Hegseth fuels debate with brash rhetoric on Iran

More from the article ...

... In briefing reporters on the progress of military operations, Mr. Hegseth has repeatedly said that America would be hunting and killing its adversary without apology, hesitation, or mercy. He has decried "stupid rules of engagement," rejected "politically correct wars," and criticized Europeans for "clutch[ing] their pearls" in the face of America's decisive action.

He told U.S. troops in the thick of operations to "be focused, disciplined, lethal, and unbreakable" as he urged them on. "We are not defenders anymore. We are warriors, trained to kill the enemy and break their will," he said. "We unleash you."
Why We Wrote This

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's statements about the war in Iran are galvanizing to supporters, but critics hear a glorification of violence that runs counter to professional soldiering.

And he has berated reporters, many of whom have been hand-picked from conservative outlets, for asking questions. "Why would we tell you -- you, the enemy, anybody -- what we will or will not do?" he asked last week, gesticulating, then accusing another of asking a "typical NBC sort of, gotcha-type question." ...

imo, the enemies of the Unites States know our strengths, and weaknesses, far better than Sec Hegseth seems to.

Sec Hegseth's video-game portrayal of Pres Trump's war with Iran does not strengthen the US position or make our troops safer.

@#3 ... As the civilian toll in Iran mounts, some officials point to the impact of Pete Hegseth's hostility to battlefield restraint. ...

Hegseth's 'Stupid Rules of Engagement' Line and What ROE Actually Do
www.military.com

... At a Pentagon briefing on March 2, 2026, War Secretary Pete Hegseth used blunt language about how the United States would fight, saying there would be "no stupid rules of engagement," "no politically correct wars," and "no nation-building quagmire."

Those remarks became a flashpoint because rules of engagement, or ROE, are not "vibes" or slogans. They are a formal control system that ties tactical force decisions to strategy, law, and escalation management. Human Rights Watch responded the same day by warning that dismissing ROE in public can read as minimizing legal constraints that exist to protect civilians and keep operations compliant with the laws of war.

What Rules Of Engagement Are In U.S. Practice

In U.S. doctrine, ROE start with standing baseline rules and then get tailored by commanders for a mission, geography, and threat picture. The Joint Staff's Standing Rules of Engagement and Standing Rules for the Use of Force (CJCSI 3121.01B) are the backbone reference that describes how U.S. forces think about self defense, hostile act, hostile intent, and the conditions for using force. ...

@#4

Stated differently, Sec Hegseth's apparent elimination of the Rules of Engagement may have fostered his decision to attack a school in Iran, killing dozens of schoolchildren.