Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search
4 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Hegseth addresses senior military at rare meeting (Original Post) IronLionZion 18 hrs ago OP
Patton must be spinning in his grave. Hogsbreath is delusional. flashman13 18 hrs ago #1
"out with the living generals, in with patton and the dead" rampartd 11 hrs ago #4
He is nuts! usaf-vet 18 hrs ago #2
MaddowBlog-Why Pete Hegseth's pitch to generals and admirals was even worse than expected LetMyPeopleVote 17 hrs ago #3

LetMyPeopleVote

(170,428 posts)
3. MaddowBlog-Why Pete Hegseth's pitch to generals and admirals was even worse than expected
Tue Sep 30, 2025, 02:04 PM
17 hrs ago

Did the secretary bring generals and admirals in from around the world so he could treat them like a CPAC audience? Actually, yes, he did.

Why Pete Hegseth’s pitch to generals and admirals was even worse than expected

flip.it/GIAS0g

(@gypsydaveh.bsky.social) 2025-09-30T16:25:32.516Z

https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/pete-hegseth-speech-generals-admirals-rcna234674

But having heard the secretary’s remarks, he proved to be even worse than expected. Reuters reported:

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth slammed ‘fat generals’ and diversity initiatives that he said led to decades of decay in the military and told a rare gathering of commanders on Tuesday they should resign if they don’t support his agenda. ‘Foolish and reckless political leaders set the wrong compass heading and we lost our way. We became the “Woke Department,”’ Hegseth said as he kicked off the event in Quantico, Virginia. ‘But not anymore,’ he said.


Choosing the worst moment from Hegseth’s bizarre and unnecessary speech is admittedly challenging. Was it his boasts about firing qualified military leaders? Or maybe his condemnation of diversity initiatives and climate change as “s---” that the military will no longer care about?.....

Maybe the lowest of the low points was Hegseth’s comment that seemed to open the door to a new attitude toward war crimes. “We unleash overwhelming and punishing violence on the enemy. We also don’t fight with stupid rules of engagement. We untie the hands of our warfighters to intimidate, demoralize, hunt, and kill the enemies of our country,” he declared. “No more politically correct and overbearing rules of engagement.”

Hegseth: "We unleash overwhelming and punishing violence on the enemy. We also don't fight with stupid rules of engagement. We untie the hands of our warfighters to intimidate, demoralize, hunt, and kill the enemies of our country. No more politically correct and overbearing rules of engagement."

Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) 2025-09-30T13:06:31.204Z


In other words, Hegseth spent millions of taxpayer dollars to bring generals and admirals in from around the world so that he could treat them like a CPAC audience.

As for those in attendance who might’ve been uncomfortable with the secretary’s absurdities, he extended some advice to them, too. “If the words I’m speaking today are making your heart sink, then you should do the honorable thing and resign,” Hegseth said.
Latest Discussions»Issue Forums»Cable News Clips»Hegseth addresses senior ...