Did Michèle Flournoy Face 'Double Standard' Over Defense Industry Ties?

Also - he's only been out of service 4 years. He would have to get a waiver from Congress and it seems unlikely they will do that from what I've read. The fact there has only been two waivers in over 70 years says something. The SECDEF position was created to be a civilian position.

If he has ties to the defense industry, that should be scrutinized as much as it was against her. But it's just more of the same old, same old honestly.

""We're comfortable with a male [from the] military with defense industry ties, but we're not comfortable with a woman who has defense industry ties -- perhaps even less so," said Stohl, who specializes in international arms trade.

"We [women] are held to an entirely different standard of competence, of who is in our networks, how we utilize those networks, than males who have similar or lesser qualifications."

Stohl stressed she does not discount Austin's qualifications to lead as the next defense secretary, but said that if Flournoy's relationship to industry is a disqualifying measure, Austin's ties to Raytheon should be viewed in the same light."

It's hard checking all the blocks while paying back favors. Limited slots.

Interesting read. Thanks for sharing!