'You, sir, are the failure': Senator GRILLS Hegseth over Iran war strategy

After months of conflict, our strategy to win remains unclear.I have long said the United States has the strongest military in history, in the world, and I have no doubt that our brave servicemembers can execute any mission and prevail in any battle.But without a clear winning strategy, we're at risk of being in another forever war that will put our servicemembers in continued harm's way and continue to cost taxpayers billions of dollars.Secretary Heksim, despite your failure to win this war, you are back now before Congress asking for almost $70 billion in additional funding.You're asking the American people for a blank check, because once again, Trump administration's efforts have been an utter and complete failure to win this war to this point.So my question for you, sir, is how is your strategy different than what we've seen in the past?

Mr. Hegseth.So, Secretary Hegseth.

I think your characterization of this incredible effort as a failure is reckless.And I think it's irresponsible, and I think it smears the sacrifice of the troops that are out there making on behalf of the American people to ensure that Iran never gets a nuclear weapon.Shame on you and others who call this a quagmire and a failure, and then you want to turn around and say you support the warfighter.Either you do or you don't.I can get you a ticket out to CENTCOM and talk to what those Americans are doing, how committed they are to this effort, and how they want to ensure that Iran never threatens their families with a nuclear weapon.That's the kind of intensity that our warfighters have about making sure that Iran isn't capable of doing that.

Secretary Hegseth, if you listened to my comments, you would have heard me say how amazing our warfighters are.

I heard failure.

I heard exactly what you said.I will tell you how I used the word failure.Because I used the word failure to their leaders.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.

But if there's a lack of a winning strategy, they're in harm's way, their leaders have failed them.And that's what's happening.We have political leadership, you.You don't have a strategy, you don't have a long -term plan to actually win this war.Win the war!The men and women are going to be able to do it, but they need to have leadership.

When will you show leadership?

When will you show leadership?Why don't you show some leadership and stand up for your fellow Democrats who won't fund the troops, who stand and play partisan politics while you don't give us the money.You want to stand up here and talk about the troops?You won't show any political courage to actually fund our department because you have Trump -Trump derangement syndrome and can't actually commit to anything meaningful.So I put this on you, Senator.

Secretary Hezov, you have trillions, you have over a trillion dollars, you're asking for one and a half trillion dollars.It's not a question of money, it's a question of leadership and understanding what it takes to actually win.

Political cowardice of Democrats who won't fund the troops.