Pentagon Wants $200 Billion to Fund Iran War

“It takes money to kill bad guys.”

SaturTabs

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff U.S. Air Force Gen. Dan Caine conduct a press briefing on Operation Epic Fury at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., March 10, 2026. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff U.S. Air Force Gen. Dan Caine conduct a press briefing on Operation Epic Fury at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., March 10, 2026.

In Front of Our Noses: Saying the Quiet Part Out Loud

Plus: the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran War: No End in Sight

Plans are worthless, but planning is everything.

Unserious and Reprehensible

Memes, movies, TV shows, and actual war. One of these things is not like the other.

A THAAD interceptor is launched from the Reagan Test Site, Kwajalein Atoll in the Republic of the Marshall Islands, during Flight Test THAAD-23, August 30, 2019. label_outline A THAAD interceptor is launched from the Reagan Test Site, Kwajalein Atoll in the Republic of the Marshall Islands, during Flight Test THAAD-23, August 30, 2019. label_outline

The Logistics of Massive Air Defense

Shooting down cheap drones with expensive missiles is problematic in more ways than one.

On Regime Change

What it is and isn’t. Some polisci basics.

Ali Khamenei's visit to the exhibition of achievements of the IRGC Aerospace Force 19 November 2023 Ali Khamenei's visit to the exhibition of achievements of the IRGC Aerospace Force 19 November 2023

The Ayatollah Is Dead. Now What?

I’m sure there’s a plan for that.

We’re at War With Iran

“Major combat operations” are underway.

President Donald Trump, Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine, Vice President JD Vance, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio meet in the Situation Room of the White House, Saturday, June 21, 2025. Portions of this photo have been blurred for security purposes. President Donald Trump, Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine, Vice President JD Vance, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio meet in the Situation Room of the White House, Saturday, June 21, 2025. Portions of this photo have been blurred for security purposes.

Joint Chiefs Chairman Cautious About Iran Fight

Will POTUS listen?

In Front of Our Noses: Partyin’ Patel

Official business, dontcha know.

President Donald Trump participates in the Board of Peace Charter Announcement and Signing ceremony during the World Economic Forum, Thursday, January 22, 2026, at the Davos Congress Center in Davos, Switzerland. President Donald Trump participates in the Board of Peace Charter Announcement and Signing ceremony during the World Economic Forum, Thursday, January 22, 2026, at the Davos Congress Center in Davos, Switzerland.

Trump Preparing For War With Iran

You’re going to be finding out over the next, maybe, 10 days. 10 to 15 days, pretty much, maximum.

Pentagon Cutting Ties With Harvard

Other schools are likely to follow.

The 2026 National Defense Strategy

The long-awaited document is less disruptive than it appears on the surface.

Federal agents ram a man's vehicle and demand identification at Park Avenue and 35th Street in Minneapolis on January 12, 2026. The Latino man says he was let go once they realized he was a US citizen. While doing so, a crowd as well as more officers continued to arrive before releasing tear gas and pepper spraying members of the media and their cameras. Federal agents ram a man's vehicle and demand identification at Park Avenue and 35th Street in Minneapolis on January 12, 2026. The Latino man says he was let go once they realized he was a US citizen. While doing so, a crowd as well as more officers continued to arrive before releasing tear gas and pepper spraying members of the media and their cameras.

Mess in Minnesota

Going from bad to worse.

Blowing Up Boats Using Disguised Aircraft?

The NYT reports about likely war crimes by US forces.

The Department of Wars

The quest for the elusive Peace Prize continues.

Blatant Propaganda from the White House

The ongoing attempt to venerate the J6 insurrectionists.

U.S. Invades Venezuela, Captures President

We’ve seen this movie before.

President Donald Trump gestures to the crowd after delivering remarks on the economy at the Rocky Mount Event Center in Rocky Mount, North Carolina on Friday, December 19, 2025. President Donald Trump gestures to the crowd after delivering remarks on the economy at the Rocky Mount Event Center in Rocky Mount, North Carolina on Friday, December 19, 2025.

US Struck ISIS Targets in Nigeria on Christmas

(More than) 12 Tomahawks a-bombing.

high-resolution photo of silhouette, sky, sunrise, sunset, morning, dawn, airplane, plane, aircraft, military, dusk, transport, waiting, evening, reflection, army, vehicle, aviation, flight, men, cargo, soldiers, cargo plane, us army high-resolution photo of silhouette, sky, sunrise, sunset, morning, dawn, airplane, plane, aircraft, military, dusk, transport, waiting, evening, reflection, army, vehicle, aviation, flight, men, cargo, soldiers, cargo plane, us army

Radical Reorganization of Military Commands

The biggest reform in generations is being proposed.

Hegseth Ordered ‘No Quarter’ for Drug Boats

A clear violation of the laws of war. But do they apply?

Dick Cheney, 1941-2025

The former Defense Secretary and Vice President is gone at 84.

Tabby Thursday

USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) transits the Atlantic Ocean, Feb. 3, 2020. Ford is underway conducting carrier qualifications. USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) transits the Atlantic Ocean, Feb. 3, 2020. Ford is underway conducting carrier qualifications.

