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Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was criticized on Friday after reports said 40,000 guardsmen and 22,000 reservists would be barred from service because of their mandate to vaccinate for the coronavirus, while their benefits dwindled.
Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told Fox News This is another example of the weakening of the defense of the United States under the Biden administration, as main rivals China and Russia are only strengthening their cores, not stopping them.
Pompeo said the military already faces recruitment problems under former Raytheon executive and retired General Austin.
to be first 001" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Austin condemned change under “Awakening”Pompeo said the latest situation could lead to a mathematical 10-15% reduction in the National Guardsman.
Pompeo: China continues to roll out Biden’s US as XI strikes deal with major Pacific islanders
President-elect Joe Biden looks on as retired Army General Lloyd Austin, Biden’s choice to become Secretary of Defense, speaks at The Queen Theater in Wilmington, Del., Wednesday, December 9, 2020. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
“It’s really dangerous. I assure you that Xi Jinping And Vladimir Putin is not worried about vaccines. They are concerned about making their army more capable.”
“We should be focused on a single thing. There’s a real risk to preparedness, a real risk to making sure we have units that are capable of deploying, should some of them be needed.”
He said the vaccine mandate is not based on science and “makes no sense” at this point.
Pompeo: Biden’s Taiwan makes remarks similar to Obama’s ‘red line’ in Syria
Pompeo said Biden’s successor should reinstate every guard cut or effectively rubberized by this administration.
He also called on left-wing media for criticizing former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe over his assassination on Friday, as CBS News, AP and NPR all had politically significant things to say about the leader.
“It is sick to see these left-wing media people going after a man who was just murdered,” he said. “There’s a reason he was the longest-serving prime minister. The people of Japan loved and respected him. He became a friend to me, too. He was a great partner to the United States of America.”
Pompeo and his former boss Donald Trump were close with Abe, as the former president issued a glowing statement calling Abe a “unified.” Few people know what a great man and leader Shinzo Abe was – but history sees him Will teach and will be. Kind.”