House Republicans slam troop reductions in Poland a country Hegseth praised as model ally

House Republicans fumed Friday after the Pentagon scrapped a deployment of 4,000 US troops to Poland – a nation War Secretary Pete Hegseth has praised for being a “model ally.” Army Secretary Dan Driscoll and acting Chief of Staff Gen.Christopher LaNeve were grilled by lawmakers on the House Armed Services Committee about the Pentagon’s move to cancel routine deployment of the Fort Hood, Texas-based 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team of 1st Cavalry Division but couldn’t provide an exact reason for the decision. “I got to tell you, it’s reprehensible.

It’s an embarrassment to our country what we just did to Poland,” Rep.Don Bacon (R-Neb.) raged. “There is no good explanation,” the retiring congressman continued.

“There’s got to be some explanation.”LaNeve, who cautioned he’s “not on the policy side,” suggested officials reviewed the force structure in Europe and determined “we could reap back one of the brigades that are in the rotation.” “I think I represent the views of the vast majority [on the House Armed Services Committee],” Bacon responded.“We disagree.” The Nebraska Republican slammed the decision as “foolish” and a “terrible message to Russia and to our allies.” Bacon also revealed Polish officials told him they were “blindsided” by the move. “This is a slap in the face to Poland.

It’s a slap in the face to our Baltic friends and I think it’s a slap to the face to this committee,” the congressman said. Last year, Hegseth lauded Poland as “a model ally on the continent,” for its willingness to “invest not just in their defense, but in our shared defense.” “The level of partnership — just to underscore here — is unmatched in Europe,” the war secretary said of the US alliance with Poland.Morning Report delivers the latest news, videos, photos and more.

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