TEHRAN – U.S. Army Secretary Pete Hegseth delivered a speech leaving no ambiguity on Friday. The United States is not trying to avoid war; it is actively preparing for global conflict. Speaking at the National War College, Hegseth compared today’s world to 1939, when World War II began, and 1981, when Cold War tensions escalated. These were not just historical references, but also warnings. But more than that, they were also a roadmap.
Just a few weeks ago, on September 5, President Donald Trump signed an executive order officially changing the name of the Department of Defense to the Department of the Army. The changes will allow the new title to be used in official communications and give Hegseth the authority to use “Secretary of the Army” in his role. Hegseth embraced this new name throughout his speech, signaling a clear break from the language of defense and diplomacy and a move toward open confrontation.
This symbolic change is more than just branding. This shows that the United States is openly accepting its role as an aggressor on the world stage.
american war machine
Hegseth wasn’t just talking about foreign threats. He turned his fire inward, calling the Pentagon bureaucracy one of America’s “greatest enemies.” He blamed delays in planning, oversight and regulation for slowing military readiness. His solution: strip the checks, expedite arms contracts, and empower private arms manufacturers.
This is not reform, but unchecked militarization. By dismantling its domestic security apparatus, the United States is paving the way for unchecked escalation. We are building a war machine designed for domination, not defense.
Escalation by design
President Trump continues to insist that he wants to end America’s “forever wars.” But his actions tell a different story. The president recently authorized the first U.S. nuclear weapons test in more than 30 years, a reckless move that threatens to reignite the global arms race and destroy decades of nuclear restraint.
The US is not responding to the threat. We are manufacturing them. It’s not about keeping the peace. Preparing for Empire Back in June, President Trump authorized a direct attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities in coordination with Israel. At the time, the United States denied any involvement in the June 13 attack in Israel. But on November 6, President Trump publicly acknowledged that he was “very much responsible” for the operation. This confession confirmed what many had already suspected. The United States is not a bystander to the region’s violence, but a central player.
America’s war addiction
It is no coincidence that Hegseth mentioned 1939. Perfect for long, bloody patterns. From Hiroshima to Vietnam to Iraq to Afghanistan, the United States has repeatedly cloaked its wars in the language of peace and freedom. Each time, he claimed to be defending democracy. Each time, ruins, graves, and chaos were left behind.
Today’s actions, including the attack on Iran, the military buildup in Asia and Europe, and the push to test nuclear weapons, are not isolated. They are part of a deliberate strategy. The US is not responding to the threat. We are manufacturing them. It’s not about keeping peace. Preparing for the empire.
In Europe, NATO exercises near Russia’s borders provoked Russia. In Asia, US warships near Taiwan and the Philippines have received stern warnings from China. In both regions, Washington is playing with fire and dragging the world to the brink.
world war blueprint
Mr. Hegseth did not utter the words “world war” in Friday’s speech. But his comments laid out its terms: dismantling the bureaucracy, rearming the military, sidelining diplomacy, and mapping out the enemy’s world. President Trump’s actions, from nuclear escalation to overt and covert attacks, are consistent with that vision.
Mr. Hegseth’s speech and Mr. Trump’s decision suggest a bleak future. The United States is not trying to prevent war. It’s not just any war, it’s preparing for a global war. By reviving Cold War rhetoric, accelerating arms production, attacking Iran, and confronting Russia and China, American leaders are laying the foundations for a conflict that could engulf the world.