By Brig. General Blaine Holt, US Air Force ret
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), a mainstay of Marxist ideology has replaced meritocracy in our security institutions.
For just over $1 trillion per year, We the People pay for our national security.
The security enterprise goes well beyond the five sides of the Pentagon and all its vast resources. Add in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Department of Justice (DOJ), Intelligence Community (IC) and all the little pockets of every three-letter agency that has their tendrils watering at this part of the swamp.
It started as a light dalliance into political correctness during the Obama administration with a push for diversity in the government.
Leaders were careful to pronounce that this was an awareness campaign, no one was suggesting a new affirmative action or replacement for meritocracy was being hatched.
We were duped.
Diversity awareness shed its camouflage.
Cheery happy messages of “Diversity Makes us Stronger” gave way to DEI empires built up in all the agencies that could report directly to the Office of the President to ensure subservience.
Equal protection under the law (14th Amendment U.S. Constitution) be damned.
DEI is there to champion all the oppressed and put down white privilege once and for all . . . even if it is illegal.
Gen C.Q. Brown, the relatively new Chairman of the Joint Chiefs was lightly challenged during confirmation hearings for statements he had made that hiring for the “sake of diversity” was appropriate.
DEI Is a Political Viewpoint
Meritocracies are blind and apolitical, as they should be.
Any mirage that the general was apolitical at that point had all but vanished.
No great surprise, his predecessor Gen. Mark Milley saw no trouble with outward political bias.
The senior leaders and their peers across the security enterprise may have forgotten how their millions of personnel hang on every word they say.
“Please your boss” is the golden rule for moving up the government ladder.
Learn how to say “that’s brilliant” in the office or “nice shot Sir/Ma’am” when on the course. This new DEI climate has sent the clear message of learning how to say “I’m offended,” or “those are not the right pronouns.”
Sound like a bad soap opera?
An inconvenient truth; the dangerous world of global realpolitik doesn’t care one whit about your pronouns, feelings, or victim status.
Whether its urban combat, cartel wars on our border, foreign terror cells on our turf, or bullet-nosed diplomatic negotiation where failure costs lives, it’s all the same, the adversary could care less if you were a disadvantaged dreamer from south Chicago or a transgender “they” who can’t pass a PT Test.
Our enemies and rivals seek to test and best us . . . period.
For decades our military has reflected the rich diversity that is America.
Recent administrations have decided that institutional racism and division make for a better government. If that were true, then maybe there wouldn’t be a recruitment crisis in our military.
Marxism Doesn’t End with DEI, It’s the Starting Point
The massive group think that emanates from the DEI offices is quite clear; there is zero room for dissent on this ideology. “Get on board and pretend the cross-dresser is a better troop than you or else.”
“Or else” can be pretty rough; just ask Air Force Academy cadets who slip up and use the term “Mom” or “Dad” — scandalous.
Back to basics. How do we fix it?
The damage wrought by DEI on our National Security is extensive.
Repairing this and returning to the system where our very best rise and become our nation’s vanguards will require dramatic actions.
Unfortunately, the current administration is wedded, and welded to, this Marxist path so perhaps a clearer thinking future National Security Team will consider strong medicine.
Ideology can be like a tumor. Once it has permeated the entire organization and all its structures, it has metastasized.
The leaders cannot be trusted to suddenly “unthink” Marxism and return the institution to American, constitutional-based values.
The middle and junior levels will need to be taught that what they witnessed was wrong.
Is It Time for a Purge?
Senior leaders who have been DEI leading-the-charge champions in addition to speaking out politically need to be removed from these positions.
Given the size of our security apparatus, the scale of removals for breaking faith with American values and the Constitution is staggering.
Those who remain will need to take enhanced oaths in writing where they are legally bound to the contract that includes disavowing Communism and all its derivatives.
“Gray beards” or those retired civilian and military leaders who served honorably in the security enterprise should be drafted to return and dedicate themselves to the course correction, sharpening the edge our agencies and departments must possess in this increasingly dangerous world.
Harsh medicine? Consider the alternative.
At one trillion dollars per year, we deserve the very best America can produce; color blind with equal opportunity for all.
Brig. Gen. Blaine Holt (retired) is a co-founder of Restore Liberty, a former deputy representative to NATO, a lifetime member on the Council on Foreign Relations, and a Newsmax contributor. The views presented are those of the author and do not represent the views of the U.S. government, U.S.Department of Defense, or its components. Read Gen. Holt’s reports — More Here.
Abe Hamadeh talks about DEI’s impact on military recruitment (Just the News)
GOP Candidate for U.S. Congress Abe Hamadeh talks about how the Biden administration’s ideology push contradicts military culture and likely contributes to low recruitment numbers.
“…I believe they’re trying to shove this diversity, equity, inclusion agenda within the ranks of the military and I think that becomes very dangerous because the motivations for most people to join the military is honorable service and patriotism, not to promote this Marxist ideology,” says Hamadeh.
Watch video at the link above.
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