U.S. defense secretary: War with Iran is fight against “religious fanatics”

Pete Hegseth. Photo: screenshot from 60 Minutes YouTube channel

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth spoke about the spiritual dimension of the current military confrontation with Iran in an interview with 60 Minutes.

Responding to a question about whether the Pentagon’s actions carry a religious undertone, Hegseth said Washington is fighting radical forces. “Obviously, we're fighting religious fanatics who seek a nuclear capability in order to for some religious Armageddon,” he said. He stressed that in wartime, the faith of servicemen takes on particular importance. “There are no atheists in foxholes,” Hegseth said, adding that he knew this from personal combat experience. “I remember prayer for me on combat missions, how important that was.”

Against that backdrop, the Pentagon chief announced what he described as a major renewed emphasis on military chaplaincy. “That's why we're making the chaplain corps great again and active again, making sure we're pouring into the the faith of our troops,” he said. Hegseth also noted that a religious view of the world is shared by the country’s top leadership. “My Christian faith, faith in general is important to the president. It's important in our fighting ranks to give them perspective on human nature, on their own humanity, on their own mortality.”

Hegseth argued that secular approaches to supporting soldiers psychologically have failed. “We lost a lot of that with sort of self-help, self-esteem nonsense, which is not what troops need. They need a a connection with their Almighty God in these moments,” he said.

He concluded by saying, “I am proud of the way our troops are conducting themselves, and I pray for them every day.”

Earlier, the UOJ reported that pastors at the White House had prayed with Trump for the United States and its armed forces.

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