Trump to nominate fox news host as secretary of defense

[leetp]

It doesn’t matter if he bleeds red, white and blue. He is unfit for the job of SecDef. His military career, it appears, lasted about 13 years where he was a “one weekend a month” Army National Guardsman with three stints called up on active duty.

His roles while on active duty have not prepared him to be SecDef…GITMO, counterinsurgency instructor and something else.

He is a very bad choice.

There is plenty of legit criticism for this nomination, but no need to diminish the man's service.

He earned two Bronze Stars and a Combat Infantry Badge.

About the Combat Infantry Badge:
The Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB) is a prestigious award given by the United States Army to infantrymen and Special Forces soldiers who have actively engaged in ground combat while under hostile fire. To be eligible for the CIB, soldiers must:

1. Be an infantryman satisfactorily performing infantry duties.
2. Be assigned to an infantry unit during active ground combat.
3. Actively participate in such ground combat.

You can't just sit inside the wire and earn a CIB.

As for Bronze Stars, most of these are well earned; but unfortunately, I have seen firsthand where a few these were doled out largely unearned. I guess I need to read his citation to get more info, but given that he also got the CIB, I'm inclined to believe these two stars are legit.

 

[leetp]

That is my real concern. Flag officers and senior executives get fired or leave because they don’t like Trump’s policies and the SecDef nominees execution of those policies. Gut the leadership and you do put U.S. national security at risk.

Our Flag Officer Coprs leaves a lot to be desired...something I have been harping on long before Trump got into politics. Generally--no pun intended--I would like to see a solid Paton-esque general get the nomination, but I am not sure there is one.

 

[tigermg83]

But what are his actual qualifications for the job?

What was Pete Buttigieg qualifications for secretary of transportation?

 

[leetp]

What was Pete Buttigieg qualifications for secretary of transportation?

Elections at every level are popularity contests. Congress itself is a collection of some of the most grossly underqualified people in America. I'm sure you are familiar with the axiom: Those who can, do. Those who can't, get elected.

I guess one hopes they make up for this critical shortcoming by making quality appointments, but why start now?

 

[ANEW]

There is plenty of legit criticism for this nomination, but no need to diminish the man's service.

He earned two Bronze Stars and a Combat Infantry Badge.

About the Combat Infantry Badge:
The Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB) is a prestigious award given by the United States Army to infantrymen and Special Forces soldiers who have actively engaged in ground combat while under hostile fire. To be eligible for the CIB, soldiers must:

1. Be an infantryman satisfactorily performing infantry duties.
2. Be assigned to an infantry unit during active ground combat.
3. Actively participate in such ground combat.

You can just sit inside the wire and earn a CIB.

As for Bronze Stars, most of these are well earned; but unfortunately, I have seen firsthand where a few these were doled out largely unearned. I guess I need to read his citation to get more info, but given that he also got the CIB, I'm inclined to believe these two stars are legit.

CIB is awared to those holding Infantry (11 series) and Special Forces (18 series) Military Occupational Specialties.. Within Special Forces that alo includes medics because they hold and 18 series MOS and are classified as combatants. Since the GWOT, the Army created the CAB (Combat Action Badge) for non-Infantry , non-SF personnel. The definition of "Active Participation" has changed since the CIB was first awarded during WWII which is expected because the nature of conflicts haved changed. Policies for issuance are defined on a conflict by conflict basis within that general framework.

The Bronze Star medal is awarded for Valor OR Meritorious Achievement within a designated combat zone or for actions involving conflict with an opposiing force not involving aerial flight. The corresponding award for meritorious achievement or service NOT in a combat zone is the Meriorious Service Medal (MSM). Bronze stars awarded for Valor are signified with a small "V" device pinned to the ribbon for each time awarded for valor (up to 4 ithink, and then you go to a gold "V' to signify the 5th award for valor). So the bronze star can be for heroic actions or it could be a "you did a really good job doing your thing" (whatever that thing may be) in a combat zone.

 

[dbjork6317]

What was Pete Buttigieg qualifications for secretary of transportation?

That’s a fair question and critique of the Biden administration. There were other positions he was probably more qualified for given his military background. But had experience as an elected official and working within a bureaucracy and had a clear working knowledge of governmental processes.

I’d also argue that sec of transportation has far less global impact than sec of defense and therefore has a lower threshold for qualification.

Now. What are Hegseth’s qualifications to lead the most powerful military in the history of the known universe?

 

[TheValley91]

That’s a fair question and critique of the Biden administration. There were other positions he was probably more qualified for given his military background. But had experience as an elected official and working within a bureaucracy and had a clear working knowledge of governmental processes.

