By Douglas V. Gibbs
I came to a realization long ago that if the mainstream media is reporting something, it must be researched because it is probably not completely true. The latest, or should I say ‘among the latest,’ are reports that America’s munition supplies are “dangerously low.” The ‘leak,’ if it wasn’t made up out of thin air, is from those considered to be inside the government, but they hate President Trump. So, they put out these false statements in the hopes of hurting his presidency.
Is it likely that we’ve used quite a bit of our stockpile? Sure. We are in the midst of a military operation that is using a lot of munitions during strikes against Iran. But, are the enemies of America truly convinced that they can make us believe that America is so witless that we don’t possess enough munitions to endure any kind of campaign that lasts longer than a few months?
The stockpile is, and this is just from a common sense point of view, likely large enough to endure many years of military operations if such were necessary. And, as President Trump has indicated, at the same time large amounts are being manufactured and added to what we have as needed.
The enemies of Trump through the Washington Post, however, think that we are so stupid that we’ll believe that Secretary of War Pete Hegseth misled Trump on “extreme munitions shortages.” Then, they cited such shortage as the reason Trump called off strikes against Iran, recently.
President Donald Trump’s frustration over the Iran war boiled over at Camp David last week, where he demanded answers from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on why he had apparently been misled on extreme munitions shortages that now threaten to limit military options with Iran, two people familiar with the exchange told The Washington Post.
The encounter took place on the sidelines of his Cabinet meeting at Camp David on Friday where Trump vented at Hegseth that he thought the munitions issue “had been fixed,” according to both people familiar with the conversation, who, like others, spoke on the condition of anonymity due to fear of retaliation.
Back at Camp David, as he was confronted by Trump over the bare weapons stockpile, Hegseth defended himself and blamed his deputy, Stephen Feinberg, for the shortages and for not ensuring Trump was fully apprised of the issue, both people familiar said.
The exchange underscored Trump’s increasing frustration with his defense secretary, who was one of the biggest early advocates for taking military action against Iran, convincing Trump it would be a quick and relatively easy win, according to multiple officials.
CNN earlier reported that, according to anonymous sources, the military had used up nearly 90% of its missile interceptors since the war with Iran began.
“That banner is NOT TRUE, CNN. Shame on you,” the Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth said in a post on X. “We don’t hate the Fake News media enough.”
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt denied the Washington Post report, calling it “100% fake news. Literally never happened. President Trump as the utmost confidence in Secretary Hegseth.”
President Trump said the United States has “massive amounts” of munitions, and said, “Leakers of these treasonous statements are being hunted down. Long term jail sentences will be sought.”
While President Trump indicates the United States and Iran are having “very good discussions” on a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, he warned that if they don’t work with him, “they’re going to get hit very hard.”
President Trump has indicated the United States is prepared to launch “a tremendous attack” against Iran that would be “the biggest since World War II.”
As the media tries to strike out against President Trump with false stories about munition shortages, congressional Democrats are working to hit the president with a long list of lawfare investigations involving President Trump’s political and business network. According to sources, senior Democratic congress-critters have discussed using congressional hearings, subpoenas, and document requests from businesses and financial entities associated with Donald Trump as we approach the mid-term elections. If they gain a majority after the November mid-term elections, they will also begin investigations targeting the president’s decision-making under the guise of accusing him of using the powers of his office to benefit himself, political allies, or campaign supporters. A fascinating behavior by someone who does not accept his 400,000 annual presidential salary, and instead pledges those funds to federal agencies, public projects, and historical efforts. During his first term, President Trump publicly donated his quarterly salary payments as well.
President Trump remains focused on opposing what he describes as the “radical left’s agenda,” and preserving Republican majorities in Congress.
As for Iran, despite arguments that the U.S. has a munitions issue, President Trump says he’s shifting gears in how he is handling Iran, dialing back military action while turning up the economic pressure on Tehran.
Iran’s economy is buckling under inflation, sanctions, and pressure from the U.S. naval blockade. “We are low-keying it. We are only semi-negotiating with them. We are just watching Iran with its huge inflation and the fact they have no money.”
Trump argued that Tehran is already in serious financial trouble and struggling to pay its forces.
“It will work out. It always works out. It’s like a chess game,” he said.
Related: The Iran Contradiction
President Trump’s comments follow Iran’s sweeping list of new demands. Tehran demanded an end to U.S. threats, a permanent halt to the war involving Iran and its armed allies, an end to the naval blockade of Iranian ports and the withdrawal of American forces from the region. The regime also called on Washington to ‘completely compensate’ Iran for war damage, lift sanctions and ‘unconditionally’ release frozen assets.
Trump did not publicly accept those demands.
If pounding them militarily can’t get them to cry “uncle,” then perhaps letting economic pressure do the work might.
Israel remains locked in military conflict with Hamas in Gaza and states they will not withdraw until Hamas is completely disarmed, and the Houthi’s continue their own attacks targeting weapons depots and Saudi troop concentrations.
In a recent video by Iran to prove Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is alive and well, the video came with no clear date, location, or explanation of when it was recorded. Khamenei has not been publicly seen in nearly six months, and was reportedly badly injured during a February 28 strike. Washington and Tehran have both acknowledged Khamenei suffered serious leg and facial injuries during the attack that killed his father. Reports have indicated his face had been disfigured, yet in the newly released video, Khamenei appears free of any obvious injuries.
Iran previously released AI-generated images of Khamenei after early reports suggested he may have been killed in the Feb. 28 strike.
Representative Nancy Mace (SC-R) in a post on X dropped a pretty straightforward assessment of Muslim office-holders in America, as members of the leftist establishment lose their minds, suggesting they are a clear and present danger to the Republic – echoing my thoughts about Islam in general, and why Iran’s leadership operates the way it does. She posted, “Every single Muslim holding public office in America is a Trojan horse, and a threat to both national security and our republic. We refuse to be silent.”
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