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Stand Down: How Social Justice Warriors Are Sabotaging America's Military
"James is a terrific reporter, and this account of the effort to shape our military to reflect left-wing social values rather than the priorities of readiness and capability is vital." —BEN SHAPIRO, bestselling author of The Right Side of History and host of The Ben Shapiro Show
"Stand Down is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand how progressives have forced radical changes on our military—no matter how much harm it does to combat readiness." — MOLLIE HEMINGWAY, bestselling coauthor of Justice on Trial
"Stand Down exposes one of the greatest but least-discussed scandals of our era. Time and time again, the Obama administration undermined the military to advance left-wing political goals — and Hasson brings the goods to prove it. Every patriotic American who cares about the military needs to read this book." — BUCK SEXTON, Former CIA Counterterrorism Officer, Host of The Buck Sexton Show
"James Hasson makes a powerful and convincing case in this exceptionally well-written book. Stand Down is a scathing indictment of the Obama administration’s misuse of the military as a vehicle for progressive social change at the expense of men and women in uniform." —SEAN PARNELL, Army combat veteran and New York Times bestselling author of Outlaw Platoon
“Safe space” stickers on office doors at the Naval Academy. Officers apologizing for “microaggressions” against Air Force cadets. An Army “gender integration study” urging an end to “hyper-masculinity” in combat-arms units. Power Point presentations teaching commanders about “male pregnancy.” A cover-up, as senior officials placed their thumbs on the scales to ensure the success of the first female candidates at the Army’s legendary Ranger School. These are just a few of the examples documented in this explosive book, Stand How Social Justice Warriors are Sabotaging the U.S. Military by former Army Captain, Afghanistan veteran, and attorney James Hasson.
Hasson exposes the relentless campaign by powerful Obama administration ideologues to remake the culture and policies of the U.S. military, even over the explicit objections of military leaders. He presents evidence—drawn from government documents and exclusive interviews with more than forty sources, including high-ranking officers and Pentagon insiders—that progressive activists in the Obama Administration used the U.S. Military as their preferred vehicle to advance the progressive agenda. The stories paint a troubling picture of what happens when leftwing political operatives impose a political agenda on our nation’s they render our forces less effective, place our military men and women in greater danger, and compromise the military’s sole to protect America by winning the nation’s wars.
“Military readiness” is a term politicians and pundits often use in the abstract to describe our military’s ability to defeat its adversaries. But it ultimately describes how well we have prepared and equipped a young soldier or sailor to prevail over an enemy determined to do them harm. Hasson makes a compelling case that our nation has a moral obligation to ensure that the sons and daughters it sends to war have the best possible chance of victory—which means we must embrace only the policies that help us win wars and reject t
"Stand Down is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand how progressives have forced radical changes on our military—no matter how much harm it does to combat readiness." — MOLLIE HEMINGWAY, bestselling coauthor of Justice on Trial
"Stand Down exposes one of the greatest but least-discussed scandals of our era. Time and time again, the Obama administration undermined the military to advance left-wing political goals — and Hasson brings the goods to prove it. Every patriotic American who cares about the military needs to read this book." — BUCK SEXTON, Former CIA Counterterrorism Officer, Host of The Buck Sexton Show
"James Hasson makes a powerful and convincing case in this exceptionally well-written book. Stand Down is a scathing indictment of the Obama administration’s misuse of the military as a vehicle for progressive social change at the expense of men and women in uniform." —SEAN PARNELL, Army combat veteran and New York Times bestselling author of Outlaw Platoon
“Safe space” stickers on office doors at the Naval Academy. Officers apologizing for “microaggressions” against Air Force cadets. An Army “gender integration study” urging an end to “hyper-masculinity” in combat-arms units. Power Point presentations teaching commanders about “male pregnancy.” A cover-up, as senior officials placed their thumbs on the scales to ensure the success of the first female candidates at the Army’s legendary Ranger School. These are just a few of the examples documented in this explosive book, Stand How Social Justice Warriors are Sabotaging the U.S. Military by former Army Captain, Afghanistan veteran, and attorney James Hasson.
Hasson exposes the relentless campaign by powerful Obama administration ideologues to remake the culture and policies of the U.S. military, even over the explicit objections of military leaders. He presents evidence—drawn from government documents and exclusive interviews with more than forty sources, including high-ranking officers and Pentagon insiders—that progressive activists in the Obama Administration used the U.S. Military as their preferred vehicle to advance the progressive agenda. The stories paint a troubling picture of what happens when leftwing political operatives impose a political agenda on our nation’s they render our forces less effective, place our military men and women in greater danger, and compromise the military’s sole to protect America by winning the nation’s wars.
“Military readiness” is a term politicians and pundits often use in the abstract to describe our military’s ability to defeat its adversaries. But it ultimately describes how well we have prepared and equipped a young soldier or sailor to prevail over an enemy determined to do them harm. Hasson makes a compelling case that our nation has a moral obligation to ensure that the sons and daughters it sends to war have the best possible chance of victory—which means we must embrace only the policies that help us win wars and reject t
256 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 27, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 19, 2019
If you are former military and left more than 10 years ago this is an eye opener. I applaud both the author and the brave people who told him their stories. As a 28 year Navy Vet I knew the Navy was on its ass but now I understand why and I truly appreciate the sailors who worked tirelessly to keep it afloat. If you are a civilian this book will make you realize how close we came to losing this country.
