Hegseth to look into 'what went wrong' in Afghanistan and pledges accountability, slams diversity motto

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth connected Friday addressed events successful Afghanistan, saying they created the cognition of "American weakness."

While speaking to the Department of Defense and Pentagon workforce during a municipality hallway connected Friday, Hegseth said America "deserves to instrumentality accountability for" events successful Afghanistan, the Oct. 7 Hamas-led onslaught connected Israel, and the warfare that was unleashed successful Ukraine. 

"Chaos happens erstwhile the cognition of American spot is not complete," Hegseth said. "We purpose to re-establish that deterrence."

President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth testifies during his Senate Armed Services confirmation proceeding connected Capitol Hill connected Jan. 14 successful Washington, D.C.  ( (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images))

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He discussed the 3 pillars helium volition absorption connected during his word - reviving the warrior ethos, restoring spot successful the subject and rebuilding it by matching threats to capabilities, and reestablishing deterrence by defending the homeland.

Hegseth besides spoke astir the breached windows mentation successful policing, explaining that disregarding the tiny things successful the subject tin make ample problems.

"I deliberation the aforesaid happening exists wrong our services – making definite astatine each level, determination [are] standards and accountability, and that we unrecorded it astatine the highest levels," helium said.

UNITED STATES - DECEMBER 3: Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to beryllium defence secretary, makes his mode to a gathering with Sen. Ted Budd, R-N.C., successful Russell gathering connected Tuesday, December 3, 2024. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images) (Tom Williams)

That is why, Hegseth said, the U.S. volition look backmost astatine what happened successful Afghanistan.

He added the section volition clasp radical accountable.

"Not to beryllium retrospective, not for retribution, but to recognize what went incorrect and wherefore determination was nary accountability for it," Hegseth said.

Sec. Hegseth said helium volition absorption connected rebuilding the military. (U.S. Army Fort Leonard Wood)

Going forward, the military volition find spot successful unity, not diversity, according to Hegseth.

"I deliberation the azygous dumbest operation successful subject past is ‘our diversity is our strength,’" helium said. "Our spot is our shared intent – careless of our background, careless of however we grew up, careless of our gender, careless of our race. 

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In the department, Hegseth said everyone volition beryllium treated equally.

"We volition dainty everyone with fairness," helium said. "We volition dainty everyone with respect."

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Service members and section civilian employees volition beryllium judged by their merit, committedness to the team, and the mission, according to Hegseth.