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BumRushDaShow

(156,933 posts)
Thu Jun 12, 2025, 04:47 PM Jun 12

Hegseth says the Pentagon has contingency plans to invade Greenland if necessary

Source: AP

Updated 1:06 PM EDT, June 12, 2025


WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth appeared to acknowledge that the Pentagon has developed plans to take over Greenland and Panama by force if necessary but refused to answer repeated questions during a hotly combative congressional hearing Thursday about his use of Signal chats to discuss military operations.

Democratic members of the House Armed Services Committee repeatedly got into heated exchanges with Hegseth, with some of the toughest lines of questioning coming from military veterans as many demanded yes or no answers and he tried to avoid direct responses about his actions as Pentagon chief.

In one back-and-forth, Hegseth did provide an eyebrow-raising answer. Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., asked whether the Pentagon has plans to take Greenland or Panama by force if necessary. “Our job at the Defense Department is to have plans for any contingency,” Hegseth said several times.

It is not unusual for the Pentagon to draw up contingency plans for conflicts that have not arisen, but his handling of the questions prompted a Republican lawmaker to step in a few minutes later. “It is not your testimony today that there are plans at the Pentagon for taking by force or invading Greenland, correct?” said Rep. Mike Turner, R-Ohio. As Hegseth started to repeat his answer about contingency plans, Turner added emphatically, “I sure as hell hope that is not your testimony.”

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/hegseth-greenland-signal-congress-295b03478d985678c4f2bf2eb5b513ba

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Hegseth says the Pentagon has contingency plans to invade Greenland if necessary (Original Post) BumRushDaShow Jun 12 OP
How the hell would it become necessary? Greenland is not threatening the US Attilatheblond Jun 12 #1
Iraq wasn't threatening the US either. raccoon Jun 12 #3
And yet a crooked President, Vice President, and cronies convinced everyone otherwise..... groundloop Jun 12 #5
Yep, but W was pissed Saddam made an idle threat against GW so it was easy for Cheny to manipulate him into war Attilatheblond Jun 12 #7
what they're doing in LA isn't necessary Skittles Jun 12 #30
They're threatening stupid orange man baby's Fox News time though. Initech Jun 12 #32
If defense contractors want money, and mining companies want their minerals IronLionZion Jun 13 #35
Actually, I read once that the military once upon a time had contingency plans for invading all kinds of countries, generalbetrayus Jun 12 #2
100% correct! Shipwack Jun 13 #41
Uh, does the Secretary of Defense know Greenland is a member of NATO and as such, surfered Jun 12 #4
Hogseth was pretty (to Trump) on TV. Other than that, he was pulled from the bottom of a bottle Attilatheblond Jun 12 #9
The fascists have no intention of staying in NATO and have done everything short of officially withdrawing at this Karasu Jun 12 #22
Lots of words to say 'yes' without using the word 'yes'. Norrrm Jun 12 #6
I would advise Greenland to monitor Signal to learn our invasion plans. surfered Jun 12 #8
Something tells me if they attempt this it will lead to world war3 where we are the enemies that need to be kimbutgar Jun 12 #10
I can't fathom that any intelligent Republican would support that. ificandream Jun 12 #25
Yes. The US no longer has any real allies - Trump has destroyed the relationships with every single one of them Wiz Imp Jun 12 #28
If they attempt this now Hornedfrog2000 Jun 13 #38
The unUnited states v The World BidenRocks Jun 12 #11
The Danes are saying: greatauntoftriplets Jun 12 #12
America cannot be trusted. Sucks but true. twodogsbarking Jun 12 #13
Trump's America is acting like Nazi Germany did. hadEnuf Jun 12 #14
This is what is terrifying the world... slightlv Jun 12 #15
It might end in a bunker at mar a lardo IronLionZion Jun 13 #36
"We look forward to working with Greenland to ensure that it is secured from any potential threats"... thesquanderer Jun 12 #16
Biggest potential threat?? Try ONLY potential threat. Wiz Imp Jun 12 #29
Sounds like putin talking about ukraine Hornedfrog2000 Jun 13 #39
This is an autonomous Country, an ally, Hegseth, not a liquor store or bar. Buddyzbuddy Jun 12 #17
"We need to conquer Greenland so we can defend against Russian aggression. Oh, wait.." Marcuse Jun 12 #18
Yeah the Inuets are the enemy. Give me a fucking break you fascist bastards... Evolve Dammit Jun 12 #19
Lebensraum! Kid Berwyn Jun 12 #20
No shit Einstein mahina Jun 12 #21
Just to review: LudwigPastorius Jun 12 #23
"A U.S.senator being roughed up and arrested for asking questions at a press conference" BumRushDaShow Jun 12 #24
Move fast and break things IronLionZion Jun 13 #37
This has to be a distraction sakabatou Jun 12 #26
The Pentagon is probably full of plans Hangingon Jun 12 #27
Thats not how "contingency plans" work SSJVegeta Jun 12 #31
Spoken like a true red blooded, patriotic, all American chronic day drinker prodigitalson Jun 12 #33
little man pete Godot51 Jun 13 #34
Define "necessary," Pete Lulu KC Jun 13 #40

