Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Jilly_in_VA

(14,295 posts)
Fri Mar 13, 2026, 04:20 PM Friday

Pete Hegseth attacks media for not being positive enough about US attacks on Iran

Pete Hegseth on Friday again claimed the US military campaign against Iran has been an unprecedented success, using a Pentagon press conference to accuse journalists of downplaying Washington’s supposed gains on the battlefield.

Speaking alongside the chair of the joint chiefs of staff, the US defense secretary claimed Iran had been left without a functioning air force, navy or missile defense network after 13 days of strikes, and said the combined US-Israeli air campaign had hit more than 15,000 targets since the war began.

“The United States is decimating the radical Iranian regime’s military in a way the world has never seen before,” Hegseth told reporters.

He said Iranian ballistic missile production capacity had been “functionally defeated” and that their leaders were cowering underground, because “that’s what rats do”. In fact, some of Iran’s most senior leaders – including the president, Masoud Pezeshkian; the security chief, Ali Larijani; and the foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi – were today seen on video marching through Tehran for the annual Quds Day rally.

Hegseth also claimed Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei – who was elected by the Assembly of Experts on 8 March following the assassination of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei – was “wounded and likely disfigured”. The claim has not been independently verified.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/mar/13/pete-hegseth-iran-was-us-press

Was Kegsbreath even alive during Vietnam? Media remembers, whether some of the reporters now alive do or not---they can research.

5 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Pete Hegseth attacks media for not being positive enough about US attacks on Iran (Original Post) Jilly_in_VA Friday OP
How can anyone be positive when this is the kind of rubbish we have to deal with? vanessa_ca Friday #1
I'm pretty positive about this war... Cloudhopper Friday #2
Pete the Drunk better pray he and I never end up nose to nose in an alley. Moostache Friday #3
Hegseth is an idiot LetMyPeopleVote Friday #4
War criminal-in-waiting. moondust Friday #5

vanessa_ca

(888 posts)
1. How can anyone be positive when this is the kind of rubbish we have to deal with?
Fri Mar 13, 2026, 04:23 PM
Friday

I still can't figure out what he said here.


Moostache

(11,144 posts)
3. Pete the Drunk better pray he and I never end up nose to nose in an alley.
Fri Mar 13, 2026, 04:26 PM
Friday

I have a special kind of loathing for men who pound their chest to act tough buyt a REAL distaste for chicken hawk bloviators who try to pound THEIR chest with the sons and daughters of the nation dying in his stead.

Fuck you Pete the used car salesman in waiting. After the Tangerine Menace, you're high on my list of organisms that I will not be saddened to hear have ceased wasting our oxygen supply...

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Pete Hegseth attacks medi...