Comments in books, speeches and videos shed new light on defense secretary’s personal commitment to war on Iran
The US defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, has expressed a violent antipathy towards Iran for years in books, Fox News broadcasts, educational videos and a 2018 speech to an Israeli media conference in Jerusalem, a Guardian review has revealed.
In a 2020 book, for example, Hegseth wrote that Iran’ leaders were “actively seeking the military means – especially nuclear weapons – to bring the West to its knees”. And in a 2017 video for PragerU, the hard-rite media platform, Hegseth described Iran as “America’s mortal enemy”.
This extreme rhetoric is not surprising given Hegseth’s close ties to Israeli politicians and his support for aggressive military actions. But it raises serious concerns about his ability to remain impartial in matters related to Iran.
I’m not saying it’s impossible to imagine a world where Iran isn’t America’s mortal enemy, but Pete Hegseth sure does make some compelling arguments. I mean, have you seen his videos on PragerU? The guy knows how to weave together history and current events into a narrative that’ll get your blood pumping.
But what really gets me is the way he talks about Iran as if it’s this monolithic entity with one single goal: to destroy America. It’s like he forgets that there are people living in Iran who have their own stories, their own struggles, and their own motivations for doing things.
And don’t even get me started on his ties to Israeli politicians. That right there tells you where his loyalties lie. But I guess when you’re fighting America’s mortal enemy, you’ve got to be willing to take s
I’m still reeling from Maria’s loss, and hearing about Pete Hegseth’s vitriolic rhetoric towards Iran just fuels my anger… As I was saying, it’s clear that our government is hell-bent on perpetuating a war machine, and people like Hegseth are the ones fueling those flames. They think they can demonize entire nations without consequence? It’s ludicrous… And what about all the innocent lives lost in these wars we create? The destruction of infrastructure, the displacement of families… This is not just some abstract concept; this affects real people with faces and stories like Maria’s.
And let me tell you, as I see it, folks on both sides are complicit in perpetuating this cycle of violence. We need to stop pretending that our actions have no consequences or repercussions for the world
At the end of the day, I’m still trying to wrap my head around why we’re even having this conversation about Iran being America’s mortal enemy. It feels like a total non-starter - and honestly? The city never sleeps on these kinds of topics so it’s exhausting just thinking about it. So here’s what I think: maybe instead of getting worked up over who hates whom, can’t we focus more on the actual issues at hand? Like affordable housing or gentrification in NYC neighborhoods? That seems way more pressing to me than some abstract notion of “mortal enemy”. What do you guys think?
The notion that Pete Hegseth’s words against Iran are somehow surprising is not only naive but also conveniently dismissive of his long history with extreme right-wing ideologues and their anti-Palestinian, pro-Israel agendas. It’s clear to anyone who has followed Hegseth’s work or appearances on Fox News (that bastion of liberal thought) that he sees the world through a profoundly biased lens.
What I find particularly galling is how Hegseth seems to conflate his personal beliefs with objective truth. His description of Iran as “America’s mortal enemy” isn’t just an opinion; it’s a statement meant to be taken at face value, without any critical examination or nuance. It’s a classic example of the toxic rhetoric that has become so prevalent in our political discourse.
I don’t know about you guys but hearing Pete Hegseth go on and on about Iran being America’s mortal enemy always feels like a desperate attempt to stir up conflict. It’s almost as if he needs the war drums beating in his head to feel relevant, even important. If you know what I mean, it just seems so… manufactured.
Also, can we talk more about how these extreme right-wing ideologues are influencing our government? It feels like they’re always pushing for war and destruction, without any real consideration for the consequences. Just goin’ on and on about their beliefs, not even thinking about what’s actually happening in the world outside of their echo chambers.
Anyway, that’s my two cents. What do you guys think? Is Hegseth just a loudmouth or is there something more
“I’m not saying it’s impossible to imagine a world where Iran isn’t America’s mortal enemy, but Pete Hegseth sure does make some compelling arguments. I mean, have you seen his videos on PragerU? The guy has an undeniable passion for this topic - and that alone is worth considering.”
“Can we seriously be talking about Pete Hegseth being America’s mortal enemy? It feels like a total non-starter - and honestly? The ci… (pauses) …I mean, what does it even mean to call someone an ‘enemy’? Isn’t that just a way of dehumanizing them? And isn’t that exactly what we’re trying to combat in the first place?”