Trump’s defense choice stuns the Pentagon and raises questions about the Fox News host’s experience

[JosephZ]

You're confusing two different things. Part of the national security advisor's job will be to advise Hegseth, not the other way around. So you can relax.

I'm not confused.

 

[durangodawood]

Yes. Thats the constitutions way of saying the military is ultimately under civilian control.

It doesnt mean the pres needs field commander competence, any more than the US Treasury will fall apart if the pres isnt a banker. Experienced secretaries bring the necessary expertise.

I hold a lot of things against Trumps suitability for office. His lack of military service is not one of them.

People go real quiet about this "military man commander in chief!" thing when they recall Donald Trump has no experience serving in the military.

 

[Chesterton]

I'm not confused.

But are you relaxed? You should relax. It's going to be a beautiful four years.

 

[Oompa Loompa]

I love it because I love the reaction from the liberals.

Fox News hosts are being promoted to high ranking cabinet positions while CNN and MSNBC hosts are getting fired or quiting. These are interesting times.

 

[Oompa Loompa]

Yes, we know that's what it's all about. That's all that matters to the sychophants. Couldn't raise enough money to buy Greenland and form your own conservative Utopia, so just decided to destroy the country for everyone else.

Reap what you sow.

The United States was a conservative utopia. Perhaps Greenland can be the next Communist/Socialist experiment to prove it works...for once.

 

[rjs330]

He was a senator. But I do see the President more as the leader in terms of representing the country's values. Then at the level below, the pres brings on real experts to manage the various agencies and organizations.

Seriously? For how long? What experience did he really have to run an entire country?

At least this guy has many more years in the military over Obama's lack of running anything.

 

[ozso]

 

[rjs330]

I am getting the distinct impression that the left will hate just about any choice Trump makes for any position.

I don't know that every choice he makes will get ratified, I'd actually be surprised if they were. Just because at this point we are seeing a lot of obvious choices.

But we are seeing people who will.support Trump and not actively work against him. Something that is really needed this time around. So I have a feeling this is going to be an interesting time.

 

[rjs330]

Okay now I see why the left hates this pick. He is totally against rhe DEI military and social engineering of it. He is going to end all the DEI stuff. That is why they are really so upset. Anyone that opposes this stuff is going to be the enemy. It makes perfect sense now.

 

[RocksInMyHead]

I am getting the distinct impression that the left will hate just about any choice Trump makes for any position.

I don't have any issues with Rubio at State. I don't like the guy, but he's qualified. Noem at Homeland is whatever. Stefanik is fine for UN ambassador. His CoS helped him run an effective campaign, so she can obviously do the job.

 

[RocksInMyHead]

Okay now I see why the left hates this pick. He is totally against rhe DEI military and social engineering of it. He is going to end all the DEI stuff. That is why they are really so upset. Anyone that opposes this stuff is going to be the enemy. It makes perfect sense now.

Sure. Or it could be the fact that he's a news personality with no management or foreign policy experience.

ETA: I expect any nominees that Trump puts forward to support his agenda, so complaining about them doing so is pointless. I'd rather save my breath and energy for opposing the ones that I think are genuinely unqualified or represent actual threats to the country.

 

[RDKirk]

He's the Commander in Chief. Isn't that what they're supposed to do?

Not necessarily. The military oath of loyalty is to the Constitution, not the president.

 

[ozso]

I am getting the distinct impression that the left will hate just about any choice Trump makes for any position.

It's inevitable. They've been convinced to automatically view anything and everything as being wrong, stupid, fascist, racist, against the constitution, against democracy, putting together a dictatorship etc.

 

[RocksInMyHead]

It's inevitable. They've been convinced to automatically view anything and everything as being wrong, stupid, fascist, racist, against the constitution, against democracy, putting together a dictatorship etc.

I always find it amusing when people pretend they know more about my thoughts than I do.

 

[Arcangl86]

Honestly, I don't care about a lack of high level military experience. Honestly I would prefer the SECDEF to have little to no experience in the military, because I feel that strengthens the principle of civilian control of the military. But I'm concerned about the fact that he doesn't appear to have any high level administrative or policy experience, in private, non-profit or government sector. The DoD is one of the largest and most complex organizations on the planet, and expecting somebody who has never served in an executive position at all anywhere to successfully run it is is foolish.

 

[RDKirk]

Sorry

• an average soldier does not rise from infantryman to major

He was commissioned as an officer from the start, was never an enlisted man. "Infantryman" describes anyone assigned to the infantry, whether enlisted or officer.

• an average soldier does not serve 21 years and is still actively serving as an Army Officer

He was in the National Guard, and it frequently takes as much as 30 years in the Guard for to accrue twenty "good years" to reach military retirement.

• and average Soldier does not receive two Bronze Stars
  • The Bronze Star Medal is awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through heroism, meritorious service, or outstanding achievement while serving in a combat theater

The average officer or senior NCO, if he is in a genuine combat role, is typically awarded a Bronze Star. A Silver Star, however, would be very impressive.

• an average soldier does not receive two Army Commendation medals
  • he Army Commendation Medal (ARCOM) is a mid-level award given to members of the United States Armed Forces for meritorious service or acts of heroism:

A senior NCO or officer who can't merit a Commendation medal, particularly if he has deployed, has been deliberately disrespected by his commander. Personally, I've got two Air Force commendation medals and two Department of Defense (higher level) commendation medals. I'd have considered it an offense if I had not been awarded them.

• an average soldier does not hold degrees from Princeton and Harvard

True, the average soldier has not been through two Ivy League colleges, but it's not unusual for a major to have both bachelor's and master's degrees...particularly a Guardsman or Reservist.

• an average soldier does not rise to a senior counterinsurgency instructor at the Counterinsurgency Training Center in Kabul.

It's not unusual for a soldier, by the time he makes major, to have, to have served in some impressive-sounding training position. You realize they had more than one "senior counterinsurgency instructor" at the training center, and there is more than one such training center...right? Come to think of it, that job would actually get him out of real patrol duty.

 

[RDKirk]

It's true that the Army is fairly liberal when it comes to giving Bronze Stars to commissioned officers that serve in combat zones or in support units. If you ask other veterans, they will tell you the same.

Aaaaaand...so I did.

 

[rjs330]

Sure. Or it could be the fact that he's a news personality with no management or foreign policy experience.

ETA: I expect any nominees that Trump puts forward to support his agenda, so complaining about them doing so is pointless. I'd rather save my breath and energy for opposing the ones that I think are genuinely unqualified or represent actual threats to the country.

Are you seriously saying a Major in the military who's been in combat zones has no management experience?

 

[BPPLEE]

Yes, we know that's what it's all about. That's all that matters to the sychophants. Couldn't raise enough money to buy Greenland and form your own conservative Utopia, so just decided to destroy the country for everyone else.

Reap what you sow.

Do you have any idea about the man’s experience or where he went to college?

 

[Hammster]

Not necessarily. The military oath of loyalty is to the Constitution, not the president.

So can a soldier disobey an order and say that they are only required to be loyal to the Constitution?