We’re on the Verge of War With Venezuela (and Maybe Colombia)

What could possibly go wrong?

President Donald Trump delivers remarks in honor of the U.S. Navy 250th anniversary celebration at the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier at Naval Station Norfolk in Norfolk, Virginia President Donald Trump delivers remarks in honor of the U.S. Navy 250th anniversary celebration at the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier at Naval Station Norfolk in Norfolk, Virginia

The War on Venezuela is Escalating

The SOUTHCOM commander has resigned and the Senate is debating, but it won’t matter.

Trump to Pay Troops with ‘Available Funds’

Congress, Schmongress.

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth delivers remarks during a War Department address at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., Sept. 30, 2025. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth delivers remarks during a War Department address at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., Sept. 30, 2025.

Military Dispatch From The Very Near Future

“There’s a lot of commander coming.”

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth delivers remarks during a War Department address at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., Sept. 30, 2025. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth delivers remarks during a War Department address at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., Sept. 30, 2025.

Hegseth: Liberation Day for America’s Warriors

A reaffirmation rather than a revelation.

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and U.S. Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George honor the colors during the National Anthem at the 2025 National POW/MIA Recognition Day Ceremony at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., Sept. 19, 2025. (DoW photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Aiko Bongolan) Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and U.S. Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George honor the colors during the National Anthem at the 2025 National POW/MIA Recognition Day Ceremony at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., Sept. 19, 2025. (DoW photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Aiko Bongolan)

Hegseth and the Generals

A few more details have emerged.

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and U.S. Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George honor the colors during the National Anthem at the 2025 National POW/MIA Recognition Day Ceremony at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., Sept. 19, 2025. (DoW photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Aiko Bongolan) Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and U.S. Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George honor the colors during the National Anthem at the 2025 National POW/MIA Recognition Day Ceremony at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., Sept. 19, 2025. (DoW photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Aiko Bongolan)

Hegseth Calls Mystery Meeting of Top Brass

Every general and admiral in a command billet has been called for a last-minute gathering about some unspecified topic.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth hosts a teleconference with NFL players Aaron Jones and Elijah Higgins during their visit to the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing in Kuwait from the Pentagon, April 2, 2025. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth hosts a teleconference with NFL players Aaron Jones and Elijah Higgins during their visit to the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing in Kuwait from the Pentagon, April 2, 2025.

In Front of Our Noses: Controlling the Press

Restricting those who report on the Pentagon.

Pentagon Hunting Down Employees Who Celebrated Charlie Kirk’s Death

A little bit more than the law would allow.

An American flag, unfurled at dawn, hangs over the Pentagon on the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, Washington, D.C., Sept. 11, 2019 An American flag, unfurled at dawn, hangs over the Pentagon on the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, Washington, D.C., Sept. 11, 2019

9/11 @ 24

Memories are fading, as they are wont to do.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth hosts a teleconference with NFL players Aaron Jones and Elijah Higgins during their visit to the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing in Kuwait from the Pentagon, April 2, 2025. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth hosts a teleconference with NFL players Aaron Jones and Elijah Higgins during their visit to the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing in Kuwait from the Pentagon, April 2, 2025.

Reports Suggest Pentagon Shifting Focus To Domestic Defense

Another day, another step closer towards military policing in the US.

War Department Redux

A potentially costly rebrand and strange bedfellows.

On Gulfs and War

Sand in the sheets of civil society.

photo of war, plastic, small, army, green, toy, weapon, military, gun, soldier, combat, tiny, isolated, object, model, troop, miniature, white, figurine, commando, play, man, figure, battle, attack, background, enemy, action, warfare, childhood, army men, grass, action figure photo of war, plastic, small, army, green, toy, weapon, military, gun, soldier, combat, tiny, isolated, object, model, troop, miniature, white, figurine, commando, play, man, figure, battle, attack, background, enemy, action, warfare, childhood, army men, grass, action figure

Department of WAR

A historically inaccurate bit of symbolic silliness.

Ronny Jackson’s Rank Restored

The former White House physican (and current Congressman)’s demotion for misconduct has been reversed.

Trump’s National Security Non-Process

A very different way to run a railroad.

photo of liquid, light, wheel, glass, color, metal, colorful, full, container, rim, refreshment, packaging, shiny, hubcap, aluminum, tops, tabs, beverage cans, pulls photo of liquid, light, wheel, glass, color, metal, colorful, full, container, rim, refreshment, packaging, shiny, hubcap, aluminum, tops, tabs, beverage cans, pulls

Sunday Tabs

Hegseth Appreciates Pastor Wilson Is All

The takeaway of Hegseth’s video and the Pentagon’s clarification is meant to be obvious. 

US Capitol Rotunda US Capitol Rotunda

Congressional Republicans Always Cave

They may whine and bluster, but Trump always gets their votes.

How Effective Were U.S. Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Facilities?

Maximalist claims are almost surely overstated.

Trump Has Approved Iran War Plans

Whatever that means.

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Pentagon Fueled Area 51 Conspiracy

An Air Force colonel spread misinformation to hide the stealth program.