In Senate Armed Services Committee Hearing, Shaheen Grills Under Secretary Colby on Past Comments Arguing Against Strikes on Iran

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH),a senior member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee,today questioned Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on theNational Defense Strategy. During the hearing, Shaheen raised past comments the Under Secretary made that are in direct opposition to the Trump Administration’s current actions in the Middle East in an article entitled “Why Not to Attack Iran” on how striking Iran is not in the United States’ interest and leaves Tehran “every incentive to reboot the program with greater vigor.”
Citing comments Under Secretary Colby wrote in 2012 that putting boots on the ground in Iran would “likely prove protracted and costly,” Shaheen pressed Colby on whether he agrees with Secretary Hegseth and President Trump leaving the door open to deploying the U.S. military.
Under Secretary Colby refused to either repudiate his past comments or endorse the President’s position on Iran under repeated questioning by Senator Shaheen.
ClickHEREto watch the Shaheen’s full remarks and questions.
Key Quotes from Shaheen’s Questions:
In January, Shaheen criticized the Pentagon’s2026 National Defense Strategyfor failing to take China seriously as the pacing challenge to our nation, noting how the document marks a staunch departure from past National Defense Strategies under Presidents Trump and Biden that identified the national security challenges posed by China.
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