Former Obama administration Defense Secretary Leon Panetta told CNN on Thursday that Pete Hegseth is “undermining” the military by “creating turmoil in the command structure.” <\/p>\n
WOLF BLITZER: Multiple sources are now telling CNN they believe Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is damaging the Army’s efforts to adapt to the modern battlefield, as he focuses in on cultural issues and pushes out leaders who don’t necessarily align with his vision. And this comes after the Army secretary, Dan Driscoll’s recent resignation. What’s your response? You’re a former Pentagon chief yourself. You were secretary of defense. As you see this unfolding, what do you think? LEON PANETTA: Well, I was also a member of the Army when I served in the military. And as a former secretary of defense, I think the secretary is undermining the strength of our military, and particularly the Army, by creating the kind of turmoil in the command structure that he’s been creating. Anytime he dismisses a command structure that is experienced and that has been recognized as strong and bringing experience and leadership to the position, which is very important in the military – it isn’t the secretary that is leading those people on the battlefield. It is those commanders. And when you get rid of those commanders, and when you get rid of the secretary of the Army, what you do is you create turmoil, which damages the ability of the Army to do its job, particularly at a time of war. WOLF BLITZER: The current Pentagon spokesperson, Sean Parnell, says – and I’m quoting him now – “It’s a total fabrication to claim that Secretary Hegseth is not focused on modernization,” end quote. But what do you read from some Republican lawmakers right now publicly calling for Hegseth’s ouster? LEON PANETTA: Well, you know, when you look at the record here, it is not a good record in terms of supporting our men and women in uniform. We’re running out of weapons. We have depleted our missile supply. We are deploying ships like the Abraham Lincoln for nine months – extended deployment that has impacted on morale, on their health, on their maintenance, and on their mission. When you combine all of that with the actions that are being taken against the commanders – commanders who have been chosen because they are experienced, because they’re good; I’ve worked with many of these people, they are the best – when you combine all of that, what he’s doing, very frankly, is weakening the ability of our military to respond and do its mission. WOLF BLITZER: Have you ever seen anything like this before at the Pentagon? LEON PANETTA: Never. Never. Everyone I talk to has commented that there is nothing but turmoil going on at the Pentagon – turmoil in leadership, turmoil in terms of the mission, internal turmoil in terms of fully supporting our men and women in uniform who are putting their lives on the line. That is not what the Pentagon, with the secretary, ought to be doing. He ought to be supporting those who put their lives on the line, not undermining the support that they absolutely need to do the job. WOLF BLITZER: The former defense secretary, Leon Panetta. Thanks so much for joining us.
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