"We are punching them while they are down, which is exactly how it should be... It was never meant to be a fair fight, and it is not a fair fight. We are accelerating."
"Iranian leaders are looking up and seeing only American and Israeli air power, every minute of every day, until we decide it's over."
"We are playing for keeps. We are just getting started."
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth held a Pentagon press briefing regarding Operation Epic Fury, a limited combat operation in Iran. His remarks emphasized aggressive military posturing, stating the U.S. is "playing for keeps" and "just getting started" with continuous air superiority. Hegseth described the operation as deliberately unfair, stating "we are punching them while they are down" and "it was never meant to be a fair fight." He indicated military acceleration and sustained pressure. Officials have repeatedly claimed this will not become an endless war, a statement historically preceding prolonged conflicts. The briefing employed language intended to convey strength and resolve, though critics question the messaging strategy regarding a perceived imminent threat.
Read at Esquire
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