Rising Criticism Towards Hegseth: Not Primarily Focused on Him Personally

In the hot seat once more, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth finds himself embroiled in a whirlwind of controversy. This time, it's not just political naysayers or adversaries on the left and right that are turning up the heat, but also internal conflicts within the Pentagon itself. But the stakes are higher than ever, with the focus shifting from Hegseth's job security at the helm of the Department of Defense to larger geopolitical ramifications.

Whenever Hegseth's nomination was on the line, politicians and media figures swooped in, eager to take him down. This included smearing him with allegations of everything from recurring alcoholism to sexual assault—claims he vehemently denied. The ultimate goal was to sow discord, exploit Trump's vulnerabilities, and hinder the incoming administration before it even took office. Fortunately, this cynical plot met its demise, and the benefits for military recruitment have already started to show.

Fast-forward a bit, and Hegseth found himself caught in the crossfire of the infamous "Signalgate" group chat controversy. This revelation exposed sensitive military information about the United States' attack plans on Yemen-based Houthi terrorists inadvertently being delivered to the editor in chief of the Atlantic. Internal divisions within foreign policy were evident, particularly regarding Iran and its regional allies like the Houthis. Iran hawks and anti-Israel provocateurs seized the opportunity to oust a hawkish figure, but Hegseth and national security advisor Michael Waltz managed to sail through the tempest.

Since then, there have been two additional developments involving Hegseth. First, The New York Times reported that Hegseth had shared sensitive information about the Houthi attack plans in a second group chat with his wife and brother. Although Hegseth admitted to the existence of the chat, he insisted there was no harm done. Meanwhile, three high-ranking Department of Defense officials—Deputy Chief of Staff Darin Selnick, close friend and confidante Dan Caldwell, and the chief of staff to the deputy defense secretary, Colin Carroll—were placed on leave before being fired, amid an ongoing Pentagon leak investigation.

Caldwell's dismissal is particularly noteworthy given their long-standing relationship. The termination suggests that, in his quest to regain operational control of a chaotic Pentagon, Hegseth is willing to burn bridges with once-trusted allies if necessary. The aftermath of the firings, however, reveals a Trump administration sharply divided on foreign policy matters.

In an interview shortly after being shown the door, Caldwell characterized his Pentagon tenure as threatening "established interests" and dismissed leak accusations. With his former ally now advocating for his prosecution, Caldwell's account rings hollow.

The intrigue deepens when considering the broader context of ongoing Iran nuclear negotiations. The Middle East special envoy Steve Witkoff—a billionaire real estate investor with little knowledge of the Middle East—will resume negotiations this weekend in Oman. In the past, Witkoff has praised Qatar, a nation known to have close ties with Iran, as doing "God's work." Caldwell has referred to Witkoff as a "godsend" while popular Iran dove Tucker Carlson applauded him as an "instrument of peace."

The pieces start to fall into place: Trump himself remains clear-headed about Iran, and it appears his secretary of Defense feels the same. But why are certain supposed administration "allies" attempting to dismantle Hegseth yet again? It seems they are frustrated that the president is not as Iran-curious as they desire, leading to this latest round of efforts to destroy Pete Hegseth.

Josh Hammer, author of "Israel and Civilization: The Fate of the Jewish Nation and the Destiny of the West", provides an intriguing take: "The reality is operational—Hegseth is just not up to this." Overall, the Hegseth smear campaign persists, but its focus is now on silencing all Iran hawks. The stage is set for further drama as the Iran nuclear negotiations resume this weekend in Oman.

The current controversy surrounding Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth involves not only political opposition but also internal conflicts within the Pentagon, with stakes reaching geopolitical ramifications.
Previous attempts to take down Hegseth's nomination involved allegations ranging from alcoholism to sexual assault, intended to sow discord and hinder the incoming administration.
In the "Signalgate" controversy, sensitive military information was revealed, highlighting internal divisions within foreign policy regarding Iran and its allies like the Houthis.
A subsequent investigation found that Hegseth had shared sensitive information about Houthi attack plans in a group chat with his family, leading to the placement and eventual firing of three Department of Defense officials.
The dismissal of Dan Caldwell, a long-time confidante of Hegseth, suggests that Hegseth is willing to burn bridges with once-trusted allies in his quest to regain control of a chaotic Pentagon.
Steve Witkoff, the Middle East special envoy, is scheduled to resume Iran nuclear negotiations this weekend in Oman, with his perceived pro-Iran views sparking concern among Iran hawks.
As the Iran nuclear negotiations resume, there's a growing consensus that certain administration allies are attempting to dismantle Hegseth due to frustration over the president's stance on Iran, fueling a smear campaign against Hegseth aimed at silencing all Iran hawks.