I stand corrected about Wallace but when you have had people like TCH in the job you do wonder.
There are thousands of people who have served who shouldn’t be anywhere near senior government positions… The same as there are thousands of Pele from any background who shouldn’t.
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Penny Mordaunt also served and was (briefly) SofS.
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In general principle, with respect to world-wide defence outlook, you could probably argue that there are more “political” aspects involved than “defence” aspects. It’s probably preferable to have a “stable” politician learning about defence roles, rather than someone who has minimal knowledge of defence & almost zero knowledge about world stage politics…
I remember that the proposed USA candidate for SecDef was very much involved with the Orange One in pressing for pardons for some soldiers accused of war crimes. Gonna put the cat amongst the pigeons with regard to perception of military discipline & accountability… Not so sure about any deep down meanings for Hesgeth’s tatts either!!
The Orange One is really picking all the “yes” people - who will carry out his policies without any qualms or questions.
This is a good quote:
I first met Hegseth when he started running Vets for Freedom around 2007.
He is a highly effective and ferocious media, culture and political warrior for MAGA. And beyond loyal to and trusted by Trump.
I figured Trump would pick probably pick him for Chief of Staff or Press Secretary.
But this…
Hegseth is undoubtedly the least qualified nominee for SecDef in American history. And the most overtly political.
Brace yourself, America.
And a potential AG with an ethics investigation ongoing. You couldn’t make it up.
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As an untrained royal navy reservist who never achieved a certificate of efficiency
She meets the official definition of a veteran (completed one day’s training). A definition I personally disagree with but have to accept.
I know this came up on another thread but I didn’t know that was the case.
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For me the word should represent some kind of service beyond training. For recent generations that’s easily defined as an operational tour, but that would exclude the Cold War warriors who were the tip of the spear that defeated the USSR without firing a shot: so I can see how they arrived at the official definition.
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I’m sure there were some NDs during that time 
Back to the thread, this is reminding me of this:
As Nikita Khrushchev said in 1956: “We will take America without firing a shot. We do not have to invade the U.S. We will destroy you from within”.
Certainly seems that, almost 70 years later, they have indeed managed to achieve this goal with the latest election, and Trumps cabinet picks. There is no way Russia hasn’t at least partially influenced this election.
Penny Mourdant IIRC is still RNR.
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Can you actually prove that?? Did you follow the election closely, even today a conspiracy theory is that the Biden’s voted for DJT.
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I thought the politicians were at the top of the defence pyramid in HM Forces. Funny how many are critical of government policy when they have left but did not resign as a ‘point of principle’ about the hollowing out of HM forces since the mid 90s and then expect the troops to undertake operations with insufficient resources or defective kit.
I think she holds an honorary appointment now, but could be wrong.
IIRC, this chap has a “Dues Veult” tattoo on his arm too. Which says a lot.
RFK now confirmed as health sec pick…
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Is it that the irony of the 41st millennium is completely lost on them all?
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Is that linked to the Horus legacy?
DOGE as in DOGECOIN? What a crazy stupid joke