(These upper brass in the military are trying hard to kiss the commander-in-thief's ass, aren't they? -- SD)
From:
https://tinyurl.com/ywtevscn (washingtonexaminer.com)
===
Space Force officer relieved of post after denouncing Marxist ideology and critical race theory in military: Report
by Carly Ortiz-Lytle, Social Media Producer
May 15, 2021 02:09 PM
A commander in the United States Space Force was apparently relieved from
his post after appearing on a podcast to promote his book, which asserts a neo-Marxist agenda is transforming military culture and policy.
"Lt. Gen. Stephen Whiting, Space Operations Command commander, relieved
Lt. Col. Matthew Lohmeier of command of the 11th Space Warning Squadron, Buckley Air Force Base, Colorado, May 14, due to loss of trust and
confidence in his ability to lead," the Space Force said in a statement to
the Washington Examiner.
"This decision was based on public comments made by Lt. Col. Lohmeier in a recent podcast. Lt. Gen. Whiting has initiated a Command Directed Investigation (CDI) on whether these comments constituted prohibited
partisan political activity."
Lohmeier self-published Irresistible Revolution: Marxism's Goal of Conquest
& the Unmaking of the American Military this week. The book, according to
the description, explores the "impact of a neo-Marxist agenda" and the
manner in which the "Black Lives Matter movement, anti-racism,
postmodernism, [and] political correctness" affect the national security of
the United States.
Lohmeier said that he had informed his superiors, public affairs staff, and lawyers for the military about the book prior to publication, but it was not subject to a pre-publication review.
Department of Defense Directive 1344.10 prohibits active-duty personnel from engaging in "partisan political activities." Service members are, however, permitted to express their personal opinions on political candidates and
issues in their personal capacity and when not in uniform. Lohmeier denied intending to participate in partisan politics.
"My intent never has been to engage in partisan politics. I have written a book about a particular political ideology (Marxism) in the hope that our Defense Department might return to being politically nonpartisan in the
future as it has honorably done throughout history," he told Military.com.
The Air Force Academy graduate appeared on the podcast Information Operation last week to publicize the book, in which he criticized Defense Secretary
Lloyd Austin's diversity and inclusion "agenda."
"I don't demonize the man, but I want to make it clear to both him and every service member this agenda -- it will divide us. It will not unify us, " Lohmeier said.
Austin instituted a 60-day force-wide extremism "stand-down" to determine
how best to root out extremism from the military after the Capitol riot on
Jan. 6.
"There were members, sadly, of the active-duty force participating and espousing these radical beliefs," Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said. "We don't know the full breadth and depth of it."
Lohmeier said he was asked to train his troops with extremism training and
was given a "70-page" booklet of "talking points." The lieutenant commander said the booklet opened with the Capitol riot and included examples of
"white nationalists that have been caught at some point in the last decade
and punished for it and kicked out of the military, or a radical Islamic terrorist."
"The diversity, inclusion and equity industry and the trainings we are receiving in the military ... is rooted in critical race theory, which is rooted in Marxism," Lohmeier said. The Space Force lieutenant colonel also criticized spokespeople at the Defense Department for saying the military
has "too many white pilots" amid a pilot shortage. Kirby denied making that claim, however, the Air Force has proposed a plan to increase diversity in
the ranks of pilots, which includes "recruiting, retaining and removing barriers" for minorities and women to become pilots.
Citing a diversity initiative in which service members read So You Want to
Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo, in which the U.S. is referred to as a
"white supremacist nation," Lohmeier told the Information Operation podcast that the young service members are inundated by a "hyperpoliticized work environment where diversity and inclusion initiatives are being pushed constantly."
Lohmeier added that conservatives in the military who are willing to voice their opinions are painted as "extremists."
"What you see happening in the U.S. military at the moment is that if
you're a conservative, then you're lumped into a group of people who are labeled extremists, if you're willing to voice your views. And if you're aligned with the Left, then it's OK to be an activist online because no
one's gonna hold you accountable," he said.
===
--- MultiMail/Linux
* Origin: Outpost BBS (618:618/10)