Pete Hegseth’s culture war will weaken America’s armed forces

FOR MILLEnNIA war has been a largely male undertaking. Women may have sparked conflict—think of Helen of Troy—or in countless numbers been its victims. They have also conducted daring missions behind enemy lines as spies and saboteurs. But until recently most Western armies barred women from serving in “ground close combat”. Over the past decade, in America and Europe, many of those restrictions have been lifted. Pete Hegseth, Donald Trump’s nominee to run the Department of Defence, believes that was a mistake. He is wrong. His effort to import the country’s culture wars into the Pentagon will weaken American military power.