A senior Pentagon official has been placed on leave after he was secretly filmed criticizing President Donald Trump’s administration and the changes it has implemented at the Department of Defense.
Right-wing activist James O’Keefe released a video on Wednesday reportedly showing Brandon Newsom, a senior official in the Office of the Secretary of the Navy, being filmed with a hidden camera. Newsweek has not independently verified the footage.
In the footage, Newsom can be heard saying that he wanted to “stay and stick it out” at the Pentagon, adding: “So that way, when the time comes, I can undo whatever’s been done [by the Trump administration].” When asked about what he would undo, he talked of “a lot of times” when working at the Pentagon “challenges my morals,” saying he would not have “one specific prayer service” and undo employee “schedule policy.”
He also called Trump “a textbook narcissist” and described the Iran war as “completely stupid” and “driven by one man’s ego.”
Good to know there’s still good people in the military (1 less now, but this show they’re there).
Draining the swamp, of the beneficial species, so they can continue to infest it with slime.
Gotta look out for those telescreens, Winston.
They should have promoted him.
“He insulted Hitler? Well what’d he think, he’d get a promotion?”
The story isn’t the guy at the Pentagon. Well, not that guy anyway.
Good to know there’s still good people in the military (1 less now, but this show they’re there).
Not sure I would say that a person that is doing something they admit to know is/was wrong “good people”
I’m conflicted.
On one hand, I think people should leave their positions if they’re being used for evil.
On the other hand, how do we adequately resist fascism without people on the inside at the highest levels willing to side against the fascists when the opportunity presents itself?
I’m not absolving this guy for anything he may have contributed to the fascist agenda, but having people on the inside to resist it is necessary. Few of those people will ever be squeaky clean.
I’m conflicted.
Completely understandable
On one hand, I think people should leave their positions if they’re being used for evil.
We are not just talking about “evil” here as in “following orders means this washing machine will not be as reliable as I could make it”. In this case we are talking about extreme cases as in “following orders means humans will be slaughtered for no reason at all”
On the other hand, how do we adequately resist fascism without people on the inside at the highest levels willing to side against the fascists when the opportunity presents itself?
Is that what is happening? because what I read was that this person disagreed but followed orders anyway, and just the slightest criticism got him canned… how was he resisting fascism in any way?
I’m not absolving this guy for anything he may have contributed to the fascist agenda, but having people on the inside to resist it is necessary. Few of those people will ever be squeaky clean.
Again, I agree but where is the evidence of ANY resistance?
Well, the act of criticism is grounds for immediate dismissal.
So what specific resistance are you looking for? That would not simply be the same as walking away, only with added steps and possible retaliation?
