Pete Hegseth, the former Fox News personality and current incompetent Secretary of Defense, has commissioned a study by the Pentagon under the guise of assessing combat readiness that for all of its flowery language is likely to be used to reduce or eliminate the role of women in combat in the U.S. military. Almost all roles, including those in front line combat units, were opened to women in 2016. Women currently make up about 18 percent of the US armed forces while the number who are actually in front line combat roles is much smaller. However, over 150 women have passed the rigorous Army Ranger training and have earned the right to wear the Ranger tab and serve in Ranger combat units. Is the US military any less effective or less prepared because of this? Doubtful. I would argue these women are more qualified to be Army Rangers than Pete Hegseth is to be Secretary of Defense.
It begs the question, “Why does Pete Hegseth hate women so much”? I guess only his therapist would know for sure, but his actions clearly indicate he is a card-carrying misogynist and has been for a long time. If you doubt that, just look at some of his past actions.
During his confirmation hearing, his former sister-in-law submitted a sworn statement alleging sexual assault and domestic abuse by Hegseth against his former wife. Hegseth denied these allegations as did his former wife. We will never know if the former wife did so out of fear or of her own volition. Nonetheless, the allegations were made in a sworn statement by someone reasonably close to Hegseth.
After he was confirmed to his current position, he immediately fired or forced the retirement of Admiral Lisa Franchetti, Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Linda Fagan, Coast Guard Commandant, Lt. Gen. Jennifer Short, Senior Military Assistant to SecDef, and Admiral Shoshana Chatfield, top NATO envoy. These were all done under the Trump world umbrella of anti-DEI or other made-up reasons. These were all competent, experienced military veterans whose real ‘sin’ appears to be that they are females. The military is now devoid of any 4-star or admiral level women. Way to go Pete!!
He shared a post on social media by a far-right pastor calling for the repeal of the 19th Amendment which gave women the right to vote. He is on the record as saying he does not believe women should be in combat roles. Even more egregious, in a column he wrote in college he said stated that “intercourse with an unconscious woman was not rape.” It begs the question, “How the hell did the Republicans allow this incompetent, misogynist to become the Secretary of Defense?”
For my money, I think there is a great way to settle the whole “Women in combat” question. We know how much Trump likes UFC cage matches and, in fact, is planning to have UFC cage matches on the White House grounds as part of his absurdist celebration of our nation’s 250th anniversary. I think there should be a match between Pete Hegseth and a female army ranger! I’d be willing to bet huge sums of money that the female ranger would kick his ass. If he thinks women are not good enough or strong enough to be in combat roles and he is such a tough guy, let him put his money where his mouth is and get in the ring with one of these ‘weak’ ladies. I’d pay big money to watch!! Unfortunately, Hegseth, like his boss Trump, has a big mouth and no guts. The fact is, Pete Hegseth is scared to death of strong women, particularly those who are smarter and stronger – which means most of them.
