Section 2: The Common Defense
“…the Department of Defense is a deeply troubled institution. It has emphasized leftist politics over military readiness, recruiting was the worst in 2022 that it has been in two generations, and the Biden Administration’s profoundly unserious equity agenda and vaccine mandates have taken a serious toll.”
According to the Army recruitment website, it’s not “leftist policies” that are the problem. “71% of youth do not qualify for military service because of obesity, drugs, physical and mental health problems, misconduct, and aptitude.” [Source]
Fact check: “While Republicans have pointed to the vaccine mandate creating a retention issue, the Defense Department says all of the military services had surpassed their retention goals for the first 10 months of the 2023 fiscal year, which began on October 1, 2022. The services have exceeded retention goals even as the military has faced challenges in recruiting new service members. [Source].
Full contextual analysis of Section 2: The Common Defense here. [Source].
“Moreover, our military has adopted a risk-averse culture – think of masked soldiers, sailors, and airmen – rather than instilling and rewarding courage in thought and action.”
Well, if that’s not about the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard. The writer is actually suggesting that attempting to protect oneself from disease, by wearing masks or getting vaccines, is cowardly. Contracting viruses to own the libs!
Full contextual analysis of Section 2: The Common Defense here.
“The good news is that most enlisted personnel, and most officers, especially below the rank of general or admiral, continue to be patriotic defenders of liberty.”
That’s more than a little insulting to generals and admirals.
Full contextual analysis of Section 2: The Common Defense here.
“Divisive symbols such as the rainbow flag or the Black Lives Matter flag have no place next to the Stars and Stripes at our embassies.”
This is a dig at Antony Blinken’s okaying these types of flags to be flown at our embassies around the world, if they so chose. From the linked article: “The cable contained a hedge, though, saying the authorization is not a requirement and chiefs of mission who run each embassy or consulate can choose whether to fly the Pride flag or showcase other symbols connoting support for LGBTQ rights based on what is “appropriate in light of local conditions.” The Trump Administration had previously forbidden this.
In March 2024, Biden encouraged a bipartisan passing of the spending bill, despite the fact that it supported reversing this authorization. Embassies in Brazil and Curacao were two which chose to fly the Black Lives Matter flag at their embassies in honor of Black History Month. [Source] [Source].
In any case, it’s telling that the writer explicitly states their belief that thinking that “black lives matter” or supporting LGBTQ people’s right to exist peacefully is “divisive.” It’s only divisive if you’re a racist or a homophobe/transphobe.
Full contextual analysis of Section 2: The Common Defense here.