William Cohen, former Defense Secretary, emphasized the crucial role women play in the military, including in combat positions, in response to President-elect Trump’s choice for Defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, who has faced criticism for suggesting that women should be excluded from certain military roles.
According to Cohen, women today are integral to national defense, noting their contributions as high-performing pilots, ship captains, and combat personnel. “We’re not engaging in ancient-style combat, but we have women who are pilots of aircraft, who are sailing our ships, who are flying our helicopters, and they are fighting in combat in every way imaginable,” Cohen, who served under the Clinton administration, said during an interview with CNN’s Jim Sciutto on Saturday.
Former Defense Secretary Cohen champions women’s vital role in modern military operations in the Middle of Hegseth’s controversial nomination
Cohen also predicted that Hegseth could encounter huge challenges during his Senate confirmation process due to his controversial stance on removing women from combat roles. “The Senate will likely have concerns if this proposal comes up during the confirmation,” he remarked.
In addition, Cohen stressed the importance of women taking on key leadership roles in the military’s cybersecurity efforts. He explained, “The nature of warfare has shifted, and today, conflicts are often fought on digital platforms more than on traditional battlefields… women are essential to this new type of warfare.”
Hegseth’s confirmation process has been further complicated by sexual assault allegations against him, although many Republican senators remain hopeful about his eventual confirmation.