Attilatheblond

(6,727 posts)
1. How the hell would it become necessary? Greenland is not threatening the US
Thu Jun 12, 2025, 04:51 PM
Jun 12

Hurting Trump's feelings and/or refusing to hand over their land/minerals to the Trump regime is not a threat.

The generals, even the one's trump put in charge, had better do a gut check and read up on illegal orders PRETTY DAMNED QUICK

groundloop

(13,149 posts)
5. And yet a crooked President, Vice President, and cronies convinced everyone otherwise.....
Thu Jun 12, 2025, 05:11 PM
Jun 12

It's all too easy to manipulate the country into a needless war.

Attilatheblond

(6,727 posts)
7. Yep, but W was pissed Saddam made an idle threat against GW so it was easy for Cheny to manipulate him into war
Thu Jun 12, 2025, 05:12 PM
Jun 12

And we all knew it, raised hell, and then watched as soldiers came home in boxes. We won't go there again. And I hope there are still some military brass with some courage.

Skittles

(166,124 posts)
30. what they're doing in LA isn't necessary
Thu Jun 12, 2025, 10:31 PM
Jun 12

it's a hallmark of fascism - making up the "reason"

Initech

(105,693 posts)
32. They're threatening stupid orange man baby's Fox News time though.
Thu Jun 12, 2025, 11:25 PM
Jun 12

Just like the Panama Canal is.

IronLionZion

(49,484 posts)
35. If defense contractors want money, and mining companies want their minerals
Fri Jun 13, 2025, 12:07 AM
Jun 13
and they buy Hegseth a round of shots at the bar and send out the plans over a signal chat.

generalbetrayus

(1,092 posts)
2. Actually, I read once that the military once upon a time had contingency plans for invading all kinds of countries,
Thu Jun 12, 2025, 04:52 PM
Jun 12

including Canada, going back to the 1920s or even earlier. The military could downsize significantly if it fired all the people who plan.

Shipwack

(2,781 posts)
41. 100% correct!
Fri Jun 13, 2025, 03:00 AM
Jun 13

There are probably plans for UFOs appearing and California sliding into the ocean. While some of the scenarios are unlikely, it gives good practice on planning and logistics.

Not that Hegseth isn’t a piece of shit, of course…

surfered

(8,031 posts)
4. Uh, does the Secretary of Defense know Greenland is a member of NATO and as such,
Thu Jun 12, 2025, 05:09 PM
Jun 12

Article V requires us to defend them if they are attacked?

Where does Trump find these people?

Attilatheblond

(6,727 posts)
9. Hogseth was pretty (to Trump) on TV. Other than that, he was pulled from the bottom of a bottle
Thu Jun 12, 2025, 05:13 PM
Jun 12

Karasu

(1,654 posts)
22. The fascists have no intention of staying in NATO and have done everything short of officially withdrawing at this
Thu Jun 12, 2025, 08:24 PM
Jun 12

point.

kimbutgar

(25,589 posts)
10. Something tells me if they attempt this it will lead to world war3 where we are the enemies that need to be
Thu Jun 12, 2025, 05:17 PM
Jun 12

Defeated. The military goes into Greenland and will be surrounded by several European nations, and Canada.

ificandream

(11,252 posts)
25. I can't fathom that any intelligent Republican would support that.
Thu Jun 12, 2025, 09:47 PM
Jun 12

"Now can you just show me an intelligent Republican," he says in his best Groucho voice.

Wiz Imp

(6,111 posts)
28. Yes. The US no longer has any real allies - Trump has destroyed the relationships with every single one of them
Thu Jun 12, 2025, 10:17 PM
Jun 12

Hornedfrog2000

(381 posts)
38. If they attempt this now
Fri Jun 13, 2025, 12:39 AM
Jun 13

It will lead to the end of trump. They are hoping to do it once the coup has clearly been completed.

