Pentagon leaders enthusiastically defend efforts against racism and extremism

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WASHINGTON Key Pentagon leaders on Wednesday passionately defended the military’s approach to tackling racism and extremism, brushing aside accusations by Republican lawmakers that the effort is divisive and hurts morale.

The tense exchanges showed that the political dimension of a national debate on racism and extremism weighs on the military even as it tries to solve social problems within its own ranks.

In a House Armed Services Committee hearing, Representative Michael Waltz, a Republican from Florida, said that the US Military Academy at West Point provides instruction in critical race theory and “understanding whiteness. and white rage “. Critical Race Theory centers on the idea that racism is systemic in American institutions and that they function to maintain white domination in society.

Waltz called these offers at West Point destructive, and he demanded that Pentagon leaders know what is going on.

In an extraordinary response, General Mark Milley, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, directly targeted Waltz’s accusations and similar separate comments earlier in the hearing with Representative Matt Gaetz, another Florida Republican. Milley said the military didn’t need to apologize for encouraging open-mindedness.

Personally, I find it offensive that we accuse the US military, our general officers, our officers and non-commissioned officers of being, I quote, waking up or something else because we are studying some theories that exist, a Milley said, her voice rising with emotion.

Milley said it’s important for the military to have an open mind and be exposed to unconventional ideas.

I read Mao Zedong, ”he said. “I read Karl Marx. I read Lenin. That doesn’t make me a Communist. So what is wrong with understanding, having some understanding of the situation, about the country that we are here to defend for?

Hinting at Waltz’s criticism of the academy for offering white rage instruction, Milley said: I want to understand white rage and I’m white. He went on to say he wanted to understand why a group of predominantly white rioters assaulted the United States Capitol on January 6 and attempted to “overturn the Constitution of the United States of America.” What caused this? I want to find out. A number of those who participated in the insurgency were current or former members of the military.

West Point does not offer a course specifically on white rage, but it does offer an elective social science course for seniors on the politics of race, gender and sexuality, which deals with a variety of racial issues.

Milley went on to say that future military leaders, such as those educated at West Point, need to understand what is going on in the country and how society can be influenced by various ways of thinking.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, the nation’s first black defense chief, told Gaetz that the issue of critical race theory was irrelevant in relation to the Pentagon. We do not teach critical race theory. We don’t accept critical race theory, and I think that’s a spurious conversation. We focus on extremist behavior and not on ideology, nor on people’s thoughts, nor on the political orientation of people.

Gaetz said members of the military who participated in panel discussions on extremism, ordered by Austin in the spring, told him the sessions were harmful and counterproductive. He suggested that the troops believed they could not complain publicly for fear of reprisal.

Austin responded angrily, saying he had received perhaps 50 times as many comments as Gaetz and most expressed appreciation for the opportunity to discuss extremism with colleagues and superiors. When Gaetz suggested that Austin only be told what the military thought he wanted to hear, Austin hit back: Maybe they’re telling you what you want to hear.

Austin also clashed with Rep. Vicky Hartzler, R-Mo, over the department’s efforts to tackle extremism in the ranks. Hartzler pushed him on his definition of extremism and how the military selects candidates to eliminate those considered extremists. Austin has repeatedly explained that the military is focused on eradicating extremist behavior, not political ideas or religious beliefs.

Hartzler asked if a person says they are for President Trump, would that be considered extremism?

Like I said earlier, it’s not about politics, Austin said, with a hint of frustration in his voice. I want our troops to participate in our political system. This is what they are fighting to defend.

He added, however, that the military must be a diverse and inclusive organization, and that is the purpose of troop rallies to discuss extremism.

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