Victor Davis Hanson: Hegseth Did What Biden Called ‘Impossible’

Love him, hate him or anywhere in between, VDH is one of the most rational and measured voices that can be heard right now. I've been a fan since I first heard him circa 2016, and I've not agreed with him in lock-step but I have found him to always add valuable perspective to just about every subject.

In this commentary for The Daily Signal, historian and commentator Victor Davis Hanson strongly defends Pete Hegseth regarding his tenure as Secretary of Defense. Hanson argues that the intense criticism faced by Hegseth is entirely political and asymmetrical, asserting that his actions have been highly effective and long overdue.

Key takeaways from the discussion include:
Military Recruitment Turnaround: Hanson credits Hegseth with reversing a significant decline in recruitment that occurred during the Biden administration (0:20-0:39). He highlights that the military is now meeting or exceeding its recruitment quotas, comparing this achievement to the resolution of issues on the southern border (0:14-0:20).

Restoration of "Warrior Ethos": Hanson contends that recruitment struggles were caused by a perceived shift away from "battlefield efficacy" toward social justice and DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) programs (2:09-2:21). He claims Hegseth successfully dismantled these programs, which had alienated a key demographic of potential recruits, thereby restoring the military's focus on combat readiness (3:00-3:32).

Procurement Reform: Hanson highlights Hegseth's move away from reliance on a few large defense conglomerates toward a broader base of startup and off-the-shelf providers, aiming to achieve the quantity and cost-effectiveness needed to "swarm the enemy" (3:50-5:03).

Focus on Drug Interdiction: The commentary notes Hegseth's emphasis on drug interdiction at the border, arguing that saving lives from fentanyl and foreign-imported opiates is a crucial internal security priority that outweighs certain overseas interventions (5:03-6:20).

Defense of Methods: Hanson dismisses the criticism directed at Hegseth as partisan, arguing that if the same standards were applied, previous administrations would have faced even greater scrutiny regarding personnel decisions, potential conflicts of interest, and the use of military assets (6:22-9:30).

Ummmmm but don't you know he is a tall show host?!? You cultist just shilling for Trump and his meathead stooge.

VDH wrote the Forewords for the excellent Raymond Ibrahim series.


Highly recommend.

VDH is an absolute GLOBAL treasure. If you have any young folks in your life, I highly recommend turning them onto these short videos and his books. The dude had a standing weekly lunch date with Thomas Sowell for years. I cannot fathom the topics discussed that table.


He had a recent health scare; I hope he is doing well. We should all enjoy his words of wisdom while we can.

VDH, Sen John Kennedy and James Woods would make an all-time Jeopardy trio. All smart as a whip and cutting wit.

quote:

---

VDH is an absolute GLOBAL treasure. If you have any young folks in your life, I highly recommend turning them onto these short videos and his books. The dude had a standing weekly lunch date with Thomas Sowell for years. I cannot fathom the topics discussed that table.


He had a recent health scare; I hope he is doing well. We should all enjoy his words of wisdom while we can.

---

There are only two people in the "pundit" spectrum that 100% always have my ear when they speak.

Those two people are Victor Davis Hansen and Mike Rowe. Both men are easy to listen to, and intellectual bosses. Rowe actually has quite a set of pipes too, as he used to be an opera singer.