Part 2. Trump and Hegseth. A Question of Leadership & Folly. An Analysis & Commentary. Podcast, Text & Video.
To read the full text of the podcast and the links to the quoted materials, please see: https://erm76.substack.com/p/part-2-trump-and-hegseth-a-question
The podcast is a two-part critical analysis and commentary about President Trump and Pete Hegseth's role in the war with Iran.
But a quick update before we begin.
The Secretary of the Navy, John Phelan, has been fired. This action and the other firings by Hegseth is beyond the norm and signals a wave of confusion at the Pentagon. This isn't a good position to be in during a war.
The current ceasefire between the US and Iran is holding, and the US is maintaining its blockade and has, among other actions, turned a number of Iranian vessels back to port. Iran has retaliated against other ships but, evidently, as long as they aren't US flagged ships, the US is ignoring these actions.
This is an odd ceasefire and blockade. A blockade is usually considered an act of war and firing on another nation's vessels is also typically considered a violation.
In regard to the Israel and Lebanon, the ceasefire in Lebanon is holding as well, despite violations.
And as stated in Part 1, it appears that the US engaged in the conflict without appropriate consideration given to how Iran would respond to the US and Israeli attacks. This is particularly true in regard to Iran's ability to close the Strait of Hormuz, which has international implications ranging from gas price increases to the possible shortage of fertilizer and other goods.
There are also leadership issues. These range from the President's overt martial inclinations and the abandonment of an earlier Iran nuclear deal. While there were shortcomings, it was a path to continued negotiations rather than starting a war. One of the reasons given for the war was the enriched uranium Iran still possesses.
As for Hegseth, he had the temerity to lecture career officers who have deep operational and command experience. Hegseth's decisions also lack a moral quality and clarity. Further, the armed forces and the country have lost command experience though some of his and the Trump Administration's decisions. And all this during a war.
Finally, one can only hope that the war will end soon. There have been too many deaths. And while the events of the war will be part of the discussion, a critical analysis and commentary about the Trump Administration's choices and actions will be at the forefront of our discussion. In some ways, these choices and actions transcend the war itself as they're markers of the Administration's ethos, or the lack thereof.
Notes; Continuation
** Lawrence, for example, adopted hit and run tactics and destroying railway lines. The goal was to tie down enemy forces, which meant they couldn't be used elsewhere.
**** For information about the Trump Administration's proposed AI policy, the following document is a good roadmap, particularly as there are cites for additional information at the document's end. ENSURING A NATIONAL POLICY FRAMEWORK FOR ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE. Executive Orders. December 11, 2025. https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/12/eliminating-state-law-obstruction-of-national-artificial-intelligence-policy/
(9) Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Air Force Gen. Dan Caine Hold a Press Briefing, U.S. Department of War. March 13, 2026. https://www.war.gov/News/Transcripts/Transcript/Article/4434484/secretary-of-war-pete-hegseth-and-chairman-of-the-joint-chiefs-air-force-gen-da/
(10) “Zelenskyy says Ukraine is using drone expertise to help 5 countries against Iran attacks,” by Hanna Arhirova, Associated Press, PBS News. March 20, 2026. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/zelenskyy-says-ukraine-is-using-drone-expertise-to-help-5-countries-against-iran-attacks
(11) “Ukraine strikes drone production, military support deal with Germany,” by
Al Jazeera Staff, AFP and AP. Al Jazeera. April 14, 2026. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/4/14/ukraine-strikes-drone-production-deal-with-germany
(12) “Pentagon unveils Drone Dominance Program with ‘Gauntlets' to rapidly expand its small UAS arsenal,” by Brandi Vincent, Defensescoop. December 2, 2025. https://defensescoop.com/2025/12/02/hegseth-drone-dominance-program-ddp-gauntlets-website-rfi/ Also, please see: “Unpacking Iran's Drone Campaign in the Gulf: Early Lessons for Future Drone Warfare,” by Kateryna Bondar, Center for Strategic and International Studies. March 10, 2026. https://www.csis.org/analysis/unpacking-irans-drone-campaign-gulf-early-lessons-future-drone-warfare
(13) “As small attack drones become vital in warfare, the U.S. is trying to catch up to other countries ,” by Jay Price, WUNC News. April 17, 2026. https://www.wunc.org/military/2026-04-17/small-attack-drones-war
(14) "Iran was nowhere close to a nuclear bomb, experts say,” by Dan Vergano ; edited by Clara Moskowitz, Scientific American. March 11, 2026. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/iran-was-nowhere-close-to-a-nuclear-bomb-experts-say/
(15) “Iran's Secret Outreach Highlights Trump's Challenge,” by Michael Crowley, Julian E. Barnes and Ronen Bergman, The New York Times. March 4, 2026. https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/04/us/politics/trump-iran-intelligence-leaders.html
(16) Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Air Force Gen. Dan Caine Hold a Press Briefing, U.S. Department of War. April 8, 2026. https://www.war.gov/News/Transcripts/Transcript/Article/4454648/secretary-of-war-pete-hegseth-and-chairman-of-the-joint-chiefs-air-force-gen-da/
(17) “Trump Was Watching a U.F.C. Fight in Miami While Iran Talks Collapsed,” by Katie Rogers, The New York Times. April 11, 2026. https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/11/us/politics/trump-ufc-iran-war.html