I’d also argue that sec of transportation has far less global impact than sec of defense and therefore has a lower threshold for qualification.

Now. What are Hegseth’s qualifications to lead the most powerful military in the history of the known universe?

Get out of here with these reasonable thoughts and questions!

 

[leetp]

CIB is awared to those holding Infantry (11 series) and Special Forces (18 series) Military Occupational Specialties.. Within Special Forces that alo includes medics because they hold and 18 series MOS and are classified as combatants. Since the GWOT, the Army created the CAB (Combat Action Badge) for non-Infantry , non-SF personnel. The definition of "Active Participation" has changed since the CIB was first awarded during WWII which is expected because the nature of conflicts haved changed. Policies for issuance are defined on a conflict by conflict basis within that general framework.

The Bronze Star medal is awarded for Valor OR Meritorious Achievement within a designated combat zone or for actions involving conflict with an opposiing force not involving aerial flight. The corresponding award for meritorious achievement or service NOT in a combat zone is the Meriorious Service Medal (MSM). Bronze stars awarded for Valor are signified with a small "V" device pinned to the ribbon for each time awarded for valor (up to 4 ithink, and then you go to a gold "V' to signify the 5th award for valor). So the bronze star can be for heroic actions or it could be a "you did a really good job doing your thing" (whatever that thing may be) in a combat zone.

My post above should have read "you CAN'T just sit inside the wire and earn a CIB".... I left the apostrophe-t off the end of 'can'--which totally changes the meaning of what I meant to say.

WRT to the Bronze Star...I suppose that is what I was getting at. You offered a much more complete explanation. That can be a really impressive award, or just a solid "you did a good job in war zone" award.

 

[ANEW]

My post above should have read "you CAN'T just sit inside the wire and earn a CIB".... I left the apostrophe-t off the end of 'can'--which totally changes the meaning of what I meant to say.

WRT to the Bronze Star...I suppose that is what I was getting at. You offered a number more complete explanation. That can be a really impressive award, or just a solid "you did a good job in war zone" award.

NO you can't for the CIB for sure. Bronze Star, yes you can. The Army changed the letter of the regulations sometime during the GWOT that allowed MSMs to be given out in a combat zone just like Army Commendation Medals (ARCOM) which could be awarded for service or with a V device for acts fo heroism . Allowing MSM in a combat zone was done because of the large number of people rotating in and out fo the combat zones and getting Bronze Stars for meritorious service oftentime with little personal risk. Then still later the Army Authorized a "C" device to denote that the award of the MSM or the ARCOM was for service in a combat zone as opposed to Fort Wherever, USA. So insummary... .ARCOMs or MSMs with "C" for service in a combat zone (not sure if the "c" device was retroactive). Bronze Stars can also be for service in combat zone. ARCOM w/ "V" and Bronze Star Medal (BSM) w/ "V" for valor. (AR-600-8-22 is the regulation if anyone really cares that much).

 

[TigerGrowls]

It doesn’t matter if he bleeds red, white and blue. He is unfit for the job of SecDef. His military career, it appears, lasted about 13 years where he was a “one weekend a month” Army National Guardsman with three stints called up on active duty.

His roles while on active duty have not prepared him to be SecDef…GITMO, counterinsurgency instructor and something else.

He is a very bad choice.

Your opinion which is fine. I'm all in with Pete.

 

[TigerGrowls]

That is my real concern. Flag officers and senior executives get fired or leave because they don’t like Trump’s policies and the SecDef nominees execution of those policies. Gut the leadership and you do put U.S. national security at risk.

You are describing what Obama actually did. Trump needs to get rid of the faction of losers that Obama wedged into military leadership and replace them with the right personnel.

 

[TigerGrowls]

Obama's Military Coup Purges 197 Officers In Five Years

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.investors.com/politics/editorials/197-military-officers-purged-by-obama/&ved=2ahUKEwj30d_Z_NyJAxVIRzABHcNQJ8gQFnoECBkQAQ&usg=AOvVaw3dW_ngBokn61_73YLG32cH

 

[DW4_2016]

Pop the grenades and charge! I like it!

Another reason I (retired military) like Donald Trump because many of the senior officers that I have disdain for don't like him.

It's also one reason I do like this nomination...those senior officers are going to hate the heck of it.

You’re happy he left you to fight while he complained about his feet hurting and went home? That’s your leader?

 

[DW4_2016]

The whining ITT is comical. Will PH be a good SOD? Not sure, and I would have liked a more qualified person for the position, but I trust the POTUS to make the decision.
Look thru history and not all SOD have been decorated.