BidenRocks

(1,858 posts)
11. The unUnited states v The World
Thu Jun 12, 2025, 05:20 PM
Jun 12

Like Russia v Ukraine, this country will get its ass kicked from without and within!
We have never fought alone and we didn't win WWII either. That was a World effort!
Chump!

greatauntoftriplets

(177,977 posts)
12. The Danes are saying:
Thu Jun 12, 2025, 05:23 PM
Jun 12

"Something is rotten in the state of the United States". Do these fools know that Iceland is part of NATO member Denmark?

slightlv

(6,140 posts)
15. This is what is terrifying the world...
Thu Jun 12, 2025, 06:05 PM
Jun 12

trump has become a new age Hitler, backed by Putin in Russia, and friendly with Xi in China and Un in N Korea. WE are the Axis of Evil, and if that doesn't blow your mind nothing will!

Hitler did enough damage with just the military people and equipment he had. And his weapons were excellent. But he was as demented as trump is right now. These people always push the envelope to the point where they end up in jail or dead... usually dead. But in the meantime, they cause untoward damage to their own countries as well as the countries they're fighting. Hitler, like Alexander the Great, wanted to rule the world. trump does, too. In fact, if you look at what he's done since we kicked him out of office (when he was running an illegal shadow government), and also his words, he makes it plainly obvious he considers himself ruler of the world right now. And the world better damn well do what he says. It's rapidly escalating now. In the US, California and Padilla are tipping points. The military is going to have to make a decision as to whether their oath is to the Constitution or to trump, and act accordingly. Up til now, we've had a "soft" coup... if the military doesn't make a constitutional stand we will have a military coup, just like other third world nations. At that point, all bets are off as to where the shooting starts. It WILL be Civil War. No military likes to fight two wars at one time. But our military may be fighting overseas AND in the U.S., too. Somebody with some power better decide that enough is enough and start deescalating trump, and with more than sternly worded memos! Ship him off to the nearest old folks home and strip P2025 from government. I'd say classify the RNC, the Judicial Watch, and the Heritage Foundation as enemy combatants, since what they're trying to do is in complete opposition to the Constitution and the principles this country was founded upon. Offer anyone who wants to leave flights to any dictator led country they desire. There, they can have their cake and eat it, too. The Dominionists I'd say drop off in the Middle East and allow them to live in a theocracy there. The rest of us in the U.S. can start mending fences and repairing our country. But that's just me.

thesquanderer

(12,689 posts)
16. "We look forward to working with Greenland to ensure that it is secured from any potential threats"...
Thu Jun 12, 2025, 07:00 PM
Jun 12

... an eyebrow-raising thing for him to say, when at the moment, their biggest potential threat appears to be us. Sounds like another example of, "Nice country ya' got there... it would be a shame if something happened to it."

mahina

(19,922 posts)
21. No shit Einstein
Thu Jun 12, 2025, 08:04 PM
Jun 12

Jaysus this man.

They have plans to invade Russia too. They have plans for every possible situation.

That doesn’t mean they’re gonna do any of it. Did he just find this out? Seriously.

LudwigPastorius

(12,974 posts)
23. Just to review:
Thu Jun 12, 2025, 09:38 PM
Jun 12

We’re only 5 months into Trump’s term and we’ve got:

Marines deployed in the 2nd largest city in the country, with the Homeland Security secretary threatening to remove its mayor and the state’s governor

ICE kidnapping people off the streets, including the occasional legal citizen

A U.S.senator being roughed up and arrested for asking questions at a press conference

And, acknowledgment that the military has a plan in place for an invasion of a NATO ally

So, much for a long, slow slide into fascism.

BumRushDaShow

(156,933 posts)
24. "A U.S.senator being roughed up and arrested for asking questions at a press conference"
Thu Jun 12, 2025, 09:45 PM
Jun 12

That U.S. Senator also represents California along with Adam Schiff!

Hangingon

(3,088 posts)
27. The Pentagon is probably full of plans
Thu Jun 12, 2025, 10:13 PM
Jun 12

We probably have plans for every country. Does not mean we will.

prodigitalson

(3,126 posts)
33. Spoken like a true red blooded, patriotic, all American chronic day drinker
Thu Jun 12, 2025, 11:44 PM
Jun 12

a real star spangled ass grabber with a divorce attorney on retainer who can quit anytime, but gets wall punching mad at the mildest suggestion that he do so.

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