WASHINGTON – Army Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, admonished lawmakers over questions about critical race theory at a Wednesday hearing, saying it is important for leaders to be well-versed in many schools of thought.
“I’ve read Mao Zedong. I’ve read Karl Marx. I’ve read Lenin. That doesn’t make me a communist,” Milley told the House Armed Services Committee. “So what is wrong with understanding . . . the country which we are here to defend?”
Rep. Mike Waltz, R-Fla., criticized reports that the U.S. Military Academy at West Point teaches a course involving the theory, which broadly explores the idea that racism reaches beyond individual prejudice and affects minorities at the institutional level, particularly in criminal justice.
By Syndicated Content
By Phil Stewart
WASHINGTON (Reuters) â The United Statesâ top military officer on Wednesday hit back against a growing conservative movement opposed to teaching certain theories about racism at educational institutions, saying military university graduates should be âopen-minded and be widely read.â
The remarks to Congress by Army General Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, did not endorse critical race theory but strongly condemned a drumbeat by Republican lawmakers and pundits against it being taught.
âWhat is wrong with understanding â having some situational understanding â about the country for which we are here to defend?â Milley asked before the House of Representatives Armed Services Committee.
What’s wrong with understanding? Joint Chiefs chair defends fostering open-minded military
At a House Armed Services hearing, Pentagon leaders pushed back against accusations that the effort to address racism and extremism is hurting morale. Author: ROBERT BURNS and LOLITA C. BALDOR Associated Press Published: 5:34 PM CDT June 23, 2021 Updated: 5:54 PM CDT June 23, 2021
WASHINGTON Top Pentagon leaders on Wednesday passionately defended the military s approach to addressing racism and extremism, pushing back against accusations by Republican lawmakers that the effort is creating division and hurting morale.
The testy exchanges showed that the political dimension of a national debate over racism and extremism weighs on the military even as it attempts to address social problems within its own ranks.
U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin (L) and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley (R) testify during a hearing before the House Committee on Armed Services on June 23, 2021, in Washington, D.C. Alex Wong/Getty Images Get all our news and commentary in your inbox at 6 a.m. ET.
email Austin, Milley Push Back on Lawmakers’ ‘Critical Race Theory’ Accusations
Republicans ask why West Point cadets learn about ‘White Rage,’ in pointed exchanges with nation’s first Black defense secretary. June 23, 2021 05:12 PM ET
Republicans fighting against critical race theory confronted Pentagon leaders in an unusual showdown between white lawmakers, a Black defense secretary, and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff over what kind of teachings about racism were appropriate in military education and training.
Column: Army general shoots down GOP s critical race theory hysteria: It matters to our military Amen chicagotribune.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from chicagotribune.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.