“This is the most capable, most fighting critical force in the world, it was and will be in the future, and this budget helps us do that,” Austin said.
“Not if we continue on this path. Not if we continue to embrace socialism,” Gaetz said.
“The fact that you are ashamed of your country, of your army. I’m sorry about that,” Austin replied.
“Oh, no, I’m ashamed of your leadership,” Gaets replied. “I am not ashamed of my country.”
Gaetz began his remarks by giving a lecture at the National Defense University on socialism, before claiming that the US military had lagged behind China in terms of supersonic weapons.
“What do you mean? Are we back to the ultrasounds? How do you make that assessment?” Austin replied to Gaetz.
“Your people are telling us that we are behind and China is winning,” Gaetz said.
CNN reported Monday that the United States successfully tested a supersonic missile in mid-March, but kept it quiet for two weeks to avoid escalating tensions with Russia as President Joe Biden was due to travel to Europe, according to a defense official. who knows the subject.
One month after the first successful test, the US suffered a setback when a test of a different ultrasound system failed. The failure came as reports surfaced that China had successfully tested an ultrasonic glider in the summer, shortly after Russia claimed to have successfully tested a submarine-launched supersonic missile called the Tsirkon.
Gaetz went on to say that the Pentagon “made a mistake” in predicting that Russia would occupy Ukraine within days and that the Taliban would not take control of Afghanistan last year.
“You completely blew up those calls and maybe we would be better off if the National Defense University really worked a little more on strategy and a little less on vigilance,” Gaetz said.
“Has it occurred to you that Russia has not surpassed Ukraine because of what we and our allies did? Have you ever thought about that?” Austin asked.
Gaetz had previously been confused with Pentagon leaders at congressional hearings on cultural issues, such as the critical theory of race in the military.
