US Committing War Crimes In Iran? General Caine Left SPEECHLESS After Merkley Grills Him On Strikes

[00:00:00]Let me ask you this then. I I understand why you don't want to respond, but these are these are all massive risks that seem to be poorly weighed in the in the beginning of this uh misadventure. Uh currently there are reports that we have hit the BJI desalination plant that provides water to about 20 villages or about 10,000 people and we also damaged the desalination plant at Keshum Island.

[00:00:25]Uh were these deliberate targets by the United States? Sure. I'm not aware of those as being particular targets, nor am I aware of those reports, and I'll have to go back and get back to you on that. If you could, I'd appreciate that.

[00:00:38]You are aware that infrastructure that civilians rely on to survive is not generally considered legitimate military targets. So you feel like the various risks that the Iran would close could possibly close the straight despite the destruction of their navy that the possibility of assassinating their political leaders and their military leaders could produce a strengthened hardline and weaken the reformers that uh Iran would have the ability to sustain its ability to attack sites throughout the Middle East that the initial requirements of the war could certainly deplete our basically high-end standoff munitions that uh this could affect our our relations with our allies. All those were factors well considered in this decision to go to war.

[00:01:25]>> Sir, as I said, I won't opine on or share my private advice to the president.

[00:01:30]>> I'm not asking about your vice president. I'm asking you, did you understand these issues or have these become revelations as the wars unfolded?

[00:01:36]Sir, my job is to understand all of the considerations that go into the carefully considered use of military power. Let me ask you this then. Yes, sir. I I understand why you don't want to respond, but these are these are all massive risks that seem to be poorly weighed in the in the beginning of this uh misadventure. Uh currently there are reports that we have hit the Bonji desalination plant that provides water to about 20 villages or about 10,000 people and we also damaged the desalination plant at Keshum Island. Uh were these deliberate targets by the United States.

[00:02:13]>> Sir, I'm not aware of those as being particular targets, nor am I aware of those reports, and I'll have to go back and get back to you on that.

[00:02:21]>> If you could, I'd appreciate that. You are aware that infrastructure that civilians rely on to survive is not generally considered legitimate military targets.

[00:02:29]>> Sir, as you know, we have a robust process which considers a target that goes through a system that looks at a variety of considerations to include what you're alluding to around both purely civilian or dual use targets. I have trust and confidence in SenCom uh that they're looking at the range of those things on a daily basis. It sounds like you are assuring us that we will the United States not target even in retaliatory sense uh infrastructure is generally considered to be primarily for civilian survival. Sir, as I mentioned, we have a robust process and uh you know we have the most professional military force.

[00:03:10]>> Be nice to have you say yes because this is international law. You understand the international law?

[00:03:15]>> I do, sir. I've got a lot of lawyers that help me understand that.

[00:03:18]>> Thank Thank you.

[00:03:18]>> Yes, sir.

[00:03:19]>> And you'll will you get back to us on that question of whether we targeted theelination plants and if so if if so why?

[00:03:26]>> Bond was $29 billion >> but then added a caveat that there was a replacement of munitions for example. Do you have a new estimate about what the war has cost us so far in this the fifth month of the first year of this war in Iran? Uh Senator, the estimate we have as of today is 37.5 billion >> and it's a current activity which we've been told about the exchange of fire back and forth uh in Iran an indication that that number is going to go up in the months ahead.

[00:03:57]>> Some of that number captures additional on andm mill pay and other that would be anticipated through the fiscal year. So some of that anticipates what costs would be going out in the future as well. amunitions and sustain vital operations without disruption. This supplemental request serves two purposes. Sustain our military readiness to meet this year's new demands and accelerate critical capabilities to replace and augment those we have used in contingencies. But make no mistake, this is not a one forone replacement. We are upgrading and we are modernizing across the force.

[00:04:33]On the readiness front, we requested $21 billion. This will fund military pay, replace much of equipment utilized during recent operations, sustain forward deployed forces, and grow personnel and strength while stabilizing missionritical fueled shortfalls and supporting the National Guard. On the capabilities side, we requested 46 billion. These funds will expand production lines and accelerate delivery of high demand munitions. We're talking about solid rocket motors, JDAMs, hypersonics, and counter drone capabilities. Additionally, we will use this investment to secure digital and space dominance, including resilient satellite networks. Department leadership recognizes that appropriating those funds is just the first step. Once funds are appropriated or portioned, excuse me, to the department, we need to promptly execute on them. And that's why we're requesting targeted legislative authorities like transfer authority to prioritize our greatest needs and opportunities. Multi-year procurement for weapon systems, revolutionizing the speed and scale of munitions procurement and new start authorities.

[00:05:46]Rest assured that every dollar appropriated to the Department of War will be focused on building the lethality of our joint force and reinforcing peace through strength. As I have said before, not fully funding this department, the Department of War, and we know what that means. That that means 1.5 trillion given the world that we live in and the disaster of what the Biden administration budgets gave us.

