To avoid wars we have to have a military that nobody would be foolish enough to challenge. That's what Hegseth is trying to build. Strength over peace.
As for Iran, Trump doesn't want to go in and kill 93 million people or even totally leave them with no way to exist. If the EU would help to cover their own a** es this could have gone faster but this is an example of people being used to being taken care of.
Hegseth failed to plan for a war that lasted longer than two weeks. We did not have sufficient patriots or other air defense weapons to protect our bases around the middle east allies. They didn't even consider the probability that the Iranians could block the strait of Hormuz.....or that now the Houthis block access to the Suez.
Killing people in boats nowhere near our shores is a crime. We had no evidence of a crime that should draw execution.