May 7, 2021
"Stand Down" scares me more than anything else the progressive left has been doing in the past years. Illegal immigration, vote fraud, racial division, making DC and PR states, packing the Supreme Court ... all are survivable.
Defeat of our military by a foreign power may not be. (Then again, what foreign power would be stupid enough to think occupying America would be possible?) The world would change. Our economy would collapse.
We started down the path to equal opportunity in the military before Obama (see "The Kinder, Gentler Military: How Political Correctness Affects Our Ability to Win Wars," 2001, by Stephanie Gutmann, https://www.amazon.com/Kinder-Gentler...), but it accelerated under him, with the appointment of political hacks as secretaries of our services who pushed their social justice agenda.
One of them served two years in the Navy, and not in combat. Another had zero military service. (Being homosexual must have made up for that.) They ignored the recommendations of their most senior military leaders who had been in combat.
Leaders who said the military had more important things to do than admit females into the Ranger course. Who said females in combat arms required too much time and attention, hurt morale among men, and often couldn't deploy overseas in any event. Now transgenders are being pushed onto the military. When will the insanity end?
Full disclosure: I am a dinosaur, drafted in 1967, retiring in 2005, with a 2-year break to appreciate how good the Army was after all. I'm not sure I could survive in a politically correct Army where I'd probably offend someone with an opinion considered to be “hurtful."
We Americans seem to enjoy lurching from one disaster to another. When the next one comes, a military conflict with a technologically advanced adversary, we'll be shocked - shocked! - to find our forces unable to persevere, and our daughters among them coming home in body bags. Yes, I know that's happened already. It amazes me we stand for it.
“Stand Down” is a wake-up call, not the first, hopefully the last, for all Americans, in uniform or not.
Defeat of our military by a foreign power may not be. (Then again, what foreign power would be stupid enough to think occupying America would be possible?) The world would change. Our economy would collapse.
We started down the path to equal opportunity in the military before Obama (see "The Kinder, Gentler Military: How Political Correctness Affects Our Ability to Win Wars," 2001, by Stephanie Gutmann, https://www.amazon.com/Kinder-Gentler...), but it accelerated under him, with the appointment of political hacks as secretaries of our services who pushed their social justice agenda.
One of them served two years in the Navy, and not in combat. Another had zero military service. (Being homosexual must have made up for that.) They ignored the recommendations of their most senior military leaders who had been in combat.
Leaders who said the military had more important things to do than admit females into the Ranger course. Who said females in combat arms required too much time and attention, hurt morale among men, and often couldn't deploy overseas in any event. Now transgenders are being pushed onto the military. When will the insanity end?
Full disclosure: I am a dinosaur, drafted in 1967, retiring in 2005, with a 2-year break to appreciate how good the Army was after all. I'm not sure I could survive in a politically correct Army where I'd probably offend someone with an opinion considered to be “hurtful."
We Americans seem to enjoy lurching from one disaster to another. When the next one comes, a military conflict with a technologically advanced adversary, we'll be shocked - shocked! - to find our forces unable to persevere, and our daughters among them coming home in body bags. Yes, I know that's happened already. It amazes me we stand for it.
“Stand Down” is a wake-up call, not the first, hopefully the last, for all Americans, in uniform or not.
September 10, 2019
Author James Hasson tells the shocking story of President Obama's deliberate campaign to exalt political correctness to a supreme position in the US military, seriously degrading combat readiness and damaging our ability to win wars, which is the military's sole duty.
Some of Obama's prime appointees had no military experience and evinced nothing but contempt for career military men. Obama's ignorance of military culture and his lack of appreciation for it has resulted in a legacy of identity politics and progressive ideology that dominate military policies and procedures.
Sadly, even with a pro-military president like Trump, the rot and damage initiated by Obama is still a major problem.
Hasson recommends permanently repealing Obama-era policies. Military readiness must be viewed as a moral issue. A warfighting force must be composed only of those capable of fighting wars. Focus on fighting armed enemies, not carbon emissions or transgender rights.
The military can be brought back to where it needs to be, but it won't happen overnight. President Trump and conservatives in Congress need to recognize all is not well at the Pentagon, and the priority must be to improve readiness at the cost of political correctness and identity politics, which have no place in a strong military.
Some of Obama's prime appointees had no military experience and evinced nothing but contempt for career military men. Obama's ignorance of military culture and his lack of appreciation for it has resulted in a legacy of identity politics and progressive ideology that dominate military policies and procedures.
Sadly, even with a pro-military president like Trump, the rot and damage initiated by Obama is still a major problem.
Hasson recommends permanently repealing Obama-era policies. Military readiness must be viewed as a moral issue. A warfighting force must be composed only of those capable of fighting wars. Focus on fighting armed enemies, not carbon emissions or transgender rights.
