HEATED CLASH: Sen. Kennedy Absolutely Grills Hegseth and Caine on Russia, Ukraine and Iran War — AC1N

[0:00] Kennedy. Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you all for being here today. General, in the war between [0:13] Russia and Ukraine, who do we want to win? Sir, I want Ukraine to win. Is Russia America's friend? [0:27] I'm sorry, sir. I couldn't quite hear your question. Is Russia America's friend? I think that depends on [0:34] your definition of friend. I think it's a complicated relationship, but no, I don't think [0:42] they're our friends. Thank you. If we could cut off Russia's cash flow, which depends substantially [0:59] on its sale of oil, would that help Ukraine win? Sir, I think militarily, any time you can restrict [1:07] resources and cash flows against an adversary. General, I have so much respect for you, but I have [1:15] so little time. Yes, sir. I'll try to be briefer. Give me succinct answers. Yes, sir. It would [1:22] assist a... It would help, wouldn't it? Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Okay. If we could stop people, entities, [1:32] and countries from buying Russia's oil, that would help cut off its cash flow, wouldn't it? Yes, sir. [1:41] We have a bill to do that, as I'm sure you're aware. We have the votes today to pass it. Overwhelmingly, [1:55] I have also have enormous respect and admiration for our majority leader, Senator Thune. But I hope [2:08] everybody on this panel will today contact Senator Thune and ask him to bring that bill to the floor. [2:20] We should vote on it at a minimum of next week. Some of my colleagues, General, want America to just [2:35] stop in Iran, in the blockade, bring all of our warriors home. What would be the consequences of [2:48] that in your estimation? Sir, I think termination criteria is always a political decision. However, [2:57] I assess that Iran will continue to be a challenge moving forward. So we have to be thoughtful about [3:05] that. Will they put tolls on the straight? I don't know, sir. That's a decision that's a hypothetical [3:10] and will depend on what happens in the future. It's not hypothetical. We've got a blockade to [3:14] stop them. We do, sir. That's putting economic pressure on them. General, I want you to look me in the eye. [3:18] I'm not asking you for, I'm not trying to get you in trouble. I know your advice to the president [3:24] is private. But this is serious as four heart attacks and a stroke. Now, what happens if we come [3:37] home and end the blockade to the world? Sir, Iran has the potential to continue to be a threat and [3:48] we will need to prepare military options to do that. Will they toll the straight? Sir, that's a [3:53] hypothetical question and I don't know the answer to that. Oh, it's not hypothetical. We come home, [3:59] it's not going to be hypothetical. You know that, General, and I do too. And I appreciate your [4:06] discretion, but we're down to it. We need some hard answers and some straight talk. What will happen, [4:15] Pete? Senator, I would agree with the chairman, but the likely outcome is they would try to impose [4:21] their will on the waterways in ways that the world would not like. Would they toll it? Call it a toll, [4:27] call it a fee, call it an exchange, call it control. They would do something that they would [4:31] try to hold it at issue. Yes, sir. Would they try to commence development again of a nuclear warhead? [4:42] Part of the reason President Trump had to have the courage to do what he did after Midnight Hammer is [4:45] that they didn't give up their ambitions even though their nuclear sites had been obliterated. So this is a [4:50] regime hellbent on nuclear ambitions and President Trump's... Guys, we need straight answers. We need straight answers. [4:59] Do we have the ability to destroy whatever is underneath Pickaxe Mountain? A lot of, Senator, a lot of our [5:10] capabilities are classified, but if anybody in the world can reach anything on this, on God's given, God's green [5:15] earth, it's the United States military, the most powerful military in the world. It's all about options and trade-offs. [5:20] All right. I'm going to take a little extra time because others got it, Madam Chair. I won't abuse it. Secretary, [5:25] Secretary, are shrimpers farmers? Absolutely, yes. They're farmers of the sea. Are oyster harvesters [5:34] farmers? Yes. In this USDA, yes. Are they having to compete with other countries who grow oysters [5:39] and shrimp in a ditch and shoot them full of antibiotics? 100% yes. And if you eat too much of [5:49] that foreign shrimp and oysters, you'll grow an extra ear, won't you? I'm not sure about that, [5:59] but I know it is not good. And I also know we import 90% of our shrimp. Why aren't we inspecting the [6:03] shrimp and the oysters from abroad? Well, it goes much larger than that. Why are we importing so much [6:09] from abroad, which goes to the President's trade agenda? I'm in big trouble. Yes, you are. [6:13] Guys, look, we need straight answers now. We're down to it. Senator Merkley. [6:25] Thank you, Madam Chair and Secretary Rollins. I appreciate your partnership on addressing [6:29] several issues in Oregon. And I sent you information about a couple others and you responded. [6:34] I appreciate it.