Pentagon director describes ‘diversity is our strength’ as ‘dumbest phrase’ in army history

(MENAFN) US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth criticized the phrase "diversity is our strength" as the "dumbest" in military history during a speech to Pentagon staff. He expressed his commitment to focusing on unity, fairness, and merit in the armed forces while eliminating diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. Hegseth, a former Fox News host and US National Guard veteran, emphasized that all service members should be judged by their individual merit and dedication to the team, rather than their identity.

Hegseth also announced an end to identity month celebrations, such as Black History Month and Women’s History Month, calling them divisive and detrimental to military camaraderie and mission execution. He argued that DEI initiatives create division by prioritizing one group over another.

The Pentagon chief also discussed global security, pointing to recent events like the chaotic US withdrawal from Afghanistan, the Ukraine conflict, and the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel as signs of weakened American strength. He pledged to reestablish deterrence and ensure accountability for the mishandling of the Afghanistan pullout.

The debate over DEI within the military has been ongoing, with Republican lawmakers criticizing the Pentagon’s focus on diversity over readiness. This is compounded by severe recruitment shortfalls across all branches of the US military, which critics argue are linked to the prioritization of “wokeness” over military preparedness.

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