Pentagon spokesman Admiral John Kirby pushed back on Fox News anchor Dana Perino, saying that concerns about “wokeness” infiltrating the U.S. military were “ridiculous.”
Perino hosted “Fox News Sunday,” and she spoke with Kirby about a wide range of issues facing the American military — from the contentious situation still brewing between Russia, Ukraine, and Ukraine’s western allies to the fact that China was likely watching those interactions with great interest and an eye on Taiwan.
She wrapped up the interview with a question about whether or not a focus on “wokeness” was a distraction for a military that clearly needed to be ready for multiple potential threats.
WATCH:
“This argument of ‘wokeness in the military’ … those kind of arguments are ridiculous.”
— Pentagon Press Sec. John Kirby shoots down question from Fox News’ Dana Perino about harmful “wokeness in our military” because of diversity and inclusion efforts. pic.twitter.com/V2W0zs8YeN
— The Recount (@therecount) January 30, 2022
“Focusing on some criticism in the U.S. military, that perhaps there is too much of a leftward tilt, or a wokeness in our military when we face really determined adversaries, committed adversaries in China, Russia, Iran, who maybe don’t have those same kind of pressures. How do you respond to those criticisms?” Perino asked.
“It depends on what they are, but I think a lot of it, quite frankly, is driving a stake through a straw man here. This argument of wokeness in the military,” Kirby replied.
“I was in the military for 30 years, and I can tell you things like diversity and inclusion, that makes us a better military because it brings to the fore, in the decision-making, operational decision-making that we conduct, better ideas, more unique perspectives. Somebody else’s lived experiences which might actually make us smarter on the battlefield. So we know those kind of arguments I think are ridiculous, because we are a stronger military because of our diversity and because we represent all Americans, just like we defend all Americans,” Kirby added.
Perino’s Fox News colleague Tucker Carlson brought the issue of wokeness in the military to the forefront when he mocked President Joe Biden for prioritizing things like maternity flight suits and hairstyle regulations for female service members while China was focusing on developing masculinity, building new islands and developing hypersonic missile technology.
WATCH:
Tucker Carlson Segment From A Few Nights Back That The Left Is Whining About Today: Joe Biden Is Making A Mockery Of The United States Military
Tucker Discusses How China Is Focusing On Cultivating Masculinity In Their Military While The U.S. Military Embraces Woke Politics. pic.twitter.com/Pi9O6C7tOF
— The Columbia Bugle 🇺🇸 (@ColumbiaBugle) March 11, 2021
As The Daily Wire reported:
Carlson warned earlier this week that while U.S. citizens stay in their homes on the advice of Dr. Anthony Fauci, China is working to make their society more masculine on the recommendation of a top adviser who warned that Chinese boys are being “spoiled by housewives and female teachers.”
Carlson went on to contrast the Chinese military, which has recently assembled the largest naval force in the world, with the military of the U.S., which is preoccupied with “new hairstyles and maternity flight suits.”
“Pregnant women are going to fight our wars,” Carlson said. “It’s a mockery of the U.S. military.”
“The bottom line is, it’s out of control, and the Pentagon’s going along with this,” he added.