Pentagon punches back against GOP culture wars | TheHill

Republicans are increasingly pulling the military into their culture wars -- and the military is increasingly hitting back.The latest clash came at a House hearing this week when a pair of Republicans questioned Pentagon leaders on whether critical race theory was being taught in the military, prompting an impassioned speech from the nation’s top general on the importance of being well read and his desire to understand where “white rage” comes from.The speech only elicited more howls from conservatives that the military has been lost to “woke” ideology.Critics decrying what they label as “social experiments” in the military -- from racial integration in 1948 to opening combat jobs to women and allowing LGBT troops to serve openly -- is nothing new.But the latest attacks from conservatives come amid a broader GOP campaign to weaponize what was once an obscure graduate school-level theory into an electoral strategy.“It has the feel of grandstanding for cable news rather than genuinely seeking to explore a tough policy issue,” Peter Feaver, a civil-military relations expert at Duke University who was a White House adviser to former President George W. Matt GaetzMatthew (Matt) GaetzCalifornia Democrats clash over tech antitrust fight Britney Spears case casts harsh light on conservatorships House advances five bills targeting Big Tech after overnight slugfest MORE and Michael WaltzMichael WaltzOvernight Defense: Joint Chiefs chairman clashes with GOP on critical race theory | House bill introduced to overhaul military justice system as sexual assault reform builds momentum Joint Chiefs chairman clashes with GOP on race theory, 'white rage' Biden struggles to detail post-withdrawal Afghanistan plans MORE questioned Defense Secretary Lloyd AustinLloyd AustinBiden administration to evacuate Afghans who helped US Overnight Defense: Joint Chiefs chairman clashes with GOP on critical race theory | House bill introduced to overhaul military justice system as sexual assault reform builds momentum Joint Chiefs chairman clashes with GOP on race theory, 'white rage' MORE, the nation’s first Black Pentagon chief, on the issue, including that a voluntary lecture at West Point included a slide on “white rage” and that the syllabus for one class at the academy includes a book titled “Critical Race Theory: An Introduction.”Testifying alongside Austin at the House Armed Services Committee, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark MilleyMark MilleyUS diplomat says US no longer sees Taiwan as problem in relationship with China: report Overnight Defense: Joint Chiefs chairman clashes with GOP on critical race theory | House bill introduced to overhaul military justice system as sexual assault reform builds momentum Joint Chiefs chairman clashes with GOP on race theory, 'white rage' MORE tried to chime in during Gaetz’s questioning, but was cut off by the congressman.Later in the hearing, Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.) asked Milley if he wanted to comment on the issue.