In a prelude to the surprise military strike in Iran, U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth visited L3 Technologies workers in Arkansas on Friday (Feb. 27) to thank the rocket manufacturer’s workers for their products for the armed forces.

“What you build right here in Camden is absolutely central to the 21st century arsenal of freedom. You are the patriots ensuring that our warriors are never in a fair fight,” said Hegseth in reference to the rocket motors made at L3’s operations at Highland Industrial Park in East Camden.

Introduced by Gov. Sarah Sanders, Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., and U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman, R-Hot Springs, Hegseth told employees that their work was important to U.S. military and manufacturing strength.

“You’re not building a standard missile. It’s decisive,” said Hegseth. “I hear you’re called ‘rocket motor artisans.’ You are the proof that the promise of globalism is a lie. Each day you prove that when this nation unleashes industry, when we at last unleash the raw and competitive patriotic spirit, America always wins.  When we compete, we win. When we innovate, we win. When we go fast, we win.”

The products made at L3 were used in the U.S.-Israel attacks on Iran that occurred overnight on Friday. Called Operation Epic Fury, the bombings in Iran were aimed at taking out potential nuclear capabilities and Iranian leadership. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in the attacks.

“The era of weakness and the era of wokeness is over,” added Hegseth with no direct reference to the impending operation. “Our enemies have learned a hard lesson… if you challenge the United States of America, you will pay a high price.”

Hegseth has been on his Arsenal of Freedom tour promoting changes at the Pentagon. At the event, Gov. Sanders bragged on the production at L3 noting that last year it produced 115,000 solid rocket motors and hired 500 new workers. L3 Technologies and General Dynamics are expanding at Highland Industrial Park.

“I think we’ll take a couple of strong words and mean tweets if it means world peace,” she said in defense of President Donald Trump. “What a lot of people get wrong, is they think that peace comes from being nice, and it would be great if that were the case. But peace truly comes through strength.”

“The work you do is what keeps our troops safe around the world every day and every night. Tens of thousands of troops in the Middle East, in Europe, and East Asia are on the front lines of freedom. They’re able to defend themselves and to defend our nation because of the work you do right here in south Arkansas,” said Sen. Cotton.

Rep. Westerman, whose Fourth Congressional District includes the defense and aerospace industrial park, said, “One of my favorite sayings is ‘Arkansas has what America needs.’ And you’re showing America every day exactly what Arkansas has.”

Hegseth, who was well-received by the crowd of L3 workers, added, “What I hear from companies across the country is what a great workforce there is in Camden and south Arkansas… without what you do here, we couldn’t be successful on the battlefield, we couldn’t project that strength that’s so important – we’re seeing it in the world today – but the strength and the might of the military is what brings peace to regions.”