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In Pentagon briefings, Hegseth leans into religious rhetoric

NPR | By Odette Yousef,

Quil Lawrence

Published March 31, 2026 at 3:24 PM MDT

Justification for starting a war with Iran have been inconsistent and sometimes contradictory from U.S. officials, but the language has also been different than in wars past.

Odette Yousef

Odette Yousef is a National Security correspondent focusing on extremism.

Quil Lawrence

Quil Lawrence is a New York-based correspondent for NPR News, covering veterans' issues nationwide. He won a Robert F. Kennedy Award for his coverage of American veterans and a Gracie Award for coverage of female combat veterans. In 2019 Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America honored Quil with its IAVA Salutes Award for Leadership in Journalism.

See stories by Quil Lawrence

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