Jack Reed Warns of a Politicized Military in Explosive Exchange with Pete Hegseth

Описание: #JackReed #PeteHegseth #USMilitary

In this heated Senate exchange, Senator Jack Reed confronts Pete Hegseth over what Reed describes as the dangerous politicization of the U.S. military. Reed raises alarms about threatening emails sent to active-duty officers, echoing rhetoric calling for a political “clean house,” and warns that intimidation based on perceived ideology undermines military professionalism, chain of command, morale, retention, and readiness. Reed argues that when service members fear retaliation for political beliefs rather than misconduct, the foundation of a nonpartisan, disciplined force is placed at risk.
Reed strongly defends DEI, nondiscrimination, and equal opportunity policies, noting they are not modern inventions but reforms dating back to racial integration efforts of the 1940s and 1950s, supported by administrations of both parties. He rejects claims that these policies weaken lethality, warning instead that framing them as ideological loyalty tests threatens unit cohesion, meritocracy, and trust across the force. Reed cautions that redefining service through political alignment rather than competence and lawful conduct accelerates the erosion of civil-military norms.
The exchange intensifies as Reed challenges Hegseth’s advocacy for pardons of convicted war criminals, questioning whether selective accountability weakens discipline, the rule of law, the Geneva Conventions, and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Reed underscores that true military strength requires civilian oversight, lawful authority, and allegiance to the Constitution, not factional loyalty. The confrontation highlights a stark warning: a politicized military driven by ideology rather than professionalism poses a direct threat to national security, and restoring trust becomes far harder once those principles are compromised.

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#JackReed #PeteHegseth #USMilitary