It’s getting crazy out there. And it looks like it’s only going to get worse before it gets better.
And now a US General suffered an ambush at the hand of this Democrat.
Gillibrand’s Pushback Highlights Partisan Divide on Military Policy
During a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on March 12, 2026, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) pressed U.S. Air Force Gen. Alexus G. Grynkewich, commander of U.S. European Command, in an effort to contrast his commitment to civilian harm mitigation with policies implemented by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.
The exchange underscored Democratic attempts to question Republican-led approaches to the ongoing conflict in Iran, even as the general firmly defended the military’s unchanged practices.
Gillibrand Questions Hegseth’s Impact on Civilian Protection
Gillibrand focused on Hegseth’s past criticism of rules of engagement tied to laws of armed conflict and civilian harm mitigation, as well as his reported 90% cut to the Civilian Protection Center of Excellence’s workforce in 2025.
She stated: “Secretary Hegseth has criticized rules of engagement designed to adhere to the laws of armed conflict and support civilian harm mitigation.”
She added that the center’s mission was “to help you and to help protect against civilian casualties,” expressing “high concern” that Hegseth “does not agree” with Grynkewich’s priorities.
Gillibrand linked these changes to a U.S. strike during Operation Epic Fury that reportedly hit an all-girls school in Iran, killing nearly 200 people, despite the target being near an Iranian naval base she described as appropriate.
She asked how the military “chose a target that turned out to be a school” and how Hegseth’s changes affected EUCOM’s mission, judgment, and responsibility.
Grynkewich Reaffirms Military Commitment to Avoiding Civilian Harm
Gen. Grynkewich responded that Hegseth’s policies have had no effect on his ability to prevent civilian harm, emphasizing: “Senator, they have not affected my ability to prevent civilian harm in any way… It’s embedded in the targeting process, it’s embedded in the culture of U.S. European Command and, I would say, in the culture of the U.S. military to try to avoid that civilian harm.”
He continued: “So, we’re continuing to do the things that we have always done to comply with the law of armed conflict and ensure that we mitigate that risk.”
On the Iran strike, Grynkewich declined to speculate, saying: “There’s usually a chain of errors or mistakes that happen similar to an aviation accident or some other transportation accident,” and added: “I would hesitate to speculate on the situation… And I would say we just need to let the investigation play out and find all those factors.”
The hearing reflects broader tensions, with Democrats like Gillibrand amplifying concerns over precision and civilian safety in the Iran conflict, while Republican-backed leadership under Hegseth prioritizes decisive action to achieve victory without what he has called “stupid rules of engagement.”