If you would have liked a better SOD, then why did you put Cackling Camala as your presidential Canidate?

Serious question. Was there a single original hire of trumps that he didn’t go on to publicly shit on? I can see why you’d trust him. You’re a smart man

 

[leetp]

You’re happy he left you to fight while he complained about his feet hurting and went home? That’s your leader?

I guess I don't know what you are talking about

 

[DW4_2016]

I guess I don't know what you are talking about

No way.

 

[SGTiger]

You’re happy he left you to fight while he complained about his feet hurting and went home? That’s your leader?

Everyone look at this genius.

 

[DW4_2016]

Everyone look at this genius.

You had to edit to get to that. I’m amazed by your brainy response.

 

[leetp]

No way.

Seriously...what are you referring to? An Internet search doesn't return anything on the topic. Are you saying he did not pull a full tour because his feet hurt? I did not get one single search return on that.

Have you ever done a tour in a combat zone? They aren't sending you home because of hurt feet. I'd like to know more about what you are talking about.

 

[dpic73]

Seriously...what are you referring to? An Internet search doesn't return anything on the topic. Are you saying he did pull a full tour because his feet hurt? I did not get one single search return on that.

Have you ever done a tour in a combat zone? They aren't sending you home because of hurt feet. I'd like to know more about what you are talking about.

bone spurs

 

[SGTiger]

You had to edit to get to that. I’m amazed by your brainy response.

Yes, it was quite the task. Not everyone has the brain power of you two remaining far left geniuses.

 

[firegiver]

so he's qualified because of tranny derangement syndrome, got it. Ya'll have the best brains

 

[DrTigerGoob]

You are describing what Obama actually did. Trump needs to get rid of the faction of losers that Obama wedged into military leadership and replace them with the right personnel.

Explain what Obama did and what makes these military officers "losers." I want facts...not opinion.

 

[DrTigerGoob]

Our Flag Officer Coprs leaves a lot to be desired...something I have been harping on long before Trump got into politics. Generally--no pun intended--I would like to see a solid Paton-esque general get the nomination, but I am not sure there is one.

What are the things about Flag Officers you have been harping on? Is this from direct contact with Flag Officers? Details please.

 

[DrTigerGoob]

There is plenty of legit criticism for this nomination, but no need to diminish the man's service.

He earned two Bronze Stars and a Combat Infantry Badge.

About the Combat Infantry Badge:
The Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB) is a prestigious award given by the United States Army to infantrymen and Special Forces soldiers who have actively engaged in ground combat while under hostile fire. To be eligible for the CIB, soldiers must:

1. Be an infantryman satisfactorily performing infantry duties.
2. Be assigned to an infantry unit during active ground combat.
3. Actively participate in such ground combat.

You can't just sit inside the wire and earn a CIB.

As for Bronze Stars, most of these are well earned; but unfortunately, I have seen firsthand where a few these were doled out largely unearned. I guess I need to read his citation to get more info, but given that he also got the CIB, I'm inclined to believe these two stars are legit.

I am not questioning his awards or military service beyond he hasn't had the experiences to even make him competitive for the SecDef role.

If you gave me 10 resumes with no names for SecDef and only their experiences, education and leadership...he would get thrown out immediately.

He has no experience managing an $800B+ budget.
He has no international experience.
He has no policy or national security experience.

He is missing critical experiences that would allow him to be effective in the role.

 

[DrTigerGoob]

Obama's Military Coup Purges 197 Officers In Five Years

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.investors.com/politics/editorials/197-military-officers-purged-by-obama/&ved=2ahUKEwj30d_Z_NyJAxVIRzABHcNQJ8gQFnoECBkQAQ&usg=AOvVaw3dW_ngBokn61_73YLG32cH

There are no details to this article that references a list they saw on Facebook that had no details about why they were fired from their current job. So, you would have to provide more details and facts about this to use as a reason why Trump should do it.

At least I think that is your argument. It is very unclear.

 

[Dadar]

His cabinet picks are spooking the stock market

https://www.reuters.com/markets/us/futures-drop-powell-signals-no-hurry-rate-cuts-2024-11-15/

Cabinet of nut jobs

 

[leetp]

What are the things about Flag Officers you have been harping on? Is this from direct contact with Flag Officers? Details please.

Solid question, and I appreciate the effort at serious discussion.

First: I am career enlisted (retired at E-8, Senior Master Seargent, USAF), and served at base-level; so I cannot claim any frequent direct contact with flag officers. I did once support a two-week mission where we took then Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Myers on a tour through nearly every major camp in the Iraq and Afghanistan AOR's, and I actually got to chat with the General a good bit during this brief tour (a very solid guy). Other than that, I can scarcely recall a time when I have said two words to a flag officer. I'd did however serve several years on staff later in my career and had near daily interaction at the O-6 level.

