Posted on 07/05/2026 5:56:28 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was the Trump administration’s frontman for waging war on Iran during weeks of kinetic operations aimed at decimating its nuclear threat.
Since President Trump signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Iran to end the war, without securing significant concessions on its missile or nuclear stockpiles, Hegseth has said little about the shift in strategy — as Vice President Vance takes the spotlight in defending the tenuous diplomacy.
The public positioning of the top Trump advisers reflects reporting on their private counsel to the commander in chief, with Trump saying in March that Hegseth was “the first one” to speak up in support of military operations against Iran. Vance, Trump has said, was notably less enthusiastic about the war.
Anthony Constantini, policy director at conservative advocacy group the Bull Moose Project, said Hegseth was the “bad cop” during the active operations against Iran and now Vance is playing the role of “good cop.”
Hegseth’s “job” is to present Trump with military options against Tehran, Constantini told The Hill, adding it would be “odd” if the Pentagon chief was “constantly talking” about the agreement.
“He is not the guy who is leading the negotiations,” he said.
But Yvonne Chiu, a professor of strategy and policy at the U.S. Naval War College, said Hegseth should be engaged in discussing the deal and corresponding military strategy to maintain stability in the region.
“He’s really interested in either the kind of very showy kinetic actions — like bombings, daring flight missions and special operations and that stuff — or he’s interested in these internal culture wars” within the Department of Defense, Chiu said during an interview with The Hill.
“But he’s not interested in the hard work of all of these other things that secretary of Defense ought to...”
(Excerpt) Read more at thehill.com ...
It’s the Hill Jake
He is the Secretary of War. In Trump’s first term we would expect him to leak nasty things about Trump. But Hegseth is a loyal patriot, so the media has to try and demean him as “quiet.” Pathetic!
“aimed at decimating”
It took TWO authors to conjure up this incorrect usage. It was also overseen by editors, no doubt.
Well, all I can say is: When I come across a dog that I don’t know very well and he barks at me, I know where he is and I know that as long as he keeps barking I’m in pretty good shape. When I come across one that just stands and looks at me and doesn’t bark, I get very worried.
Trump and allies should set up a program where the Strait must remain open and the cost of ANY AND ALL damages inflicted upon shipping by Iran will be 100% covered by IRANIAN IMPOUNDED FUNDS. This would stiffen the spines of the shipping insurers and reinsurers. And IRANIANS UNDERSTAND MONEY, do not want to lose it and will punish (i.e., kill) those who cause the loss. And the ones causing the loss are the IRGC.
I’m posting this in every thread where the absence of such MONETARY DAMAGES ASSESSMENT is partially responsible for the situation
"If you can't say something nice..."
Preferably, the Secretary of War is busy painting "Dear John" and "Hi there!" on the business ends of 144 new bunker busters.
Hegseth isn’t supposed to be in front of the press everyday.
It’s said that diplomacy is saying, Nice doggie, while looking for a big stick...
Lol. More authors should = more editing. Instead, we receive slop. All the local rags do the same thing. Some with three or more authors.
Less is better with him.
“aimed at decimating”
It took TWO authors to conjure up this incorrect usage.
********************************************************
Actually it’s not incorrect with the CURRENT meaning of the word. Just sayin’.
I guess once we’re done with the Iran war, we can revert to calling it the Department of Defense.
No, you’re right it isn’t. Hegseth doesn’t set the foreign policy for The United States. It’s not his job, it’s the presidents.
He’s not a diplomat, right?
Pete Hegseth favors kinetic action and is very big on Israel. So he is out of favor for the time being. Crap negotiations are in favor. If kinetic restarts, Trump has a brand new 60 days window (congress war powers act)
He’s not “out of favor.” Tbis just isn’t a kinetic phase of the situation with Iran. If more military action is needed, then Hegseth with act. Meanwhile, he’s taking in new intelligence every day and modifying plans or making new ones based on it. What would he have to share about that process? This article is stupid. And drawing conclusions based on stupidity is a waste of time.
Did they check the local bars?
“Trump and allies should set up a program where the Strait must remain open”
IMO, “a program” means “bomb the crap out of Iran” to prevent them from closing the Strait. Who the hell do they think they are to decree that they have control over the water?
They’re defying the Freedom Of Navigation, and Trump wants to negotiate a PROGRAM?
AI:
Freedom of navigation is a core principle of international law ensuring that ships flying the flag of any sovereign state have the right to move freely through international waters without interference. It protects global trade, civilian shipping, and military mobility by preventing coastal nations from unlawfully claiming or restricting the open seas.
“STRAITS USED FOR INTERNATIONAL NAVIGATION (UN):
https://www.un.org/depts/los/convention_agreements/texts/unclos/part3.htm “
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