Trump defends Iran war in Veterans Day address

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump used a U.S. Veterans Day commemoration Wednesday to defend the war against Iran — an increasingly unpopular conflict that helped trigger a Democratic takeover of Congress in last week's midterm elections. "The bravery and skill of our amazing American warriors has absolutely been incredible," Trump said in an address at Arlington National Cemetery just outside Washington. "When this conflict is over, and it will be soon, the entire world will be a much safer and better place, more peaceful place, and a place without the kind of danger that we had to suffer." The war, which began on February 28 with U.S. and Israeli strikes against Iran, has so far cost the lives of 23 U.S. service members and wounded several hundred more, according to the latest Pentagon figures. Trump said in his remarks that the conflict was started not by Washington but by Tehran, which "has been waging war on America since 1979." He stressed that U.S. forces were acting in order to halt Iran's capacity to build a nuclear weapon. During his speech before troops, veterans and top