The Sorry State of the American Military | Victor Davis Hanson

In this clip, John and Victor discuss the current problems facing the American military.
In addition to writing hundreds of articles, book reviews and newspaper editorials, Hanson is also the author of twenty-four books and hosts a regular podcast series, 'The Victor Davis Hanson Show'. Hanson was awarded the National Humanities Medal in 2007 by President George W. Bush, and was a presidential appointee in 2007-08 on the American Battle Monuments Commission. His book, The Dying Citizen, was published in October 2021. And his latest book, released on May the 7th this year, The End of Everything, How Wars Descend Into Annihilation.
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[@meatloaf5772]

America’s allies must feel so reassured seeing the American military in the state it’s in.

[@4uRicki]

Well ourenemies certainly feel great as they marvel at their good fortune for our suicidal self destruction 😳

[@Tigrebleau1]

Hanson is more correct than he knows. My personal observation from 55 years ago is that once O-4 grade is earned, further advancement depends much less on merit that it does on political savvy. And it's much more obvious now.

[@diogenes9524]

A clear voice. We ignore this man at our peril. How ironic that 'woke' really means 'asleep.'

[@RenegadeRanga]

No, it is communism. The communist thinkers knew that communist doctrine would be rejected if it was promoted honestly. Therefore they came up with the pseudo liberalism which is actually communism and the term woke. They also know that I'd you can't name it, it cannot be defeated.

[@douglasstrother6584]

"A World without Men: An Analysis of an All-Female Economy" ~ Aaron Clarey (2024) A grim prospect, indeed. Good luck, ladies.

[@Peekaboo-Kitty]

That will never happen. Trans men will go in and run everything on behalf of real women.

[@TimBitts649]

A story about women and the military: In 1980 an old British guy told me this story about his experience during WW2: "I was down town, luckily I was in uniform. A group of very pretty young ladies were walking around, handing out White Feathers to young men not in uniform." A large percentage of young men have no chance starting a family now. It's getting harder to get them to sacrifice their lives for a feminist culture that thinks so little of them.

[@josephburns7561]

The 'extremist' sessions we were forced to go through were ridiculous. We had a 23 year old black female E-4 as our facilitator. Why? Because she checked racial and gender boxes. She had no clue as to what she was supposed to do, other than read from some script. Dumbest thing I've ever done in the military, which is saying a lot since I did 41 years.

[@themeat5053]

The U.S. Army hasn't been a meritocracy since the mid-90's. After field grade, as an officer, you needed to be hitched someone else's wagon (i.e. Petraeus and his cohorts). It's not how "tactically and technically proficient" an individual is; it might just be how connected that individual is. It is much worse now than it was then.

[@LibertysetsquareJack]

Freemasonry glee club.

[@monray300]

28 years ago airborne school was physically easy, because the standards were lowered to accommodate females. There were a few exercises that were hard but the point was they just wanted you to keep trying. When i compared my experience to my father's airborne school experience, i was disappointed.

[@andrewwood6285]

If a menstruating female can’t pass the course the standards are too high. Democrats see the military as green collar un-employment.

[@davidneidel436]

My belief is that the problems with the military today is to many inept and Incompetent leaders all the way from Biden, Harris, Secretary of Defense, Joint Chiefs, each and every director of each branch on down to the ignorant decisions being made by them. You can't expect our military to serve when they can be punished for not responding to people the way they choose. Individuals were not taught to me when I served, it was groups being the focus by removing the individuality from their work and focus on what is best for everyone. Leaders have to make split second decisions and not worry about offending anyone. The Marine Corps taught me to do as i told, after I done this, then I can ask questions, not the other way around.

[@courage1266]

I see the clouds gathering. I remember the idealism of my youth. I do not believe the love of country, the strength of individual character, or the subordination of discipline for unit... has been fostered by a society focused on DEI and identifying as Furrys. Two tours Afghanistan.

[@shirlebryant9427]

Excellent and thanks for sharing

[@rogeralsop3479]

Extraordinary.

[@rwesenberg]

I doubt the demographic wants to serve this regime. Why should they enlist?

[@christopherhazell420]

🎯🎯🎯

[@bjung8858]

Read the comments a few years ago by military families and veterans. They said that they were pulling out their children and friends because of DEI. The writing was already on the wall

[@Peekaboo-Kitty]

What's DEI?

[@andrewwood6285]

Law Enforcement is having similar problems.

[@oldgoat142]

@@Peekaboo-Kitty A cancer on society. It's supposed to mean diversity equity inclusion. Another way to look at it is; Didn't Earn It, as in someone far less qualified was given something based solely on checking off certain boxes.

[@LotusABQ1]

Didn't Earn It​@@Peekaboo-Kitty

[@Peekaboo-Kitty]

@@LotusABQ1 Thanks.

