The Breitbart News reported over the weekend that the Marine Corps’ official Twitter number slammed civilians who suggested the military focus on the Chinese Communist Party rather than Carlson on Friday and had to apologize after the tweet received widespread attention.
Carlson commented in a monologue last Thursday that Joe Biden was focused on making the military more accommodating to women, such as maternity flight suits. Left-wingers in the military (so-called progressives) expressed outrage over the comments, saying Carlson was attacking women in the military. Military commanders and senior enlisted leaders began tweeting comments en masse, slamming Carlson’s comments and talking about the importance of women in the military.
The 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF) Information Group (IG) Twitter account joined in the criticism of Carlson, tweeting, “Look at what the armed forces look like today, Carlson, while you’re at it, you baby boomer mouthpiece.” with a photo of a female Marine carrying another female Marine on her back. The tweet has now been deleted.
After a civilian tweeted, “Please focus on China, not Carlson,” the Marine account responded, “Wait until you’ve served and you’re pregnant.” And of course the post has now been deleted.
Breitbart News reported that the two tweets were widely condemned by the public for taking the position that media personalities or civilians cannot criticize or comment on military matters without being attacked or ridiculed by the military, undermining the principle of civilian rule in the United States. The account quickly issued a series of apologies for its tweets.
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) sent a letter to Defense Secretary Austin on Sunday regarding the matter. Cruz wrote, “Multiple military leaders tweeted videos of the attack on Carlson in uniform, including the senior chief of staff of the U.S. Space Command Command, the Army’s major sergeant major, the commander of the U.S. Army Maneuver Center of Excellence, and the commander of the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force Information Group (IG). Throughout the event, military leaders implied and insinuated that it is impossible to criticize the military unless a civilian has served.”
“After centuries of U.S. efforts to keep military officials out of domestic affairs, the current situation has the potential to politicize the military by allowing it to support one side in a contentious cultural dispute, thereby undermining civil-military relations and creating the Perception that military leaders are happy to use the military as a weapon against political critics of the current administration. Such actions, while perhaps typical in military-controlled Third World countries, are completely unacceptable in the United States of America.
“In addition, these actions have the potential to create a Culture of contempt for U.S. civilian leadership among enlisted men and women and among junior officers, which would undermine good order and discipline in the military.
“At times, the campaign has also been conducted in a manner that is far more demeaning to the dignity of the U.S. military. A statement from Pentagon Press Secretary Kirby, headlined “Press secretary slams Fox host who denigrates diversity in U.S. military,” was coded on the Defense Department’s official website, declaring that Carlson issued “an insult to the entire U.S. military.
“The 2nd Marine Expeditionary Unit constitutes one-third of the Marine Corps’ operational capability, so the department’s information group is the public affairs unit of the combatant force for the public. The official Twitter account of the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Unit’s Information Group posted ridiculous statements insulting Carlson, including criticizing Carlson’s age and then telling another civilian to “serve and come back when you’re pregnant.”
“I cannot imagine how the above actions are to be explained, and I am deeply concerned about the direction you and Biden are pushing the military in.”
Cruz also requested a personal meeting with the Marine Corps commandant to discuss the issues. After Cruz sent his letter, the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force Information Group deleted the two tweets.
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