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He mentioned that the message had been handed to him by the “lead mission planner” responsible for rescuing two Air Force crew members who had been shot down over Iran.
“The journey of the downed aviator is surrounded by the injustices of the selfish and the oppression of wicked individuals,” Hegseth intoned.
“Fortunate is the one who, in the spirit of friendship and duty, guides the lost through the valley of shadows, for he truly becomes his brother’s protector and the seeker of lost souls.”
“And I will unleash upon them great vengeance and intense wrath those who try to capture and harm my brother. And you will recognize my call sign as Sandy 1 when I bring my vengeance down upon you, amen.”
The latter part of this message is derived from a biblical passage condemning the Philistines and the Cherethims, adversaries of the Israelites in the 5th Century BC.
In the movie, Jackson’s character utters the verse before gunning down a small-time criminal who owed his gangster boss money.
But Hegseth’s prayer changed “the LORD” in the Bible so it was instead about the unit involved in the rescue.
Hegseth has been holding regular church services in the Pentagon in recent months.
His comments overnight came as House Democrats filed articles of impeachment against him.
Nine Democrats accused him of war crimes, abuse of power and mishandling the Department of Defence.
Congresswoman Yassamin Ansari said Hegseth was “violating his oath, endangering US servicemembers, and committing war crimes, including attacks on civilians and a girls’ school in Minab, Iran.
“Only Congress can declare war; his actions demand immediate removal,” she said.
With Republicans holding a majority in both chambers of Congress, it is unlikely the impeachment will succeed.
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