Richard Haass: Trump Literally Accurate To Say He “Decimated” Iranian Military–Destroyed “About Ten Percent!”
Former CFR chief Richard Haass enjoyed noticing that when President Trump says he “decimated” the Iranian military, he is about correct using the ancient Latin definition of the word. “You know, the word ‘decimated’ is often misused. It actually applies here. We’ve destroyed about 10%, and 90% survived,” he told MS NOW’s “Morning Joe” on Wednesday.
WILLIE GEIST, MSNBC: Richard, can I ask you about this intel assessment that we’ve been talking about this morning, which Joe, talking to his sources, has been hearing for many weeks, others of us as well? The public message that we’re getting from the Department of Defense, from Secretary Hegseth, and even from General Caine, is that the United States has completely decimated the Iranian conventional military capability, taken out its missile sites, sunk the navy. It’s at the bottom of the ocean. We hear that again and again and again. And this new reporting shows that U.S. intelligence says Iran retains substantial missile capabilities, about 90% of its underground missile storage launch facilities across the country, on and on and on. Does that line up with what you’re hearing? RICHARD HAASS: Well, absolutely. Forgive me, Willie. You know, the word decimated is often misused. It actually applies here. We’ve destroyed about 10%, and 90% survived. Drones, really, no matter what you can destroy – every basement is a drone factory that you just regenerate. So the idea that we have achieved, or the Israelis or the United States have achieved, a decisive, lasting military advantage here is going out the window.
