I'm trying to understand these picks.
Kristi Noem is extremely pro israel, going so far as to pass anti-hate speech laws which IMO goes against the 1st amendment.
I don't have any issue specifically with Pete Hegseth but I do wonder why he would pick a major to be Secretary of Defense instead of a general, especially if we know there are good generals out there that aren't just for show like Mark Milley.
My husband worked at the 5 sided building for a few years. His opinion is that the sec def is more of a spokesperson than anything for the military and pentagon. Yes, they have to make sure each department runs effectively and efficiently (they haven't for a long time) but they are there to be put in front of the press. Pete's background and his demeanor make him a great candidate. The position originally was supposed to go to a civilian. We really don't want someone who is a Colonel or above that has been active duty in the last 10 years filling that position right now if we want a change to weed out the corruption. If the q plan is real, I imagine the non tv generals will be helping from behind the scenes.
That's an interesting idea but if that were true then why was the first Secretary of Defense James Forrestal who was a Lieutenant in the Navy?
Edit: So I did some more research on this and it seems like most Secretary of Defense were not generals. I went off Wikipedia so bare that in mind, break down it below.
MIL Rank
Lieutenant x3
General x3
Lieutenant Colonel x2
First Lieutenant x3
Captain x4
Sergeant x1
Colonel x1
Unknown x1 (Bill Clements)
CIV
Patrick M. Shanahan (Business, Politician)
James R. Schlesinger (Economist)
Harold Brown (Physicist)
Dick Cheney (Politician)
William Cohen (Business, Politician)
Ashton Carter (Physicist, Politician)
David Norquist (Politician)
I don't really know. That's my husbands opinion. I'll ask if there's some kind of written law or anything. We were talking about this nomination specifically because I thought it was some kind of joke at first. He likes the idea. I think a lot of enlisted soldiers will like it. There are so many toxic leaders in the military right now. Colonels wanting that first star who will do whatever they're told to get it. Generals looking for million dollar positions when they retire. It needs to change.
I think the way the media portrays some of these positions is not exactly how they actually work. Take for example the Joint Chiefs. The media made it sound like Milley had so much authority to do this and that. He was in a completely advisory position with little to no authority at all.
I say give Pete a chance, if it doesn't work out, Trump will replace him.
Follow up and I'll quit bugging you.
There's a big distrust in this country about having military members controlling the military. Think about countries where this happens ie Libya, Pakistan, Myanmar. The secretaries in these positions are generally civilian or former military members that have been out of the service for at least seven years to help keep a balance of power. They can sign a waiver and get a general approved that's active duty. Mattis would be an example of that but it's pretty rare. Take a look at the Secretary of the Army, Secretary of the Navy, or Secretary of the Air Force. They are often civilians filling these roles with no military background. Christine Wormuth, the current Sec of Army, has no background in the military. She does have two four star generals and the sgt major of the Army working for her to help guide policy. That's what my husband meant by the sec def is supposed to be a civilian job.