Hegseth delivered a gap assertion to the committee, outlining his imaginative and prescient for the put up and arguing that his background — whereas it differs from earlier Pentagon leaders — is an asset.
Hegseth doubled down on concepts he outlined in his ebook “Struggle on Warriors.” He mentioned, “when President Trump selected me for this place, the first cost he gave me was to carry the warrior tradition again to the Division of Protection.”
“He, like me, desires a Pentagon laser-focused on lethality, meritocracy, war-fighting, accountability and readiness,” Hegseth mentioned, as one other protester was escorted out of the listening to room.
“In the beginning, we’ll defend our homeland,” Hegseth mentioned, including that the U.S. can not rely on “reputational deterrence.”
“We’re not Republicans, we’re not democrats, we’re American warriors,” Hegseth mentioned.
Hegseth recalled how he first joined the army, saying he served with “unbelievable People” in Guantanamo Bay, Afghanistan and Iraq. He mentioned when he “took off the uniform, my mission by no means stopped.”
Hegseth acknowledged that he would not have the biography of earlier protection secretaries, whereas saying that Trump believes “it is time to give somebody with mud on his boots the helm.”
“A change agent,” Hegseth continued. “Somebody with no vested curiosity in sure corporations or particular applications or authorised narratives.”
Hegseth mentioned his “solely particular curiosity is the warfighter, deterring wars,” and “profitable wars,” if referred to as upon, by making certain “our warriors by no means enter a good battle.”
“Like lots of my technology, I have been there,” Hegseth mentioned, detailing what he is seen on the battlefield. “This isn’t educational for me — that is my life.”
Hegseth inspired senators to ask those that know him of his monitor document as a pacesetter, saying he would clarify the work he did at veterans organizations that has come underneath scrutiny. He referred to as the place that he is in search of “crucial deployment of my life,” pledging to government the president-elect’s imaginative and prescient.
“The president has given me a transparent imaginative and prescient, and I’ll execute,” he continued. “I’ve sworn an oath to the Structure earlier than, and — if confirmed — I’ll proudly do it once more.”
