.

Pentagon comptroller Jules Hurst III told the committee the war in Iran had cost an estimated $25 billion over roughly 60 days, with the majority of expenditures attributed to munitions, operations, maintenance and equipment replacement.

Pentagon comptroller Jules Hurst III told the committee the war in Iran had cost an estimated $25 billion over roughly 60 days, with the majority of expenditures attributed to munitions, operations, maintenance and equipment replacement.

Caine put the number of U.S. service members killed during the conflict at 14, while the Pentagon's own casualty tally reflected 13 deaths. Caine also testified that Iran was "weaker and less capable" than it had been in decades.

Caine put the number of U.S. service members killed during the conflict at 14, while the Pentagon's own casualty tally reflected 13 deaths. Caine also testified that Iran was "weaker and less capable" than it had been in decades.

Hegseth and Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.) clashed over the status of Iran's nuclear program after Hegseth stated its facilities had been "obliterated." Smith questioned whether Operation Midnight Hammer had achieved anything substantive if nuclear ambitions remained. Hegseth noted that Iran hadn't given up its nuclear "ambitions."

Hegseth and Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.) clashed over the status of Iran's nuclear program after Hegseth stated its facilities had been "obliterated." Smith questioned whether Operation Midnight Hammer had achieved anything substantive if nuclear ambitions remained. Hegseth noted that Iran hadn't given up its nuclear "ambitions."

Rep. John Garamendi (D-Calif.) accused Hegseth of misleading the public about the war's rationale and progress, calling it a "quagmire." Hegseth responded by asking Garamendi "who are you cheering for here?" and accused him of handing propaganda to enemies.

Rep. John Garamendi (D-Calif.) accused Hegseth of misleading the public about the war's rationale and progress, calling it a "quagmire." Hegseth responded by asking Garamendi "who are you cheering for here?" and accused him of handing propaganda to enemies.

The proposed budget includes a 7% pay increase for lower-enlisted troops and funding for drone warfare, missile defense and the defense industrial base. Some lawmakers questioned whether wartime pressures were being used to justify sustained budget increases.

The proposed budget includes a 7% pay increase for lower-enlisted troops and funding for drone warfare, missile defense and the defense industrial base. Some lawmakers questioned whether wartime pressures were being used to justify sustained budget increases.

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Metaculus #

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, testified before the House Armed Services Committee on Wednesday to discuss a proposed $1.5 trillion Pentagon budget — the largest such request in decades.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, testified before the House Armed Services Committee on Wednesday to discuss a proposed $1.5 trillion Pentagon budget — the largest such request in decades.

Gen. Caine put the number of U.S. service members killed during the conflict at 14, while the Pentagon's own casualty tally reflected 13 deaths. Caine also testified that Iran was "weaker and less capable" than it had been in decades.

Gen. Caine put the number of U.S. service members killed during the conflict at 14, while the Pentagon's own casualty tally reflected 13 deaths. Caine also testified that Iran was "weaker and less capable" than it had been in decades.

Hegseth and Rep. Adam Smith clashed over the status of Iran's nuclear program after Hegseth stated its facilities had been "obliterated." Smith questioned whether Operation Midnight Hammer had achieved anything substantive if nuclear ambitions remained.

Hegseth and Rep. Adam Smith clashed over the status of Iran's nuclear program after Hegseth stated its facilities had been "obliterated." Smith questioned whether Operation Midnight Hammer had achieved anything substantive if nuclear ambitions remained.

Rep. John Garamendi accused Hegseth of misleading the public about the war's rationale and progress, calling it a "quagmire." Hegseth responded by asking Garamendi "who are you cheering for here?" and accused him of handing propaganda to enemies.

Rep. John Garamendi accused Hegseth of misleading the public about the war's rationale and progress, calling it a "quagmire." Hegseth responded by asking Garamendi "who are you cheering for here?" and accused him of handing propaganda to enemies.

The DOD's $1.5 trillion budget is a serious investment in American military strength, with pay raises for troops, elimination of failing barracks and a revitalized defense industrial base. Military recruiting has hit a 30-year high, proving Americans want to serve again. The Pentagon has ditched bureaucratic red tape for an outcomes-driven model that delivers more for taxpayer dollars.

The DOD's $1.5 trillion budget is a serious investment in American military strength, with pay raises for troops, elimination of failing barracks and a revitalized defense industrial base. Military recruiting has hit a 30-year high, proving Americans want to serve again. The Pentagon has ditched bureaucratic red tape for an outcomes-driven model that delivers more for taxpayer dollars.

Paul A. Szypula

U.S. Department of Defense (War)

Trump Department of War

The war in Iran has killed thousands of civilians, cost 13 American lives and triggered a global energy crisis that's pushing gas past $4 a gallon nationwide. Hegseth couldn't answer basic questions about the war's justification, contradicting himself on whether Iran's nuclear threat was ever real. Starting a war under false pretenses while choking off global oil supply is a catastrophic failure of leadership.

The war in Iran has killed thousands of civilians, cost 13 American lives and triggered a global energy crisis that's pushing gas past $4 a gallon nationwide. Hegseth couldn't answer basic questions about the war's justification, contradicting himself on whether Iran's nuclear threat was ever real. Starting a war under false pretenses while choking off global oil supply is a catastrophic failure of leadership.

The Iran War

Hegseth Justifies DOD Budget, Defends Iran War in Senate Testimony

Hegseth Justifies DOD Budget, Defends Iran War in Senate Testimony

Military

Politics

United States of America

The DOD's $1.5 trillion budget is a serious investment in American military strength and will go a long way toward the United States' eventual victory over Iran. Hegseth's testimony confirmed that military recruiting has hit a 30-year high and morale is through the roof. The Pentagon has ditched bureaucratic red tape for an outcomes-driven model that delivers more for taxpayer dollars under Hegeseth and President Trump.

The DOD's $1.5 trillion budget is a serious investment in American military strength and will go a long way toward the United States' eventual victory over Iran. Hegseth's testimony confirmed that military recruiting has hit a 30-year high and morale is through the roof. The Pentagon has ditched bureaucratic red tape for an outcomes-driven model that delivers more for taxpayer dollars under Hegeseth and President Trump.

Eric Daugherty

Hegseth proved he's as big a mess as the war in Iran, which has cost numerous lives and triggered a global energy crisis. Hegseth couldn't answer basic questions about the war's justification and contradicted himself on whether Iran's nuclear threat was ever real. It's looking like the Trump administration started a war under false pretenses that has choked off global oil supply — a catastrophic failure of leadership.

Hegseth proved he's as big a mess as the war in Iran, which has cost numerous lives and triggered a global energy crisis. Hegseth couldn't answer basic questions about the war's justification and contradicted himself on whether Iran's nuclear threat was ever real. It's looking like the Trump administration started a war under false pretenses that has choked off global oil supply — a catastrophic failure of leadership.

There's a 40% chance that the United States will conduct a ground invasion of Iran before Jan. 1, 2027, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

There's a 40% chance that the United States will conduct a ground invasion of Iran before Jan. 1, 2027, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images

Hegseth Justifies DOD Budget, Defends Iran War in Congressional Testimony

Hegseth Justifies DOD Budget, Defends Iran War in Congressional Testimony

Hegseth Justifies DOD Budget, Defends Iran War in SenateCongressional Testimony

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Hegseth Justifies DOD Budget, Defends Iran War in Congressional Testimony

Hegseth Justifies DOD Budget, Defends Iran War in SenateCongressional Testimony

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