Ash Carter, Obama’s last SECDEF, dead at 68
Former Secretary of Defense, Ashton Carter, died of a “sudden cardiac event” at age 68 yesterday in Boston.
Carter oversaw the initial Pentagon effort to attack the Islamic State militants who had seized huge chunks of Iraq and Syria in 2014 and had established a caliphate. In an earlier Pentagon post, Carter took the lead on the military’s efforts to protect troops from roadside bombs in Iraq and Afghanistan. Since 2017, Carter led the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard’s Kennedy School.
A Rhodes Scholar and theoretical physicist, Carter had served in several senior posts at the Pentagon, including overseeing weapons acquisition and as deputy secretary before Obama nominated him for the top job. Unlike many of his predecessors, including Obama’s previous three defense chiefs, Carter had not served in the military.
Think of him as the fella who opened the military to such things as women in combat and the mentally ill getting free gender reassignment surgery at our expense transgenders serving.
Carter’s tenure as defense secretary is perhaps most remembered for his order to open to women all military jobs, including combat assignments. The decision came after years of study by military leaders and strong opposition from conservative groups.
Months later, Carter also announced the military would end its ban on transgender troops serving in the ranks. That order was later overturned by President Donald Trump when he took office, and subsequently reversed again after President Joe Biden was elected.
Sympathy and condolences to the family. H/T to Jeff LPH for the link.
Category: Barack Obama/Joe Biden, Democrats, Politics
Died at 68y.o.
No cause of death mentioned.
As I gaze into my cracked and cloudy crystal ball, I speculate, “bet’cha he took The DeathJabs and Boosters.”
A Rhodes scholar, you say? That explains a lot.
Educated beyond his intelligence.
Sudden cardiac event, later clarified as a heart attack.
He was a roads scholar. He was out studying a road and got hit by a bus.
What did he have on Hillary…
I came for a Clinton comment.
Leaving satisfied.
Yes, Lord save us from Rhodes scholars.
Men in uniform skirts…
That’s his legacy
Thank you, God!
Well, maybe not as much as:
“theoretical physicist”
Aren’t we all?
Sheldon Lee Cooper had no comment.
Did he have dirt on Hillary?
See above.
Since I have nothing pleasant to say
Ditto
He always reminded me of this guy (not the big one):
Insert ‘rational human beings with the ability to observe reality’.
Testosterone maketh the man, and all the training in the world, fight in the heart, or desire to feign equality does not change this.
“Crush your enemies, see them driven before you and hear the lamentation of their women.” –Conan
A long time policy wonk who spent 35 years in the Pentagon. A concise statement on what is wrong in DC with people like this constantly shuttling around and moving up when they provide no real value or service. Good thing we are not paying his retirement from government service anymore.
Must have been the sixth booster shot that got him.
Well, if it’s any consolation the other Carter is still breathing at 98.
Well, bye!!
Concur.
Condolences to his family. Can’t say I am going to miss a career politician. Maybe politician isnt the right word. Bureaucrat fits better.