Trump’s Plans to Boost Weapons Production Might Not Deliver for Years
While the defense industry has announced plans to make more munitions, much of that expanded production will not quickly kick in.
While the defense industry has announced plans to make more munitions, much of that expanded production will not quickly kick in.
It was Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s first public appearance before Congress since Operation Epic Fury began in late February.
Iran’s foreign minister has already arrived in the country, state media reported. He was believed to be carrying a written response to a U.S. proposal to end the war.
The Pentagon’s rush to rearm its Mideast forces makes it less ready to confront potential adversaries like Russia and China, administration and congressional officials say.
In a letter, the 11 senators questioned the defense secretary’s decision to gut programs intended to protect civilians and said his orders endangered U.S. troops.
The U.S. blockade of shipments through the Strait of Hormuz would last “for as long as it takes,” the defense secretary said.
The G.O.P. narrowly blocked a Democratic war powers resolution, but a senior Republican suggested that backing for the conflict is not open-ended and could wane as a statutory deadline approaches in weeks.
After careening from one diplomatic extreme to another, President Trump finds himself with a fragile deal that is already showing signs of fraying.
A day after a pause in fighting was announced between the United States and Iran, many questions remained, including the status of the Strait of Hormuz.
President Trump knows that even if a cease-fire runs out with no final agreement on the issues dividing Washington and Tehran, the political risk of renewing hostilities is high.