These are serious times for the US Secretary of Defense. Just this week, President Donald Trump launched what he insists is a new war against Iran, his second this year.
Despite Trump’s claim that US forces had “obliterated” Iran’s military months ago, America’s adversary has managed again to blockade the Strait of Hormuz, and is again launching missiles at US bases and at its allies across the region.
A major conflict in the Middle East would be more than enough for most administrations, but Trump’s White House is also trying to run Venezuela remotely, following a special forces raid to abduct its president earlier in the year, and is blockading Cuba – while reportedly drawing up plans for a possible invasion there, too.
This is life-or-death stuff, on which the fate of nations hangs. US misadventures overseas can result in hundreds of thousands of deaths, and destabilise entire regions. Already, the US-Iran conflict has taken an enormous toll on the global economy, and has sent energy prices rocketing.
That is what is in Pete Hegseth’s inbox every day when he goes to work, styling himself as the Secretary of War. But it’s not how he seems to be filling his days. Instead, Hegseth found time on Wednesday to announce that he would introduce mandatory screening for all US troops over the age of 30 – including women – for testosterone deficiency.
