Categories: USA

Pete Hegseth’s Take on Women in Combat, Infidelity, and More — In His Own Words

WASHINGTON (AP) — Pete Hegseth will try to convince members of the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday that it should be the next secretary of defenseafter weeks of meetings with lawmakers who peppered him with questions about his personality and his views on a range of military issues.

As the author of several books and a former Fox News Channel host, Hegseth has been forced to defend himself against a long list of his own public comments, including in his most recent book, “The War on Warriors: Behind the Betrayal of the Men Who.” Keep us free.

His wide-ranging opinions could provide insight into how he might approach the summit. Pentagon work if confirmed. Sometimes he says he’s been misinterpreted, but other times he’s tried to soften his previously expressed views on controversial topics.

Here is a look at Hegseth in his own words:

On the state of the American military

Hegseth, 44, an Army veteran who rose to the rank of major and served in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan, believes standards have declined and efforts to expand them diversity, equity and inclusion chased away the white men.

He complains in his latest book that “woke” generals and leaders of elite service academies have left the military dangerously weak and “effeminate” by promoting DEI. According to him, “the next commander in chief will have to clean house”.

“It turns out that all the recruiting messaging about ‘diversity’ made some kids – white kids – feel like they weren’t wanted,” he said in his book.

If confirmed, he said there would no longer be “social justice or politically correct approaches to the way we fight and wage wars.” Instead, he said, “it’s about lethality, meritocracy and preparedness.”

And he pledged to fire generals involved in “woke” programs.

On women in combat

Hegseth’s opposition – expressed in his book and interviews – was simple and direct before his November 12 nomination. But, faced with questions from Congress, he seems to have changed his position.

“I’m just saying we shouldn’t have women in combat roles. It didn’t make us more efficient. It didn’t make us more mortal. It made the fights more complicated,” he said in a podcast hosted by Shawn Ryan on November 7.

Women have a place in the military, he said, but not in special operations, artillery, infantry and armor units.

In his book, he argues that women performed well in dangerous support roles during the war, but “women in the infantry – women voluntarily engaged in combat – is another story.” He adds: “Women cannot physically meet the same standards as men. »

He said: “Dads push us to take risks. Moms put training wheels on our bikes. We need mothers. But not in the army, especially in combat units.”

His views have annoyed some members of Congress.

Asked about the issue on the “Megyn Kelly Show” in early December, Hegseth said he only cared about maintaining military standards. Women serve in combat, he said, and “if we have the right standards and women meet those standards, Roger. Let’s go.”

On allegations of infidelity and sexual assault

Hegseth faced allegations that he sexually assaulted a woman he met at a conference in California in 2017. He denied it, saying it was consensual. No charges have been filed.

He recognized pay a settlement to his accuser, saying he did it to avoid a baseless trial. “The case was thoroughly investigated and I was completely exonerated,” he said.

He also admitted to several instances of infidelity, including the California incident, which occurred while he was divorcing his second wife after having a child with the woman who is now his current wife, Jennifer Rauchet.

He told Kelly that going into a hotel room with someone who was not his wife “was not acceptable” and that he had paid the compensation “to protect my wife.” I did it to protect my family. I did it to protect my work.

He said it was fair to call him a “serial cheater” but that he “has truly been changed by Jen and my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” and is now a different man.

While drinking

Senators also expressed concerns about reports of excessive alcohol consumption.

Hegseth has denied having a drinking problem and has said publicly that he told lawmakers he would not drink while serving as defense secretary.

“I’m not going to drink at all,” he said, likening it to following Pentagon General Order No. 1, which prohibits soldiers from drinking while deployed.

He said that often when soldiers come back from war, they “have beers.” But he insisted in Kelly’s interview that “I never had a drinking problem.”

On extremism in the army

Hegseth said the Pentagon overreacted in taking steps to combat extremism and blamed leaders for the military’s efforts to eliminate people it considered white supremacists and violent extremists.

He wrote that the issue is “fake” and called it “peddling the lie of racism in the military.” He said efforts to root out extremism had pushed “grassroots patriots out of their formations.”

Hegseth was removed from duty in the Washington National Guard during President Joe Biden’s inauguration after being flagged as a possible “insider threat” by a fellow soldier because of a tattoo.

Hegseth said this was due to a Christian cross tattoo on his chest. But the Guard colleague, who was then part of a counterterrorism team, shared with the Associated Press an email he sent the unit’s leadership a different tattoo on Hegseth’s bicep, associated with white supremacist groups.

On a Pentagon leader leading into combat

Shortly after President-elect Trump announced his nomination, Hegseth posted on I’ve been on patrol for days. I pulled the trigger. I heard bullets flying by. Called in for close air support. Directed medical evacuations. IEDs dodged.

He said Trump told him, “I chose you because you’re the guy who’s going to put the fighters first.” We didn’t have that. We need a guy who has broken down doors and understands the consequences of war.

Trump’s first defense secretary, retired Marine Gen. Jim Mattis, served in combat in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and received a Bronze Star with a V for valor for serving in one lead assault units entering Kuwait during the First Gulf War.

Current Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, a retired four-star Army general, also commanded troops in Iraq and Afghanistan and received a Silver Star, the nation’s third highest honor for valor , for leading troops in Iraq during the 2003 invasion.

“I’ve led troops in combat in some pretty big, difficult situations,” Austin told the Associated Press. “Even if you describe yourself as a ‘door knocker’ or whatever you want to call it, I managed large, complex organizations before taking this role, and I did so successfully. »

“So I think you have to have a perspective on what’s happening on the ground, but you also have to understand how things fit into a broader perspective,” he said.

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Associated Press writer Tara Copp contributed to this report.

remon Buul

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