#Iran has made it clear they are not interested in having conversations with the #UnitedStates, accusing Washington of deceiving Tehran during the last set of negotiations while planning the air attack. Moreover, that stockpile of fuel is now one of the few #nuclear bargaining chips in Iranian hands.

In a briefing for reporters on Sunday, #Defense Secy #PeteHegseth & the new chair of the #JointChiefs of Staff, Dan Caine, avoided #Trump’s maximalist claims of success.

The #Trump admin said that its attack on 3 #Iran #nuclear facilities was not about toppling the country’s government.

“This mission was not and has not been about regime change,” #Defense Secretary #PeteHegseth said at a Sunday news briefing.

Air Force Gen. #DanCaine, the chairman of the #JointChiefs of Staff, stressed that the goal of “Operation Midnight Hammer” had destroyed the nuclear sites in #Fordow, #Natanz & #Isfahan.

The recent dismissal of the chair of the #JointChiefs of Staff & the judge advocate generals [#JAG] has sent a chilling message to the #military: Disagreement w/the #Trump admin’s edicts may come at a steep cost.

In the past, military deployments have been forgotten because the wave of unrest broke gently. This time, however, the wave may crash violently, & the wreckage it leaves…could be substantial: to the #Army’s legitimacy, …health of American #democracy, &… #civilian lives it may cost.

In the final year of his first term, #Trump wanted to invoke the #InsurrectionAct to send active-duty #troops into the streets of #cities where #protests against the murder of #GeorgeFloyd had become violent, only to be rebuffed by Mark T. Esper, his #defense secretary, & Gen. Mark A. Milley, his chair of the #JointChiefs of Staff.

“#Trump & his allies have pushed aggressively to defund or eliminate #DEI programs across the #military. One of Trump’s first actions was to fire the chair of the #JointChiefs of Staff, Gen #CQBrown Jr, only the 2nd #AfricanAmerican ever to hold that position. Training on racial bias, cultural competency & inclusive leadership has been gutted & labeled ‘radical.’

An additional minimum 10% reduction in general & flag officers would be required in the second phase.

The announcement comes after #Trump fired #JointChiefs of Staff chair Gen Charles "CQ" Brown, Jr & other top #military leaders in Feb.

“Less Generals More GIs,” #Hegseth said in a video about the overhaul.

"We're going to shift resources from bloated headquarters elements to our war fighters," Hegseth said of the changes, which he described as "historic."

…Gen Haugh was informed of the decision while traveling. Current & fmr ofcls said Gen Haugh’s deputy at the #NSA, Wendy Noble, was also removed from her post, & possibly reassigned to another position at the #Pentagon.

…#Defense Secy #PeteHegseth & #Trump have removed several top officers from their posts including the chair of the #JointChiefs of Staff…; the chief of naval operations [#Navy #CNO]…; & the commandant of the #CoastGuard….

#Trump once again makes clear that he picks senior officials in part because of their nicknames. During his first term, he constantly noted that James Mattis, his defense secretary, was called “Mad Dog” — a nickname that #Mattis actually detested. Today, Trump gushed that his choice to become the next chairman of the #JointChiefs of Staff, Lt. Gen. Dan Caine, is called “Razin Caine.”

“As soon as I heard his name, I said I like that guy,” Trump said.

#idiocracy #military #NationalSecurity

Gen #CQBrown would go on to become the chair of the #JointChiefs of Staff under President #Biden, in an 83-11 Senate vote. For the first time in its history, the #Pentagon was led by two #Black men, with #LloydAustin III, Biden’s #defense secretary.

But in #Trump’s eyes, one Trump adviser said on Saturday, there was no coming back for General Brown after he made his video.

#PeteHegseth, #Trump’s new #defense secy, had questioned whether Gen #CQBrown was selected as the #JointChiefs chair because he was Black & said on a podcast in Nov that he should be fired over the #military’s #diversity efforts.
In his book,Hegseth wrote of Brown’s promotion:“Was it because of his skin color? Or his skill? We’ll never know, but always doubt—which on its face seems unfair to CQ. But since he has made the race card one of his biggest calling cards, it doesn’t really much matter.”

And after #Trump returned to power, #Milley’s & #Esper’s portraits were removed from the walls of the #Pentagon.

It is unclear whether Gen #CQBrown will get a portrait of his 1 year & 4 months as the #JointChiefs chair. Trump has not publicly criticized Gen Brown, whom he is seeking to replace w/the retired 3-star Lt. Gen. Dan Caine, another fighter pilot.

During his 2nd admin, #Trump has shown personal animus toward high-ranking #military officers [particularly if they are not white and/or are women], both those on active duty & some who retired years ago.

Trump has suggested that Gen #MarkMilley, his fmr chair of the #JointChiefs who retired in 2023, should be executed for engaging w/his Chinese counterpart during the turmoil surrounding the #Jan6 #insurrection.