President Trump has mismanaged so many things regarding this country. The war, the economy, relations with our historical allies, civil rights, and even science and medicine.
Many of his cabinet selections are so far beyond the pale they never should have been confirmed by the Senate.
I think even Trump was surprised that Pete Hegseth got through as head of the Defense Department, aka Trump-branded Department of War.
Trump was pushing the envelope for sure; he thought Hegseth was pretty and that was enough qualification for the weekend Fox talking head.
Hegseth never managed anything larger than his lunch order, and yet he’s in charge of the largest government department with the biggest budget — the one who is responsible for our national security.
Hegseth is incompetent to lead the DOD. Rep. Seth Moulton said recently of the secretary:
“This isn’t leadership; it is an unserious circus. Between his ‘no quarter’ orders, which are a clear violation of Geneva Conventions, firing our most experience generals and proposing a $1.5 trillion budget which saddles the average taxpayer with a $500 bill, while this administration guts SNAP and healthcare subsidiaries, Hegseth has proven he’s fundamentally unfit for this post.”
True that.
We was at the center of “Signalgate,” sharing, sensitive war plans with civilians, including a reporter, in a monumental security breach.
He has turned the Pentagon upside down with firings that have created turmoil. The New York Times called the military rudderless as a result of his firing of the highest ranking most experienced generals.
He has in large part eliminated the “bench” that the military relies on to promote officers to the highest level, and he has reduced the number of officers at the highest level.
He has fired or retired anyone and everyone who has opposed his views.
He is allowed service members to suffer deprived conditions.
He claims his job is defined by these terms: “war fighting, lethality, meritocracy, standards and readiness.” He has been unable to meet even his own self imposed standards.
He has allowed munitions to be depleted. The Pentagon is near out of money, and morale is in the toilet.
Apparently, what is important to him are testosterone levels, hair length, gender and race.
He and Trump are costing us our national security.
They have done exactly the opposite of following Teddy Roosevelt’s advice, talk softly and carrying a big stick; instead, they are loudmouth braggarts who carry a wet noodle to whip their opponents into submission.
It might have helped if Hegseth and Trump had red the 50-year-old British book, “On the Psychology of Military Incompetence.”
The book asks this question based on a long military history that it reviewed: “Why are lions always seemingly lead by donkeys?”
Trump and Hegseth are also authoritarians. The book points out that people like them are “less likely to understand enemy intentions.” They have atendency to underestimate the enemy’s ability.
This explains, in part, the failure to prepare for the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
Authoritarians also spurn technical innovations, and that has hurt the Pentagon. For example, Hegseth refused a Ukrainian offer to help out with drone development and deployment to counter low-cost Iranian Shaeed drones.
Trump wants to create battleships and he insisted on having the Navy reinstall steam powered catapult on aircraft carriers.
These two donkeys are disaster for the Pentagon. Should the Dems take control of the House they ought to impeach Hegseth.
Maybe the Senate will find its backbone and convict.
Jim Astrachan is lawyer who represents clients in intellectual property law and litigation, mediation, and business, regulatory, and transactional matters. He’s a Life Fellow of the Baltimore City Bar Foundation, the Maryland Bar Foundation, and the American Bar Foundation.