Hegseth CRACKS during CROSS-EXAMINATION over WAR!!
YouTube · feySo2cqo80
Quick Read
Summary
Takeaways
- ❖Defense Secretary Pete Hegsith was labeled 'incompetent' by Democratic Congress members Carbahal and Hulahan during his testimony.
- ❖Hegsith refused to explain the firing of General Randy George, the former Army Chief of Staff, via text message, citing respect for officers while also mentioning a need to change 'destroyed' department culture.
- ❖He declined to provide an estimated timeline or additional funding requests for the war in Iran, stating it would inform adversaries.
- ❖Hegsith was criticized for his 'no quarter' statement, which Congress members Molton and Delusio identified as a war crime under the Geneva Conventions.
- ❖He downplayed a drone attack that killed six soldiers, contradicting survivor accounts of inadequate defenses, and avoided directly calling the soldiers 'liars'.
- ❖A DoD official admitted the Iran war had already cost approximately $25 billion, a figure previously undisclosed to Congress.
- ❖Hegsith's past prediction that Ukraine would be conquered by Russia was highlighted as a failure in strategic assessment.
- ❖He refused to explain the President's 'unhinged' social media posts, including one deemed offensive to Christians, and deflected questions about the President's mental stability.
- ❖An Under Secretary of Defense and General admitted to having the Signal app on their phones, raising concerns about classified information security, especially after an FBI warning about Russian targeting.
- ❖Hegsith personally terminated an investigation into Apache helicopter pilots flying Kid Rock, bypassing established command review processes.
Insights
1Incompetence and Evasiveness in Congressional Testimony
Defense Secretary Pete Hegsith was repeatedly accused of incompetence and demonstrated a pattern of evasiveness during cross-examination. He struggled to provide direct answers on critical military decisions, war costs, and accountability, often deflecting questions or attributing issues to previous administrations or political opponents.
Congress member Carbahal called Hegsith 'incompetent then, you're incompetent now.' Hegsith refused to explain General George's firing () or provide war timelines/costs ().
2Controversial 'No Quarter' Statement and War Crime Allegations
Hegsith stood by his statement 'we will give them no quarter, no mercy,' despite multiple Congress members, including veterans, asserting that such a policy constitutes a war crime under the Geneva Conventions. He framed it as ensuring warfighters have necessary rules of engagement to win.
Congress member Molton stated, 'no quarter or no survivors is a war crime under the Geneva Conventions. You understand that's murder. Do you stand by that statement?' (). Hegsith responded, 'the Department of War fights to win and we ensure that our war fighters have the rules of engagement necessary to be as effectively clear.' ().
3Discrepancy in Troop Defense and Accountability for Casualties
Hegsith's claims about 'maximum defensive posture' and 'fortified defenses' for troops were directly contradicted by accounts from surviving soldiers of a drone attack that killed six. He avoided directly accusing the soldiers of lying but maintained his official narrative, leading to accusations of a lack of accountability for troop safety.
Congress member Ryan cited a survivor saying base defense was 'in the none category from a drone defense capability' () and another stating the unit was 'unprepared to provide any defense for itself' (). Hegsith responded, 'What I'm saying is before the commencement of of the conflict, we put in maximum defensive posture we could.' ().
4Undisclosed War Costs and Economic Impact
The true cost of the Iran war remained largely undisclosed until a DoD official, under questioning, provided an estimate of $25 billion. Congress members criticized the administration for not having analyzed the broader economic impact on American households, such as increased gas and food prices, suggesting a disconnect from the public's financial burden.
A DoD official stated, 'approximately at this day we're spending about $25 billion on Operation Epic Fury.' (). Congress member Khanna highlighted an estimated 'economic cost' of $631 billion, an 'increase of $5,000 a year for American households' (), which Hegsith did not acknowledge.
5Political Interference in Military Investigations and Security Protocols
Hegsith admitted to personally terminating an investigation into Apache helicopter pilots flying Kid Rock, a decision he implied was influenced by the President. This, coupled with concerns about senior officials using unclassified apps like Signal for sensitive information, raised questions about political interference in military processes and potential security vulnerabilities.
Hegsith confirmed, 'I did' () when asked if he personally directed the termination of the Apache helicopter review. General Kane admitted to having Signal on his phone, then equivocated about whether it was his official device ().
Lessons
- Demand clear and comprehensive cost analyses for military operations to understand the full economic impact on taxpayers and the national budget.
- Scrutinize military leaders' statements on rules of engagement and adherence to international law, particularly regarding controversial policies like 'no quarter'.
- Advocate for robust oversight to ensure military investigations are not politically interfered with and that secure communication protocols are strictly followed by all officials.
Quotes
"Mr. Hexth, I stand by what I said last time you were here. You were incompetent then, you're incompetent now, and you're the gift that keeps on giving when it comes to incompetence."
"Out of respect for these officers, we never talk about the nature of their removal, but every one of them, including myself, knows that they serve at the pleasure of the president."
"In order for no quarter or no survivors is a war crime under the Gene Geneva Conventions. You understand that's murder. Do you stand by that statement?"
"So, let's be clear. No counter drone capabilities, no counter rocket systems, no counter mortar or counter artillery, not even the basic overhead protection that you and I had 20 years ago in Iraq. And now, six of our soldiers are dead."
"You didn't even do the analysis on how much it's costing the American people. It's one thing if you said, 'Okay, cost the American people $5,000, but we think it's worth it.' ... You don't even know what the average American is paying."
"The mental stability of our commander-in-chief is deeply important to our troops. It's deeply important to this country."
"I'm not here to explain posts. We have an incredible commander-in-chief who puts our troops first. I'm here for a budget hearing about our troops."
"You've just confirmed that the president himself overruled the leadership of the 101st Airborne."
Q&A
Recent Questions
Related Episodes
LIVE: DEM SENATORS ADDRESS UNLAWFUL WAR!!
"Democratic Senators, joined by VoteVets, forcefully condemn the administration's 'unlawful war' in Iran, citing constitutional overreach, devastating human and economic costs, and a deliberate lack of transparency and congressional oversight."
Did Israel Drag Us Into the Iran War?
"The US administration's rationale for its large-scale military action against Iran is critiqued as incoherent and potentially influenced by Israel's independent actions, while a major conflict between the Pentagon and leading AI firm Anthropic highlights the urgent need for congressional regulation on AI's military and surveillance applications."
Secret Service Admits "There Was No Threat". ATF Releases Report. | Candace Ep 326
"Candace Owens exposes alleged lies by Erica Kirk regarding a security threat, implicates Victor Marx in early death announcements and potential arms dealing, and dismisses the ATF report on Charlie Kirk's death as a cover-up."
Trump LASHES OUT at MAGA, Republicans Predict HUGE DEFEAT
"Donald Trump's erratic foreign policy in Iran, his lashing out at MAGA critics, and a surprising shift in Democratic electoral performance are shaking up the political landscape, while Melania Trump makes a bizarre public denial about Jeffrey Epstein."