The views of Higseth may contradict the reality in the Ministry of Defense
Beit Higseth, the new defense minister, pledged to return the “warrior of the warrior” to the US military, which is believed to have weakened because of its diversity.
It may face his point of view that the army has reduced its criteria for welcoming women and ethnic minorities resistance when the Pentagon, who sees a diversity of an advantage and is trying to build a force that reflects America.
Mr. Higseth said the criteria “decreased” when women started service in combat sites. But it will be met by more than 10,000 women who are currently occupying combat roles, from artillery and pedestrian sites to combat engineers and even a few green hats and the Rangers army.
He pledged to “address the crisis of recruitment, retaining and preparing in our ranks” and “re -” killing “to the Pentagon. But the army focused on these issues for years.
“The entire Ministry of Defense will be ready to focus on killing when he enters from this section, and you will not fight him on that,” said Peter Feiver, a professor of political science at Duke University who studied military affairs for decades. In an interview.
Mr. Higseth, a veterans in the army and a former Fox News host, threw right -wing dialogue points in his criticism of the army in his appearance on podcast and in his book “War on Warriors”.
He wrote in his book: “The positions of positive action have increased significantly, as the” first “became the most important factor in filling the new leaders,” criticizing the army because it is very “awake”. “We will not stop until black gay women are running everything.”
But in the context of its goal of reshaping the army, which includes three million employees, 44 -year -old Higsith faces a tremendous challenge. The Foundation, which is worth $ 849 billion, includes 1.3 million members in active service and 750 military rulers around the world. Colorful people make up about 43 percent of the workforce.
“He may quickly discover that in order to keep the high competencies of the people he wants, he will have to communicate with women,” said Mr. Vivar. “He may find that some of his best men are women and black men.”
In a letter to the Ministry of Defense on Saturday, Mr. Higseth has set his main priorities. In addition to reviving the “warrior spirit”, he stressed the strengthening of the country’s industrial base and simplifying the exhausting military operations to buy new weapons.
He also said that the Pentagon “will restore deterrence by defending our country” and working with the allies to counter the increasing military threat from China.
In the Senate’s hearing, Mr. Higseth admitted that he had never been able to manage more than a few hundred people at one time. But he considered his unconventional background – where his ancestors were generals, legislators or former government officials – a advantage in President Trump’s campaign to change the institution.
Mr. Higseth also explained that he believed that the electoral complex of Mr. Trump and his victory in the popular vote gives the president a mandate to implement his agenda. Indeed, even before the Senate voted on Friday night by agreeing to the nomination of Mr. Higseth, the Pentagon announced that it would send 1500 Marines and the army in active service to the southwestern border to help thwart the entry of migrants into the country, one of Mr. Trump’s main policies. Goals.
Higseth was approved by a majority of 51 votes to 50, which is the least margin to confirm the position of defense minister since the establishment of the position in 1947, according to the Senate records. Vice President JD Verse had to make a loud voice after three Republicans joined all Democrats to vote without.
One of these Republicans, Senator Mitch McConnell of the state of Kentucky, pointed to Mr. Higseth’s lack of strategic visions as one of the reasons for his opposition to him. “The Master. McConnell said:” Higseth has not made any fundamental notes on how to defend Taiwan or the Philippines against any Chinese attack, or even if he believed the United States should do so. ” statement Friday. In this regard, he failed to formulate a strategic vision in any detail. ”
Mr. McConnell also took a bleak view of the claim that Mr. Higsith would return the “warrior culture” to the armed forces. He said: “Restore” warrior culture “will not come by swaping a group of culture warriors with another.
Most defense ministers, with the exception of Chuck Hagel, succeeded in 2013, to vote for their installation. The appointment of the Minister of Defense of President Joseph R. Biden Junior, Lloyd J. Austin III, with a majority of 93 votes to two votes. The Senate voted by a 98th majority to 1 to confirm the appointment of Jim Mattis, the first Pentagon president during the Trump era, and a 90th majority to 8 for his successor, Mark T -Esber.
Traditionally, both parties adopt the belief that the military establishment should be non -partisan. Military leaders usually appoint defense ministers who have the ability to obtain support from Democrats and Republicans at the time of the Pentagon budget, as well as from the public.
But for 30 minutes on Friday night, after all Senate members voted, the Higseth confirmation rate was 50 votes compared to 50 votes, a blatant show of the non -political demise of the army.
Many Democrats who voted against him insist that it is inappropriate for the duty.
Senator Jacques Red of Rod Island, the largest democratic member of the Armed Forces Committee, said that he was not affected by Mr. Higseth’s testimony in his appointment session, which focused on sexual assault allegations, accusations of alcohol abuse and mismanagement.
“He lacks the required personality, competence and commitment to carry out this task,” said Mr. Reed after the hearing. “In fact, he is the least qualified candidate for the position of Minister of Defense in modern history.”
Mr. Higseth denied the charge of sexual assault, saying that the meeting was by mutual consent, and he was never accused of a crime. He described the accusations against him as “unknown defamation.”
Mr. Higseth’s statements had already had a terrible impact on the highest military ranks in the army.
In a confirmation session of his appointment, he pledged that “every senior officer will be reviewed on the basis of merit, standards and the ability to kill and adhere to the legal orders that will be issued to him,” which opens the door for a campaign of political cleansing of generals and admirals.
The first to fall under Trump was the Coast Guard leader, Admiral Linda L. Vagan, the first leader in the uniform of a branch of the armed forces. Among the reasons for its dismissal was “the excessive focus on diversity, equality and inclusion,” according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Internal Security.
A military official said that the Admiral was informed the evening of the inauguration of President Trump that she was expelled, while she was waiting for a photo with Trump at the leader of the Commander in Chief.
Some of the most powerful supporters of Mr. Higseth in Congress have been warned against chasing witches in the upper ranks that could lead to a decrease in morale.
“There was a lot of talk about the dismissal of the awake generals.” “I would like to say, give these men and women a chance under a new leadership.”
Republican leaders adopted the view of Mr. Higseth while they were chanting to confirm it. “Peace be through the power during the era of President Trump and Beit Higseth,” Senator Roger Wekir, Republican of the Mississippi State and Chairman of the Armed Forces Committee, said in a statement after the vote.
Mr. Fifer, a professor at Duke University, suggested that Mr. Higseth find an army who did not escape from the cases of killing, recruitment and preparation, the most prominent of which is.
In fact, General Charles Brown Junior, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, gave priority for these issues for years. Mr. Higseth suggested the dismissal of General Brown, a four -star fighter pilot with decades -long military experience.
General Brown, known as CQ, was the head of the Air Force Staff before he became president, and he talked about the deadly ability and preparedness in a video recruitment in 2021. Americans wear seat belts in warplanes. “You do not know who I am, whether you are an American of African origin, an Asian American, or of Spanish origin, white, male or female.”
“You know that I am an American pilot, and I kick your ass.” “I am General C. Kyu Brown Junior, come and join us.”