'Welcome to the War Department' -- The reckoning begins

American Thinker ^ | 1 Oct, 2025 | Robert L. Maginnis

[MtnClimber]

No more furries.

[ComputerGuy]

However, his threat to fire generals risks undermining professionalism

Does anyone agree with that?

[PGalt]

Department of War ALERT! Thanks to every past, present and future warrior.

[NorthMountain]

WTF?

The generals at risk of being fired are the generals who undermine professionalism.

[Samurai_Jack]

I highly recommend finding Hegseth’s speech and watching the whole thing through. His delivery was articulate, pointed and charismatic. Called out everything... No more of that $hit.

Basic Training goes back to the Beetle Bailey days.
Focus on war fighting and winning rather than political debris.
If you don’t want to lead in that direction, we thank you for your service, you’re invited to resign.

[rdcbn1]

Does this mean the Queer dog masks and leather BDSM “ pup culture” are no longer a vital part of military culture

[Psalm 73]

“Dudes in dresses...we’re done with that crap”

[MtnClimber]

"However, his threat to fire generals risks undermining professionalism"

Does anyone agree with that?

NOPE. I wondered what people would think about that.

[MGunny]

This is what WE voted for.

[MGunny]

This is what WE voted for.

[Phlyer]

However, his threat to fire generals risks undermining professionalism.

Does anyone agree with that?

Is it a risk? Certainly. The question is: What criteria can result in an immediate firing?

First, there is a process for making assignments, and for terminating them. If this process is undermined so that an officer can be fired (or at least it seems like he can) for arbitrary reasons, or just because he embarrassed someone in the administration, then it leads to an overly-cautious mindset - which is bad for military professionalism.

Second, mistakes - particularly public mistakes - largely fall into two main categories: Mistakes from incompetence or carelessness, and mistakes from over aggressiveness. If there is no distinction between the two, then you'll get the overly-cautious mindset. Chester Nimitz had a couple of (relatively minor) shiphandling incidents when he was commanding smaller warships. If those got him fired, we'd lose a great leader. Richard Bong nearly lost his wings for showing off in his P-38 before he ever got into combat. There needs to be some tolerance for aggressive, even arrogant confidence.

On the other hand, if it becomes clear that CYA caution results in termination, then it might be the best thing that has happened to the US Military since 1944.

[deport]

This is what WE voted for.

---

I think that there were others who voted differently.
Good or Bad life moves on. Enjoy as best you can.

[Tell It Right]

I highly recommend finding Hegseth’s speech and watching the whole thing through. His delivery was articulate, pointed and charismatic. Called out everything... No more of that $hit.

I agree. When I watched I developed what we a few years ago called a "man crush". LOL It was 100% right, 100% charismatic, and 100% the kind of leadership not only our military needs, but men in general need.

[1Old Pro]

Pete finally came out of his shell and lived up and exceeded expectations....good to see.

[heylady]

I was extremely impressed with Pete Hegseth’s speech yesterday. It hit all the problems that the Obama and Biden administrations had foisted on our military. Ever since my son was in ROTC, I couldn’t understand why there was one set of standards for men and a watered down standard for women. Unless you are in a military family you have no idea what the military life entails.

I was talking to my daughter about the speech and only got as far as the overweight generals being told to shape up or ship out when her TDS took over. She blasted Trump for eliminating soldiers that had devoted their lives to the military. Feelings over facts. She felt they were ignoring the knowledge they possessed and focused on their weight. My father-in-law, an ex Air Force gunner during WWII, was at the same weight at 86 when he passed as when he was in the Air Force. A general in his 60’s should be able to state the same. The military is no place to maintain soldiers that are not up to the task, in mind and body.

[MulberryDraw]

Nope.

[quantim]

Watched the entire speech, awesome! Especially loved Hegseth calling the generals and troops as, “FAT!”

[Hot Rod Garage]

Yes I agree. As someone stated above “The generals at risk of being fired are the generals who undermine professionalism.” If you have ever been a boss that required your staff to be professional and those that were not professional were not doing their job. Therefore: fired.

[rlmorel]

That stuck out at me as well:

Meritocracy, Not Ideology

Trump’s solidarity line -- “I have your backs 100%” -- is important for morale. However, his threat to fire generals risks undermining professionalism. Promotions, reliefs, and assignments must rest on performance in warfighting environments, not political litmus tests.

I did not like this one part. The two things, IN THIS SPECIFIC CASE OF CONSERVATISM AND LEFTISM (AS EMBODIED IN DEI) are NOT mutually exclusive.

I did not appreciate that statement at all. If the litmus test is support for DEI, that means prima facie that you do NOT support competency.

In an otherwise good article, this is a blemish in my opinion.