Pickled Pete Claims U.S. Didn’t Start War with Iran

Monday, March 02, 2026

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth bizarrely claimed in a live Pentagon address that the U.S. did not "start" the war with Iran. Hegseth, in his platitude-filled broadcast message on Monday morning, said Iran has carried out attacks for decades in a "one-sided war against America," without offering much in the way of specifics. "We didn't start this war, but under President Trump, we are finishing it," the former Fox News host added. Elsewhere in the communique, he said the goal of the so-called "Operation Epic Fury" was not regime change, even though the Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khomeini was killed in an early strike. "This is not a so-called regime change war, but the regime sure did change and the world is better off for it," Hegseth crowed.

Posted by reinheitsgebot at 12:29 PM | 17 COMMENTS | permalink | Comment on This Entry |

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#1 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2026-03-02 12:41 PM | Reply

It's called propaganda and it's all the Trump administration has to offer.

Never has there been a more unqualified administration than this one.

#2 | Posted by ClownShack at 2026-03-02 12:45 PM | Reply

One of the worst things about this war is who's running it; incompetence is often worse than bad intent.

Especially for soldiers and... innocent school girls.

#3 | Posted by Corky at 2026-03-02 12:59 PM | Reply

No girls are safe from Trump.

#4 | Posted by ClownShack at 2026-03-02 01:06 PM | Reply

Markwayne Mullin: "War is ugly. It smells bad. If anybody has ever been there and been able to smell the war and taste it, and feel it in your nostrils, it's something you'll never forget. And fortunately you have President Hegseth -- or Secretary Hegseth ... President Hegseth has been there"

bsky.app

The drunk rapist is POTUS now?

#5 | Posted by Reinheitsgebot at 2026-03-02 02:02 PM | Reply

... without offering much in the way of specifics. ...

Pentagon offers no evidence to support claim it attacked Iran in defense
www.politico.com

... The Trump administration is making the case that it ordered expansive, deadly strikes to stop an imminent threat from Tehran, but is providing no evidence Iran had such plans. ...

#6 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-03-02 02:46 PM | Reply

Canned Goods.

The Poles were massing at the German border in August 1939.

Hitler HAD to Invade Poland or all was Lost.

Trump Needs to get some Dead Americans to justify his Play.

We are in DANGER the Iranians Are Ten Feet Tall and Threatening the World.

If they Get The Bomb...Hegemony is Gone.....

#7 | Posted by Effeteposer at 2026-03-02 03:15 PM | Reply

The Poles were massing at the German border in August 1939.
-footposer

False....

Timeline of Mobilization in August 1939:
August 23-25: Germany moved into its final offensive positions following the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact.
August 29: Poland ordered a general mobilization but canceled it under pressure from Britain and France, who feared it would provoke Hitler.
August 31: Poland finally ordered general mobilization again, but by then, it was too late to fully assemble its forces.
September 1: Germany invaded with 1.5 million men, nearly double the roughly 800,000 to 1,000,000 troops Poland had managed to mobilize

#8 | Posted by oneironaut at 2026-03-02 03:53 PM | Reply

Sarcasm is obviously not your First Language.

Canned Goods was A Nazi term for dead German Prisoners scattered,at the border to "justify"the Invasion on September 1, 1939.

A Classic False Flag Manouver.

Hitler Used Dead Dachau Prisoners as Decoys.

#9 | Posted by Effeteposer at 2026-03-02 04:20 PM | Reply

"We didn't start this war, but under President Trump, we are finishing it"

Anyone believe that Donald Trump will finish his war with Iran?

How about you, MAGA? Everyone home by Christmas?

What Trump is going to do is kill a lot of people, wreck a lot of things, and whatever he has after that---WHATEVER IT IS---He'll claim victory.

#10 | Posted by Zed at 2026-03-02 06:24 PM | Reply

One of the worst things about this war is who's running it; incompetence is often worse than bad intent.
Especially for soldiers and... innocent school girls.
#3 | Posted by Corky at 2026-03-02 12:59 PM | Reply

STFU you phony fkhd, you loved incompetence during Bidens term. !3 dead and 7billon in military equipment left behind .

#11 | Posted by fortfisher at 2026-03-02 06:50 PM | Reply

@#10 ... whatever he has after that---WHATEVER IT IS---He'll claim victory. ...

That is likely why Pres Trump is so cagey about what his actual objectives are.

He started out saying he wanted a regime change.

Is that still one of his objectives? If not, why not?

#12 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-03-02 07:06 PM | Reply

Sarcasm is obviously not your First Language.
- footposer

BS you attempted to state a fact and got caught lying to protect Hitler.

#13 | Posted by oneironaut at 2026-03-02 07:19 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

That is likely why Pres Trump is so cagey about what his actual objectives are.
- gaslighter

All politicians do this all the time.

How can you not understand this?

#14 | Posted by oneironaut at 2026-03-02 07:20 PM | Reply

Iran was close to giving in on negotiations, but that would have spoiled the chance at Operation Epstein Fury AND the roll out of No Voting for YOU! in Blue States.

Taco Trump couldn't negotiate his way out of a toilet bowl, and he's very likely to Taco on this sneak attack as his polls fall farther.

#15 | Posted by Corky at 2026-03-02 07:38 PM | Reply

I remember when launching a sneak attack on another country was considered a bitch move

#16 | Posted by truthhurts at 2026-03-02 07:45 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

@#15 ... ran was close to giving in on negotiations, ...

And now with Pres Trump's ever-changing objectives, how does anyone, Iran included, even know what he wants to stop his unprovoked war on Iran?

#17 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-03-02 07:50 PM | Reply