War Crimes Cha-Ching
Trump and Hegseth want more money to fight an illegal war they can't justify
Pete Hegseth went before Congress this week to plead for more money to fight Donald Trump's chosen war with Iran. To be exact, he's asking for an additional $67.3 billion to fight this chosen war that never needed to be fought in the first place.
Since we already give the Department of Defense over $900 billion a year, this $67.3 billion will be supplemental funding for what he called an"urgent, necessary injection of resources."
At the start of the hearing, Whiskey Pete said, “We know the best way to create peace is to prepare for war, to deter it. That’s exactly what the Department of War is doing: building a force so capable that it would be absurd for anyone to challenge it.”
First, wasn’t our military already so capable that it would have been absurd for anyone to challenge it? Second, Iran did not challenge it; they are fighting back. Third, I don't wanna hear you talk about wanting to create peace when you changed the name of your agency from defense to war. That name change makes it clear that you want war, and right now, you're crying like a whiny little be-yotch because you're not good at it.
At one point during the hearing, Senator John Kennedy, a Republican, said, “We need straight answers.” But we don't get straight answers from the Trump administration.
We also found out that the Pentagon has already spent $37.5 billion on this war so far, which is probably an underestimation. As we have learned over the past decade, you cannot trust the Trump regime with numbers or anything else for that matter. Senator Patty Murray called that number, “Suspiciously low.
Hegseth and Trump are asking for more money for a war that they cannot justify. Trump pulled us out of peace talks with Iran to start this war. Years ago, he pulled us out of a nuclear agreement that was working to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
In June 2025, Trump bombed Iran and told us that he “obliterated” their nuclear program. Now, he says we are fighting a war with them because they cannot be “allowed” to have a nuclear weapon.
Trump said that there will be a regime change in Iran and he would settle for nothing less than unconditional surrender, but there hasn't been a change in the Iranian regime, and it has been Trump who has been desperate for a peace treaty with Iran. The failed Memorandum of Understanding had way too many conditions in it for there to be an unconditional surrender from Iran.
Trump has also promised that he would destroy Iran's ability to export terrorism throughout the Middle East, as well as their missile and drone program, but the Iranian proxies are still active, and Iran is still killing Americans with their missile and drone program.
Before this war started, the Strait of Hormuz was open and free for any ship to pass through. Now, thanks to Donald Trump, Iran controls the strait, and in the future will probably demand tolls from every ship that passes through it. Thank you, Donald Trump.
When Senator Gary Peters said the Trump administration's efforts have been "an utter and complete failure to win this war," Kegsbreath got angry, and said Peters' statement was "irresponsible" and smears service members. But Peters made it clear that he was not smearing service members, and told Pete, “You, sir, are the failure, not the men and women who are on that front line, not the men and women who hold up their honor with distinction.”
“You don’t have a long-term plan to actually win this war. Win the war!” Peters implored Hegseth. Petey replied like the trolls who were drawn to my Facebook page like moths to a light bulb and accused the senator of having "Trump Derangement Syndrome."
Instead of giving straight answers, Hegseth was hiding behind our service members.
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said military officials were "asking for unlimited money for bombs" and that Americans were upset "because the words you have used in the past don't add up."
Gillibrand cited the regime’s conflicting statements on whether Iran’s nuclear sites were obliterated. “The American people don’t know who to believe or what to believe,” she said. “They just know they can’t afford their healthcare. They can’t afford their food. They can’t afford housing.”
Today, the House approved a Democratic-led proposal to end the Iran war, and later in the day, the Senate voted to reject a “joint resolution” to end the war.
Trump is not supposed to carry on a war for over 60 days according to federal law. But Republicans like Thom Tillis don't know when the war started. Tillis believes it started on July 10, even though Donald Trump started dropping bombs on Iran back in February.
For Republicans keeping score at home and who need to be reminded, we are in the sixth month of this war, which is a lot longer than 60 days.
Creative note: It has kind of been Hegseth week for me.
Drawn in 30 seconds:
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Another good one Clay. I still refer to whiskey Pete’s shit show as the D.O.D.:“Department of Disgrace”
Good one. Poor Goldie though. My turn to ask about something in the cartoon - What is that pin on his lapel in the first panel?