[@Sam-ir2te]

So much was said in such a short video. I know you'd love to go back to your farm John but you provide such valuable content people need to see

[@Dreadnought16]

It’s no coincidence I don’t think that Victor is also a farmer. He grew up and still owns his family almond farm.

[@darbyheavey406]

Milley is a loser. It proves that the military serves the political interests. The military prizes conformity over originality and excellence.

[@skipperclinton1087]

@darbyheavy: Starting 65 years ago with me in the military, the term "uniformity will prevail" meant in uniform dress and equipment you carried, PERIOD! When I left in '96, it still meant the same and nothing else!

[@nadakidd]

This is by design. Obama stated that he would root out the conservative leadership in the military and upend it with those loyal to him. They want the military filled with people who have no problem turning on their own citizens.

[@adolfdyversiti6517]

"The western leaders are psychopath and sociopath" Gonzalo Lira R I P

[@WonkoSane-jf4qm]

We're doing fine! Whoopi Goldberg and Potato Head Joe said so! Lol...this is what it must have looked like to the average Roman citizen when they looked around and realized that Rome, as an empire, was crumbling apart!

[@captainsden7363]

I’m a Vietnam veteran and proud of my service to this country. However I have spoken with my grandkids and vehemently convinced them that this is not the time to be joining our military. Besides the real fighting is going to be here on our own soil.

[@thomasmaloney843]

You made the wine, now you drink the cup.

[@oldgoat142]

Yep, and they diddled around for hours with their fingers in their ears until a decision was made. I'm so glad I served in the 80s.

[@fastted9390]

I sent "silly" Milley a letter some time ago telling him what I 'think' of his "leadership." No letter in response.

[@DRAKKENFIRE22]

I agree 100%! Being a former Special Operator, I can tell you that the majority of the people in the Elite forces are southern or mid-western white males; and then Latinos. Very few blacks and even fewer Asians (understandably the smallest demographic). Obviously, no women in Rangers and Special Forces (unless that has changed and they are allowed admin jobs). There used to be no females in the Engineer units until the mid-90’s when they were given admin positions. The military has been on the decline since Clinton introduced “Don’t Ask…don’t tell” in order to circumvent the UCMJ’s anti-homosexuality policy in the 90’s; and (obviously) progressive social agendas and DIE made military service a lot worse. I no longer recommend military service to anyone.

[@MetalTeamster]

The military was freaked out because of the ballon? What?

[@MCOult]

The Obama/Biden adminstrations have been distrous for America and the entire western world. As for the Army: I'm very glad my years of service are far behind me; I thought things were bad during Vietnam, but today things are much worse. We had better put Trump back into the Oval Office AND give him a conservative Congress (both houses!); otherwise, we may well have lost the nation.

[@mustang607]

Hopefully the mass formations psychosis in the military doesn't grow too big, although it's currently easy to root out its source.

[@tetedur377]

What video is this clip from?

[@ladybug591]

Go to John Anderson's channel for the full video. Look on the left, under the video, there is his name - click on that and you will see ALL his very good interviews. OR go to KZbin channel and type his name - that's how you go to the main channel for full interviews. Very informative.

[@oja7561]

dei in the miliary is going to push us closer to nuclear war bc when conventional means fail, they will go for the button, and with dei, conventional will fail and fail early, leaving only one option

[@colinbates8498]

What we need to rectify is the downward spiral in the quality of moral character displayed in our western children & young adults. I believe that we've past the point of no return if something drastic is not done very quickly. Islam, helped by others in the East have far more deeply committed & disciplined youth to use in their military than the West has. We don't stand a chance in a conventional large scale war. No one can win a nuclear war. So there's no hope for anyone there. USA is divided & in decline. Unity is strength, not division. UK & Western Europe is a mess. We are wide open to being replaced as significant players on the world stage

[@andrewwood6285]

You’re too late comrade.

[@colinbates8498]

Agreed, Christ fetching us out of this mess is our hope. Western civilization is on life support. I'm grateful that l've made it to my mid 70's without my false teeth blown into orbit. That could still happen

[@user-rr8db3mu6y]

Thank you Gentleman.

[@richardkermode8833]

That’s why they’re bringing in reinforcements from outside the US

[@robertholland7558]

Is he related to Pauline?

[@irismetcalfe]

The judge? He's her brother.

[@robertholland7558]

@@irismetcalfe no the Australian politician, Pauline Hanson.

[@ladybug591]

If you are asking about Victor Davis Hanson, he is an American analyst - military historian. OR - Go look it up yourself, most things are on line now.

[@billwhite1603]

But as sorry as our military is, they are very DEI and CRT compliant. The US military, the largest group of racists.

