Treasury secretary defends U.S. military actions in Iran: 'Sometimes you have to escalate to de-escalate'

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: NBC News

March 22, 2026, 10:30 AM EDT / Updated March 22, 2026, 10:48 AM EDT


Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Sunday defended strikes on Iran’s infrastructure since the U.S. and Israel began their joint war against the country in February, saying “sometimes you have to escalate to de-escalate.”

His comments came just hours after President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social that he was giving Iranian leadership 48 hours to open the Strait of Hormuz or risk U.S. military strikes that “will hit and obliterate their various POWER PLANTS, STARTING WITH THE BIGGEST ONE FIRST!”

Bessent defended Trump’s rhetoric, saying it’s “the only language the Iranians understand.”

Early Sunday, a spokesperson for Iran’s military command headquarters warned that if the U.S. strikes oil infrastructure, Iran will respond in kind.

Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/treasury-secretary-bessent-us-military-actions-iran-escalate-oil-rcna264608

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Why is the head of the U.S. Treasury commenting at all about MILITARY decisions? Where is Kegsbreath or is he incapacitated (or partying with Keystone Kash)?

We need "proof of life" here.

[relayerbob]

1. That is straight up Russian military doctrine

They aren't even hiding it anymore

[sop]

2. "It became necessary to destroy the town to save it."

Famous Vietnam War-era quote attributed to an unnamed U.S. major by journalist Peter Arnett in February 1968.

[BidenRocks]

11. There it is!

[Traildogbob]

3. Boot up Bitch!!!!

[dem4decades]

4. Peace through war. Can Trump get the peace prize for last, this and next year?

[Whip-poor-will]

5. You have to escalate to de-escalate

Sounds like a rapist's MO

[Hey Joe]

6. Says the little trust fund sociopath who never

had to fight in or risk his life in a war.
He is too far above everything to even ponder the sacrifices most of us have to make .
Yet the condensation rolls right of his lips so easily.

[Martin68]

7. What a fucking moron. Sounds like the Vietnam War's "We had to destroy the village to save it."

[LiberalArkie]

8. How much military service does Scotty have? Or maybe his military classes at Yale?

[Ray Bruns]

18. He has zero military experience.

[LiberalArkie]

20. Ohh. That makes him a perfectly normal GOP military expert.

[CousinIT]

9. "Treasury secretary defends the indefensible."

There. I fixed the headline.

[generalbetrayus]

10. Bombing for peace.

[2na fisherman]

12. Some Logic

We had to start WWIII to avert WWIII. Bombs away!

[EX500rider]

13. "We have always been at war with Eastasia."

[twodogsbarking]

14. So it is all about money.

[lastlib]

15. And you have to "destroy the villlage in order to save it.".....

Yeah, we've heard that bullshit line before--it doesn't smell any better six decades later!

[delisen]

16. Like sometimes you have to grow short to grow tall ?

Republican Logic

[Ray Bruns]

17. And there it is!

[bluestarone]

19. America, you better wake the fuck up!

Talk about DEATH PANELS (SQUADS) They dared to call Democrats the death panels? WTF???

[Maru Kitteh]

21. Just let me finish and this will be over. Be a good girl.

Yup.

[PikaBlue]

22. If I'm ever pulled over for speeding

I will be certain to share that bit of wisdom with the LEO.