Pat Ryan: Pete Hegseth Is Scared of Free Thinking Independent Leaders in the Military

EXCERPT:

RYAN: "And the hypocrisy of claiming you’re getting rid of politics while you’re just putting these poor young, patriotic men and women that want to serve, that want to do right by their country, want to do right by their community, putting them right in the crossfire of all this culture war stuff. I represent West Point, which I’ll say in front of my colleague is the better service academy, and I know he’s, you know, on the board of visitors for Annapolis. And this is serious stuff. I talk to these cadets every day. They see what’s happening. They are wrestling with this. And they know, by the way, we’re heading into the most dangerous, volatile moment where war is rapidly changing. And that means we need critical thinking. We need soldiers that are not only physically tough and fit, but mentally tough and fit, able to wrestle with complex ideas, hear from people they disagree with. That makes them better leaders in combat should they, God forbid, have to fight in it, and it just makes us stronger as a military and a nation. And I think they are scared of free-thinking, independent leaders. That’s why they fired folks like General Randy George, chief of staff of the army, CD Donahue, one of the most revered lethal warriors. So, you’re saying no beardos and weirdos, and then you’re putting Elon Musk and Newt Gingrich in charge of the future of our military? I mean, that does not pass the common sense test there."