NPR Removes Pentagon Official's Quote, Adds Trump's Objectives for Iran Strikes
NPR made significant changes to an article about President Trump's remarks on the US military operation in Iran. The publication removed a quote from Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth, chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine, and added quotes from President Trump. The removed quotes provided context on the US-Israeli military operation against Iran, including Hegseth's statement that the operation was in response to Iran's targeting of the US military and interests worldwide. Caine's quote warned that the military objective in Iran would be difficult to achieve and that additional losses were expected. In contrast, Trump's added quotes focused on the objectives of the military operation, including destroying Iran's missile capabilities and preventing it from obtaining a nuclear weapon. Trump also stated that the operation was aimed at making the US 'substantially ahead of our time projections' and that the country had the capability to go longer than initially projected. These changes alter the tone and emphasis of the article, with Trump's quotes dominating the narrative and providing a more direct account of the military operation's objectives.
Related Changes
Special Series Middle East conflict Conflict in the Middle East has been escalating. These stories provide context for current developments and the history that led up to them.
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− By
NPR Washington Desk
Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth and Dan Caine, chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, seen here in January, detailed the U.S.
+ By
NPR Washington Desk
President Trump defended the U.S.
− operation against Iran.
+ military operation in Iran in public remarks Monday, before awarding the Medal of Honor to three soldiers.
− Joe Raedle/Getty Images hide caption
Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth said Monday the U.S.-Israeli action against Iran was in response to the Islamic republic's years-long targeting of the U.S. military and interests around the world.
+ Andrew Harnik/Getty Images hide caption
President Trump said Monday the strikes in Iran are aimed at destroying Iran's missile capabilities and its navy, making sure it cannot obtain a nuclear weapon and preventing it from arming and funding terrorism across the globe.
− "We didn't start this war but under President Trump we're finishing it," he said.
+ He offered no new details about the length or scope of the strikes that began over the weekend and that have so far resulted in the deaths of four American soldiers.
− Middle East conflict A 4th U.S.
+ "We're already substantially ahead of our time projections.
− soldier has died as the war with Iran further engulfs the region The remarks are the administration's first in public to reporters since the U.S.-Israeli military operations against Iran began Saturday despite weeks of talks designed to stave off a conflict.
+ But whatever the time is, it's OK," he said.
− That operation – and Iran's retaliation – has resulted in the death of Iran's supreme leader and some of its senior leadership, embroiled other Middle Eastern nations in the conflict, and led to the deaths of four American service members in Kuwait.
+ "Whatever it takes, we will always and we have from right, from the beginning, we projected four to five weeks, but we have capability to go far longer than that."
Trump reiterated that diplomatic attempts had failed repeatedly in the lead-up to the strikes.
− "This is not a so-called regime change war, but the regime sure did change," Hegseth said.
+ "The regime's conventional ballistic missile program was growing rapidly and dramatically, and this posed a very clear colossal threat to America and our forces stationed overseas," Trump said from the White House, ahead of a Medal of Honor ceremony.
Watch Trump lay out his four objectives for the military operation on Monday:
"The regime already had missiles capable of hitting Europe and our bases, both local and overseas, and would soon have had missiles capable of reaching our beautiful America," he said.
The remarks were Trump's first in public since the U.S.
− "And the world is better off for it."
Gen.
+ and Israel launched their military operation Saturday against Iran, despite weeks of talks designed to stave off a conflict.
− Dan Caine, chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters that the military objective in Iran "will be difficult to achieve, and in some cases, will be difficult and gritty work."
"We expect to take additional losses, and as always, we will work to minimize losses," Caine said.
+ (He released two prerecorded video messages after the conflict began.) That operation — as well as Iran's retaliation — has resulted in the death of Iran's supreme leader and some of its senior leadership, has embroiled other Middle Eastern nations in the conflict and has led to the deaths of four American service members in Kuwait.
− Hegseth said the U.S.
+ Earlier Monday, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth said the U.S.-Israeli action was in response to the Islamic republic's yearslong targeting of the U.S.
− goal in Iran was to "destroy the missile threats, destroy the navy, no nukes." He rejected the notion that the conflict would be prolonged or would engage in nation-building.
+ military and interests around the world.
− Middle East conflict Congress gears up for vote on Trump's war powers in Iran — after the battle began Caine said the mission was "to protect and defend ourselves, and together with our regional partners, prevent Iran from the ability to project power outside of its borders."
The chairman of the Joint Chiefs said some of the work was the result of "months, and in some cases, years, of deliberate planning and refinement."
He said the initial phase targeted Iranians' command and control infrastructure, naval forces, ballistic missile sites and intelligence infrastructure, "leaving the adversary without the ability to see, coordinate or respond effectively."
Trump told The New York Times on Sunday that combat operations will continue for "four to five weeks" if necessary – until all U.S.
+ "We didn't start this war, but under President Trump we're finishing it," he said.
Middle East conflict A 4th U.S.
− objectives are achieved.
+ soldier has died as the war with Iran further engulfs the region Gen.
− He did not elaborate on what those objectives were.
+ Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters that the military objective in Iran "will be difficult to achieve and, in some cases, will be difficult and gritty work."
"We expect to take additional losses, and as always, we will work to minimize losses," Caine said.
− The president has released two prerecorded video messages since the conflict began.
+ Hegseth said the U.S. goal in Iran is to "destroy the missile threats, destroy the navy, no nukes." He rejected the notion that the conflict would be prolonged or would engage in nation-building.
+ Middle East conflict Congress gears up for vote on Trump's war powers in Iran — after the battle began Caine said the mission was "to protect and defend ourselves and, together with our regional partners, prevent Iran from the ability to project power outside of its borders."
The chairman of the Joint Chiefs said some of the work was the result of "months and, in some cases, years of deliberate planning and refinement."
He said the initial phase targeted Iranians' command-and-control infrastructure, naval forces, ballistic missile sites and intelligence infrastructure, "leaving the adversary without the ability to see, coordinate or respond effectively."
An earlier version of this story incorrectly said the video of President Trump laying out his objectives for the military operation was from Tuesday. In fact, it's from Monday.