‘Is this a joke?’: Centcom podcast mocked as Iran war drags on

US Central Command (Centcom) has launched a podcast as the US-Israeli war on Iran continues into its ninth month, drawing widespread criticism online. The debut episode features Centcom chief Admiral Brad Cooper and Fleet Master Chief Lateef Compton discussing military service and joking about French fries, while addressing the war only briefly.

The episode runs for 12 minutes, and Centcom disabled comments on YouTube. Critics pointed to its light tone and Cooper’s failure to discuss the 28 February strike on a primary school in Minab; Amnesty International said 156 people, including 120 children, were killed and that the US failed to take required precautions. The Pentagon estimates the war has cost $47.1 billion, while Brown University estimates US consumers have paid more than $153 billion in additional fuel costs.