Second: I too share your concern of Hegseth's qualifications.... but it's just concern, not necessarily a deal breaker. I'd like to see how confirmation goes--if it gets that far.

Now about my opinion of the flag officer corps: I don't necessarily have a list, but if a racked my brain and called some military buddies, I am sure I can come up with some names. Still, I am largely drawing on my own, admittedly anecdotal military career experience. There have been several "day-in-the-life" occasions throughout my career where I have seen our most senior leaders let us down--and that is nearly impossible to distill down to any sort of objective indictment on the flag officer corps as a whole. And maybe it is not fair for me to do so here. Anyway, one such occasion is rather famous and that is the one involving General Petraeus--paradoxically perhaps one of the better military minds of our age. As CENTCOM Commander, he authored General Order 1A, which forbad cohabitation with members of the opposite sex while in a war zone under threat of courts martial--among other things. Service members were literally seeing their careers ended for engaging in the same behavior as our good general. Never mind the general was also married (adultery is a crime under Article 134 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice), and I have first-hand knowledge of service members receiving punishment (NJP* and worse) for violations of Article 134 and G.O. 1A. Never mind also the classified information he passed on to his mistress he was banging in the war zone, Puala Broadwell.

Of course, this proves nothing; but I do hold it up along with countless others as a symbol of something rotten in the highest levels of military leadership. Sometimes stepping way outside is the only way to clean things up.

*NJP is Nonjudicial punishment--the most severe punishment that can be administered outside of courts martial.

 

[Dadar]

Solid question, and I appreciate the effort at serious discussion.

First: I am career enlisted (retired at E-8, Senior Master Seargent, USAF), and served at base-level; so I cannot claim any frequent direct contact with flag officers. I did once support a two-week mission where we took then Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Myers on a tour through nearly every major camp in the Iraq and Afghanistan AOR's, and I actually got to chat with a General a good bit during this brief tour (a very solid guy). Other than that, I can scarcely recall a time when I have said two words to a flag officer. I'd did however serve several years on staff later in my career and had near daily interaction at the O-6 level.

Second: I too share your concern of Hegseth's qualifications.... but it's just concern, not necessarily a deal breaker. I'd like to see how confirmation goes--if it gets that far.

Now about my opinion of the flag officer corps: I don't necessarily have a list, but if a racked my brain and called some military buddies, I am sure I can come up with some names. Still, I am largely drawing on my own, admittedly anecdotal military career experience. There have been several "day-in-the-life" occasions throughout my career where I have seen our most senior leaders let us down--and that is nearly impossible to distill down to any sort of objective indictment on the flag officer corps as a whole. And maybe it is note far for me to do so. Anyway, one such occasion is rather famous and that is the one involving General Petraeus--paradoxically perhaps one of the better military minds of our age. As CENTCOM Commander, he authored General Order 1A, which forbad cohabitation with members of the opposite sex while in a war zone under threat of courts martial--amoung other things. Service members were literally seeing their careers ended for engaging in the same behavior as our good general. Never mind the general was also married (adultery is a crime under Article 134 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice), and I have first-hand knowledge of service members receiving punishment (NJP* and worse) for violations of Article 134 and G.O. 1A. Never mind also the classified information he passed on to his mistress he was banging in the war zone, Puala Broadwell.

Of course, this proves nothing; but I do hold it up along with countless others as a symbol of something rotten in the highest levels of military leadership. Sometimes stepping way outside is the only way to clean things up.

*NJP is Nonjudicial punishment--the most severe punishment that can be administered outside of courts martial.

Does RFK Jr appointment give you confidence?

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (film) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[leetp]

Does RFK Jr appointment give you confidence?

Confidence? That's certainly too strong. RFK does have some decent points, but I'd like to be on robust scientific footing before making wholesale changes.

For what it's worth, if I could have a party platform or slogan... it be something along the lines of Make the Federal Government Not Matter Again. I'd like it a lot better if most of the secretary and director positions had no real impact on American life. My election for dog catcher or county coroner should matter a lot more than some of these ridiculous appointments. Hopefully most of them get DOGE'd.

 

[leetp]

[...]

Cabinet of nut jobs

The former or the latter?

 

[Dadar]

The former or the latter?

gaetz rfk jr ... fox news host

 

[leetp]

So perhaps just a different set of nutjobs then, maybe?

We are surviving Biden's cabinet now and Obama's before him, and Trump's first cabinet in between, I think we'll be alright here.