Key Takeaways:
– Donald Trump condemned for criticism of military’s focus on diversity.
– Trump blames this focus for the military’s failure to establish a stable democracy in Afghanistan.
– His nomination for head of Department of Defense, Pete Hegseth, facing controversy over past sexual assault allegations.
– Conservative commentator, Max Boot believes Trump’s criticism has no merit and misdirects blame.
– He reiterated that diversity training is crucial for a military consisting of women and various ethnic minorities.
– Current military recruitment crisis linked to young people seeing the military as a perilous career, not because of diversity.
– Trump’s future plan to deploy military for mass deportations seen as a greater threat to military readiness.
Trump’s ‘Woke’ Military Viewpoint
Former President, Donald Trump, recently launched a critical assault on the United States military. He argued that the military’s growing ‘wokeness’ and focus on diversity have led to their failure in establishing a stable democracy in Afghanistan. This goes hand in hand with the nomination of Pete Hegseth, a Fox News personality known for his disapproval of women serving in combat roles, to lead the Department of Defense. This nomination is under scrutiny following the disclosure of a sexual assault allegation against Hegseth.
Public Sentiment
While some sections of the public might agree with Trump, due to disillusionment from the costly outcomes of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, conservative commentator Max Boot argues that these criticisms lack substance. He emphasized that politicians tasked the military with transforming Afghanistan and Iraq into Western-style democracies, a considerable challenge given Washington’s limited engagement with both nations.
Leadership Quality
Trump’s claim has extended to current military leadership, which he dubs weak. To this, Boot responded by comparing them to the likes of Gens. George S. Patton and Douglas MacArthur, whom Trump seems to admire. Boot stated that leaders like Gen. David H. Petraeus, Gen. Jim Mattis, the late Gen. Ray Odierno, amongst others, are equal to any group of generals and admirals in U.S. history.
Role of Diversity
Diversity in the military has incited numerous discussions, but Boot emphasizes the essential role it plays. He affirmed that diversity training is critical for a diverse force and young recruits of various ethnicities and genders. Making the military a welcoming field for all is crucial, not just white males, he added.
Recruitment Crisis
The military is currently grappling with a recruitment challenge. Boot noted that the root cause is young people increasingly viewing the military as an undesirable career path due to apparent perils. This issue bears no relation to the military’s concentration on diversity.
A Real Threat
In conclusion, Boot highlighted a ‘far bigger threat’ that could undermine America’s military preparedness – Trump’s future plan to deploy troops in large-scale deportations and remove any objecting generals. This plan, according to Boot, is a distraction from the military’s critical task of preparing to confront potential threats from China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, and others.