[00:06:12]Not funding this department at 1.5 trillion, I believe, is the greatest threat that our nation faces. Either we invest in our warriors at this moment of step change on the battlefield and growing threats, or this is all just talk. I look forward to working with this committee to secure those funds so that our war fighters can continue to do their work every day to keep our great republic safe. Thank you very much.

[00:06:38]>> Thank you, Mr. Secretary. General Kaine, >> Chair Collins, Vice Chair Murray, distinguished members of this committee, I'm honored today to appear before you with Secretary Hegsth and Secretary Rollins to testify on the Department of War's fiscal 2026 supplemental funding request. And I'll note, I fondly remember my time at USDA earlier in my career where I had the chance to serve there. I'm also joined today by my senior enlisted advisor, Seak Dave Isim.

[00:07:10]As always, I'm deeply grateful for this committee's continued partnership and support for our common defense. I'd like to begin by expressing my deep consol condolences and that of the joint chiefs of staff and the SEAK for the fallen from this past weekend and their families. Today we remember First Lieutenant Tyler Feehan, Sergeant Michael Swinton, and Private Isabel Gonzalez, and note that the names of our last fallen will be released when we can. I'm humbled daily by the profound commitment of the incredible 2.8 million Americans, just like these names that I've just mentioned, who make up our joint force and serve our nation every day.

[00:07:56]Also, on behalf of the Joint Force and the Joint Chiefs, I want to express my sincere and heartfelt condolences to the family of Senator Graham for their loss and all of you for the loss of your colleague. The Joint Force remains grateful for his 44 years of service both in and out of uniform. There is no doubt he made a difference to the safety and security of our nation.

[00:08:23]On July 22nd, 1940, General George C.

[00:08:28]Marshall said, and I quote, "For almost 20 years, we had all of the time and almost none of the money. Today, we have all of the money and no time." His words resonate powerful powerfully with me today as we find ourselves in a somewhat similar situation. I've come to you today to request the necessary funds while in the window of opportunity.

[00:08:53]While time is still on our side, the United States of America faces a global list of military challenges in the Middle East, in Europe, in the Pacific, both nuclear and non-nuclear challenges, and the continued threat of terrorism.

[00:09:11]We find ourselves living and leading in complex and dynamic times. Our adversaries are aligning in their interests, creating simultaneous challenges across multiple domains. They are sharing intelligence, combat capabilities, and technology. technology that is accelerating the speed of war is an it is an imperative that Americans understand that the character of war is changing. Advances in technology are fundamentally and irreversibly changing the way we fight with which necessitates capital to properly arm America's military.

[00:09:54]Rapid advancements in AI autonomous systems deliver critical technological advantages to our national defense and simultaneously introduce unprecedented strategic vulnerabilities and uncertainty across the world to include right here at home.

[00:10:13]The low barrier to entry created by affordable, ubiquitous, unmanned systems means our adversaries, rogue actors, state and non-state actors, and violent extremists have access to disruptive and potentially lethal technologies at scale. We've seen this in Ukraine, and we must adopt elements of this fight for our future fights.

[00:10:37]Conflict is never confined neatly to the land, sea or air domains. The modern battlefield stretches from the seabed up to cis lunar space and beyond cyberspace and in the information domain all at the same time. Our nation must be prepared to fight and win across all of them all the time all at once. In addition, the light speed at which information travels now has compressed our leaders decision space, taking what was once days or weeks in World War II down to milliseconds. Your joint force must be ready because the United States military is America's greatest insurance policy.

[00:11:22]And I acknowledge all of us find it difficult at times to pay for insurance before we need it. But we must have insurance before the storm comes. The armed forces of the United States of America serves as our nation's ultimate safeguard and our insurance policy to preserve, protect, and defend our national interest, security, and prosperity. To uphold this responsibility, we require predictable and consistent funding. This will allow us to partner effectively with our defense and national industrial bases, building on acquisition reforms that guarantee our war fighters receive capabilities at scale before they are required in conflict or combat. I'm struck by this season of American history we find ourselves in. And I continue to ask myself, if not now, then when? And if not us in this room and the rest of the Congress and the nation, then who? I acknowledge the environment we all serve in, but always remember that we are all Americans with deep and abiding love of our nation and our military service members and their families. I've come today to ask for your help and your support. America's armed forces need $1.5 trillion to meet the military challenges of the future.

[00:12:42]This supplemental is a part of that and to be allowed to use this capital to pay for military personnel operations and maintenance expenses and accelerate investments on critical technologies as the secretary just mentioned. It is critical that we stay ahead of our adversaries and we must have the funds before we're out of time. In closing, I ask all of us to remember our deployed service members around the world right now, especially our Army teammates who remain deployed after losing their friends and teammates this past weekend.

[00:13:15]And I again ask all of us here in the Senate and across the American people to never forget our fallen and their families who continue to show us what courage, tenacity, grit, and commitment to the nation looks like. Thank you very much and I look forward to your questions.