I have absolutely no intention of trying to document an appreciable fraction of the amateur hour theatrics of the arrogant twerps currently in power, but an occasional, instructive example will help me blow off steam. Here’s The New York Times reporting on one instance:
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday defended his decisions to fire or sideline nearly 30 generals and admirals over the past year with little explanation by falsely comparing his record to that of President Barack Obama.
“I would also note that under Barack Obama, 197 general officers were removed,” Mr. Hegseth said in testimony before the House Armed Services Committee. “So this is not something specific to this administration.”
The number Mr. Hegseth gave has no basis in fact. It originated with an unsigned 2018 editorial in Investor’s Business Daily, which cites the right-wing news site “Breitbart.com’s Facebook page” as its source.
Mr. Hegseth’s actions to fire senior military leaders are without precedent in recent decades and have come with little explanation. On Wednesday, lawmakers pressed him to justify his decisions, including his move this month to remove Gen. Randy A. George, the Army chief of staff.
Seems slightly out of focus? Such is the world on some days.
Sourcing from editorials, signed or unsigned, is pure amateur hour; of course, it does provide cover for a SecDef whose actions, while his privilege, may have little defense among adults. They can be read as contemptuous of current command due to adherence to Geneva Convention rules, or sexism, or even racism.
Of course, the more institutional memory and good examples are eliminated, the less effective of a military. Any American, vet or not, should find the the erratic and undefended actions of Hegseth disturbing and worth questioning closely.
