The Tednado asked a really great final question of General Mattis at the confirmation hearings today. He asked him to explain his position on why the “warrior ethos” is important to the military, especially in a time when the politicization at the Pentagon is threatening to erode it.
Watch below from about the 4:45 minute mark:
Here’s his full answer:
Senator, the primitive and often, even, atavistic aspects of the battlefield test the physical strength, the mental agility of everyone, but most of what it tests is the courage and the spiritual side of the troops we put in harm’s way. And oftentimes it’s only unit cohesion, leadership, and the belief in themselves and their comrades that allows them to go through what they have to go through and come home as better men and women, and not as broken. And so, The “warrior ethos” is not a luxury, it is essential, when you have a military.
Damn, that is one serious, thoughtful man in contrast to the president-elect. Mattis is a noted scholar and a voracious reader, especially on topics of this nature. That makes me very comfortable with this nomination – our military will do better with more “warrior ethos” and with less of Obama’s “social justice warrior ethos.”
Notice also that John McCain interrupts Cruz’s attempt to point out that this is likely the first time the word “atavistic” is used in a confirmation hearing.
Ted Cruz mentioned the warrior ethos in his statement supporting Mattis just yesterday:
Gen. Mattis is an exceptional selection who will restore the warrior ethos to our military: https://t.co/sqFMSt3dis
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) January 12, 2017
Taken together, Gen. Mattis’ policy positions represent a badly needed breath of fresh air that will reinvigorate the United States armed forces and strengthen Texas’ role in supporting our national defense. After eight years of neglect, our military and our national security are in a precarious position. Our adversaries have grown bolder, and our allies have become less sure of America’s will. Gen. Mattis is an exceptional selection who will restore the warrior ethos to our military, banish political correctness, and direct our concerted energy at defeating our enemies and protecting our homeland. I look forward to supporting his nomination.
Well said, Senator.