[@georgemitchell9696]

Needs to fix the audio. Let’s put the “immigrations” into service. Pay their way. Same with the college forgiveness.

[@rogermenendez4052]

From meritocracy to melanotocracy. Melanine is what matters now. God save us.

[@williamfox1146]

Afghanistan.

[@tbone1015]

When the dominoes begin to fall faster, the academic prediction will pale in comparison to the reality of the destruction.

[@traditionalfood367]

Foreigners, especially Central Americans, are promised US citizenship in return for US military service. This is necessary because at least two thirds of military age USA born men are deemed unfit, due to obesity, autism, and or mental health issues.

[@tetedur377]

Do you have a source? I would like to be able to cite it in discussion. Thanks. Oh, and I have known about that path to citizenship from when I served with guys like that - never met a woman in the military as a way to her citizenship, though I'm sure it did and does happen - decades ago.

[@Sam-ir2te]

@@tetedur377 do you think this statement is true? Particularly his statement that foreign born soldiers are 'neccessary'? I found that Victor was saying the exact opposite. That it was lower and middle class white men from Republican states who made up 70 percent of the US military. It seems it is these men the US government needs to placate/listen to

[@rolisreefranch]

They will be your new overlords.

[@skipperclinton1087]

​@tetedur377: CDC: In 2018, 71% of young people in the United States would not be able to join the military if they wanted to." "Just over 1 in 3 young adults aged 17-24 is too heavy to serve in our military." There is more to the article on this subject if you do your own homework instead of asking others to do it for you. A simple Google request answered this question. Does your mommy do everything for you too like dressing you in the morning before school or before you go outside?

[@traditionalfood367]

@tetedur377 This matter is self evident. Anyone actually located in the USA can see this for themselves. No citation needed. The average American is overweight.

[@akinogun7213]

🤔woke military is not fit for purpose - Doomed to fail when tested.😔

[@seanhutchins1]

Well, let's talk about the law enforcement bar being lowered as well......I mean, the candidates are a joke nationwide.

[@skipperclinton1087]

@ronni: VDH was born in '53. By the time he was eligible for the draft, the lottery system was in place, and he didn't get deferment as far as I could find nor picked up in the lottery. Well, ronni boy, I seved, and at least he has wisdom and an education. Obviously, you have neither one and possibly still are in the closet, maybe?

[@TheLastRoman0000]

I'm amazed that the Americans still haven't "dealt with" their Yankee oppressors.

[@darbyheavey406]

Yankees means Americans. Dolt.

[@tommyblackwell3760]

@@darbyheavey406 Not down here in Georgia, it doesn't.

[@ronniecozzi8385]

Guys like Hanson never served in the military but they are so worried that zoomers don't want to join and fight in forever wars.

[@johnschuh8616]

What is happening in the military is happening in other institutions. Men are now a minority in higher education, which is significant in that so few women are found un the STEM disciplines. It was a hard fact that women do not like engineering.as well as men and so the pool of highly qualified persons in that field is becoming smaller.

[@petersack5074]

@@johnschuh8616 ...?....' becoming smaller '> ? NO doubt = evidence of ' engineers ' is everywhere - toy cars - toy drills / toy plastic, most all EVERYTHING. BUILT TO USE ONCE, THROW AWAY.....BUY AGAIN.......USE ONCE....THROW AWAY........MODERN ' engineers " ?.......Shurely you engineers, must have a more defined word to use , Engineer is NOT WHAT YOU MAKE......woke /......yeah, from infancy......

[@Tigrebleau1]

You misunderstand: His concern is real alarm that our military is much less capable of defending the US against its enemies. And he's correct. The Chinese, Russians and Iranians are giddy at our degradation of the military.

[@joespeciale5875]

= Ad hominem response. So that you don’t have to answer/are unable to challenge Hanson’s critique.

[@ericrawson2909]

As an Englishman I am glad that the strength of the US military is declining. I hope it will reduce the US war mongering around the world. We need more diplomacy, less war.

[@Dreadnought16]

You are ignorant, especially for an Englishmen. We need more deterrence. If the UK and the US had a formidable military back in the 1930’s Germany never would have started WW2.

[@jimfesta8981]

You lost your empire after World War II and now you are losing your country to Islam.

[@mikeguilmette776]

That's adorable . . .

[@MotoKeto]

You're the exact reason why so many in the United States are pushing for isolationism again. Why should the United States send their son's and daughter's to bail your European backsides out in this century. We did it twice in the last one. Yes the United States has stuck their noses into places they never should have been around the world.

[@bigk4755]

Your ignorance is blinding you. It has never been the actual warfighters who are the warmongers, rather it has always been the politicians and the lackeys for the military industrial complex that start wars that they and their kids will never fight in.

[@stephensuddick1896]

Victor is the biggest bellyacher on KZbin.