Robert Reich: Operation Epic Failure

Link:
https://robertreich.substack.com/p/operation-epic-failure
Trump and War Secretary Pete Hegseth say Operation Epic Fury has destroyed Irans military capacity. Weve taken out their navy, weve taken out their air force, weve taken out their leaders, Trump said Tuesday.
At a Pentagon briefing on April 8, shortly after Trump declared a ceasefire with Iran, Hegseth said Operation Epic Fury was a historic and overwhelming victory on the battlefield, a capital V military victory. He added, By any measure, Epic Fury decimated Irans military and rendered it combat ineffective for years to come.
But CBS Newss Jennifer Jacobs, Eleanor Watson, and James LaPorta report a very different reality. They interviewed multiple officials with knowledge of intelligence, who say the Islamic Republic of Iran maintains more military capabilities than the White House or Pentagon has publicly admitted.
According to three of the officials, about half of Irans stockpile of ballistic missiles and its associated launch systems were still intact as of the start of the ceasefire in early April. Roughly 60 percent of the naval arm of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is still in existence, the officials said, including fast-attack speed boats.
Although the U.S. and Israel have destroyed much of Irans conventional navy, the naval arm of Irans Revolutionary Guard, equipped with many smaller vessels, remains partly intact, and its that navy thats hampering oil shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz.
On Wednesday, Iranian gunboats attacked several commercial ships in the strait, shortly after Trump announced he was unilaterally extending a ceasefire to allow more time for peace talks. Iranian air power has been significantly degraded but not erased. U.S. officials say that about two-thirds of Irans air force is still believed to be operational.
According to a written statement submitted to a House Armed Services Committee by Marine Lt. Gen. James Adams, head of the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency, Iran retains thousands of missiles and one-way attack UAVs that can threaten U.S. and partner forces throughout the region, despite degradations to its capabilities from both attrition and expenditure.
- more at link -
So what will Chump and Hegseth lie about next? Please read the rest on Robert Reich's substack, at link.