No women in combat roles? Trump's Pentagon chief pick raises eyebrows

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: The Hill

11/16/24 8:21 PM ET


Democrats and veterans groups are taking aim at Trump Defense secretary nominee Pete Hegseth’s belief that women should not serve in combat roles, with at least two crucial GOP senators also asking for answers on his stance.

Hegseth, 44, a Fox News host, has often made questionable comments on the military matters he’d oversee should he be confirmed as Pentagon chief. But his assertions last week have elicited fears that Hegseth’s views could have a chilling effect on women wanting to serve or alienate those currently in uniform.

“I’m straight up just saying that we should not have women in combat roles,” Hegseth said on “The Shawn Ryan Show” podcast. “It hasn’t made us more effective, hasn’t made us more lethal, has made fighting more complicated.” He added: “We’ve all served with women, and they’re great. But our institutions don’t have to incentivize that in places where, traditionally — not traditionally, over human history — men in those positions are more capable.”

The comments quickly were picked up after Trump’s surprise announcement choosing Hegseth on Tuesday, with combat veteran Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) telling reporters she wanted clarification on his stance. “Even a staff member of mine, she is an infantry officer . . . she is a tough woman, so he is going to have to explain it,” said Ernst, top Republican on the Senate Armed Services emerging threats subcommittee. A spokesperson from Ernst’s office later told The Hill that she looks forward to visiting with Hegseth.

Read more: https://thehill.com/policy/defense/4994546-trumps-pentagon-chief-pick-raises-eyebrows/

[Lovie777]

1. Don't ya know...

Women are baby maker, taking care of kids and submit to men.

[Lonestarblue]

3. Your body, my choice. We need to hang this slogan around Republicans' necks.

[TBF]

15. Well, think of it this way -

if we are not in combat, we are not getting killed. Let the men fight their battles themselves. (I guess I should point out I'm an older white woman and I've had about enough of their crap. If they want to kill themselves off, I'm not standing in their way ...)

[Walleye]

2. So Joni wants clarification. Here's clarification for you, get back in the kitchen.

[Gore1FL]

4. A white Christian nationalist AND a misogynist? Who'd have guessed? nt

[bdamomma]

5. Tell that

to women in Isreal, they serve. Men are more capable???

[Irish_Dem]

6. Serving in combat is how you get promoted.

This is a backdoor way to prevent women from obtaining higher rank.

[Hope22]

8. I think you've hit the nail on the head! Nt

[Irish_Dem]

9. I'm old enough to remember all the clever tricks men use to hold women back.

[Hope22]

11. Weird isn't it!

Women went along with some crazy shit, cooking, cleaning and polishing shoes. Everyone in the family had it made. Now she might be flying the copter or completing intricate surgery but at the end of the day more than likely she’s still a woman facing attack from more than 50% of the country! This last crush from the orange monster is gonna leave a mark.

[Irish_Dem]

12. Yes equal rights for women is an ongoing battle.

And currently under serious attack by males.

[AverageOldGuy]

7. Back in the day . . .

. . . when I was an artillery officer and women in combat or compbat support units were a rarity, one idiot artillery battalion commander announced that the did not want any women in his unit because "There's no damn woman who can lift a 155-millimeter round!"

To which the colonel commanding the artillery group replied: "I don't know too many men who can lift one. That's why we have two loaders."

FYI: A 155 round weighs a little over 100 pounds. While lots of men and women can lift over 100 pounds, an arty round has no hand grips, requires you to wrap your arms around the damn thing - - - that's often wet and slippery.

[mucifer]

10. More chaos by putin. Weakening our military is what they are doing.

[joshdawg]

13. hegseth is an idiot......

plain and simple.
'nuff said!

[GoreWon2000]

14. "We can't go to war without our military women"

said Iraq combat veteran who lost both of her legs and who is also U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth. IMHO this just shows how unqualified Hegseth is for the job. There are 225,000 women now serving in the military. The highest National Guard rank Hegseth ever achieved in 20 years was major and he never commanded any type of military unit let alone run one of the largest federal agencies ever. Hegseth is just another unqualified white anglo male. "DEI" hire.

[Deminpenn]

16. No women,

but plenty of boobs.