The military can be brought back to where it needs to be, but it won't happen overnight. President Trump and conservatives in Congress need to recognize all is not well at the Pentagon, and the priority must be to improve readiness at the cost of political correctness and identity politics, which have no place in a strong military.
August 30, 2019
OUTSTANDING
Excellent book. Loved the way it goes after Ray Mabus. IMHO he almost destroyed Navy. Also DIRECTLY responsible for Fitzgerald, McCain collisions, resultant deaths. His policies placed UNQUALIFIED EEO, "diversity" promotions in positions as critical watchstanders on BOTH ships. One XO also EEO promotion. Am sure other branches have similar situations as part of Obama "legacy".
Excellent book. Loved the way it goes after Ray Mabus. IMHO he almost destroyed Navy. Also DIRECTLY responsible for Fitzgerald, McCain collisions, resultant deaths. His policies placed UNQUALIFIED EEO, "diversity" promotions in positions as critical watchstanders on BOTH ships. One XO also EEO promotion. Am sure other branches have similar situations as part of Obama "legacy".
October 19, 2019
STAND DOWN is a must read for anybody - conservative, liberal, libertarian, who wants to understand how progressive policies have resulted in diminished US military readiness. I myself am a 40-year veteran, 20 years active duty and 20 years army national guard, and was very ready to retire in 2015 because of the PC policies that permeated the military. His perspective is consistent with my experience. The author , a US Army Ranger turned attorney, describes first the glaring plan of President Obama to transform the country, with many sight focused on the military.The biggest and most glaring decision that doesn’t pass the common-sense test is the policy change in the mandate to allow transgender individuals to serve during transition. As a physician, this simply doesn’t pass common sense. There is not a “right” to serve in the US military. Individual with asthma , seizures, cancer, . are not allowed to join the military. Even kids with ADHD (attention Deficit hyperactivity disorder) can join the military if they have been on meds within the past year. Yet, we are expected to believe that transgender individuals should be allowed to serve, recognizing the much higher incidence of anxiety and depression. This author describes “the corrosive impact of the social-justice orthodoxy on military culture and effectiveness” (the author’s words). The author starts with a very informative chapter about the not necessarily improvements at the service academies (West Point, Annapolis, Air Force). The author has a well referenced chapter about “the real ranger school” story after women were authorized to attend. He also well annotated the absurdities of expectations and training for active duty in an effort to become “social justice warriors” and “climate warriors.” The author describes an all-too-common situation. A progressive political decision is made, and then the generals and admirals are expected to prove the soundness of the policy. Hasson confirms what most of us serving always suspected – decision like gender-neutral infantry unit, army and marines, was done without the consent of the leadership. Prior to the progressive agenda, most often policy changes were viewed through the lens . . . “will this make the military a better fighting force,” or will this make our military more combat effective. In a 1963 address to the West Point Corps of Cadets, General of the Armies Douglas MacArthur said “through all this welter of change and development your mission remains fixed, determined, inviolable. It is wo win our wars. Everything else in your professional career is but corollary to this vital dedication.” This a great book, but I think I am going to have to double my blood pressure medication for at least a week. Congratulation James Hasson on a very important contribution to the average American's understanding military readiness (or lack there of).
November 2, 2023
This book is scary as hell to anyone who feels that having a competent military force is important. It details the manipulation of our readiness at all levels, from the readiness to our combat infantry and elite forces to the upper echelon's refusal for fight for the standards they know they need, against the woke liberalism invading from Congress and Obama/Biden administrations. Military is one of the institutions being undermined, and unless the process is reversed, it will cost lives, and many o those lives will be the women for whom the military standards are being relaxed. Anyway, a scary read. Worth your time to find an interview of James Hasson also. That's how I heard of the book.
August 1, 2021
Politics and politicians are scary!!
October 3, 2019
It surprised me how much I enjoyed this book! It was a quick read and definitely very informative. It’s clear that the title was designed to be an attention grabber, much like headlines of today. I didn’t see a whole lot about social justice warriors in there.
As a philosophy major, I really enjoyed the base assumptions that the author spelled out from the beginning —specifically the purpose of the military and how to achieve that goal.
But ultimately I felt that his final assertion was a tad more alarmist than necessary. There’s no doubt in my mind that the Obama era policies cited are harmful to the American military, but I’m not convinced that they’re the end as we know it. I appreciate his plea at the end, and think it was necessary.
All in all, a book that I’m recommending for others to read. The content has given me some serious ammo (pun intended) for the next time I find myself debating this topic with those on the other side of the aisle from me.
As a philosophy major, I really enjoyed the base assumptions that the author spelled out from the beginning —specifically the purpose of the military and how to achieve that goal.
But ultimately I felt that his final assertion was a tad more alarmist than necessary. There’s no doubt in my mind that the Obama era policies cited are harmful to the American military, but I’m not convinced that they’re the end as we know it. I appreciate his plea at the end, and think it was necessary.
All in all, a book that I’m recommending for others to read. The content has given me some serious ammo (pun intended) for the next time I find myself debating this topic with those on the other side of the aisle from me.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews