A year and a half ago few would have wager(打赌，下注)ed that Pete Hegseth would consolidate power at the Pentagon. Narrowly confirmed by the Senate amid allegations of financial mismanagement in prior jobs and heavy drinking, which Mr Hegseth denied, the former Fox News host and voluble culture warrior appeared underqualified and no match for the generals and admirals he would direct.(赫格塞斯在参议院以微弱优势获得确认，尽管面临财务管理和酗酒的指控，他予以否认，这位前福克斯新闻主持人显得资历不足，无法与他将要指挥的将军们匹敌。) In office, the secretary of war has skirted scandal(避开丑闻), be it mishandling secrets or forcing polygraph(测谎仪) tests on his underlings. But far from seeing his power wane, Mr Hegseth has taken control of his department. A rolling purge of the armed forces has cleared out his rivals and those deemed insufficiently loyal.
一年半前，很少有人会打赌皮特·赫格塞斯能在五角大楼巩固权力。他在参议院以微弱优势获得确认，此前曾被指控在之前的工作中存在财务管理不善和酗酒问题，但赫格塞斯予以否认。这位前福克斯新闻主持人和健谈的文化战士似乎资历不足，也不是他将指挥的将军和海军上将的对手。上任后，这位战争部长一直避开丑闻，无论是处理机密不当还是强迫下属接受测谎。但他的权力非但没有减弱，反而掌控了自己的部门。对武装部队的持续清洗清除了他的对手和那些被认为不够忠诚的人。
Dan Driscoll, the army secretary, is his latest casualty(牺牲品，受害者). On August 31st Mr Driscoll tendered his resignation(递交辞呈) to the president after months of clashes with Mr Hegseth over the ouster(免职，罢黜) of senior officers and the future of the force. Widely respected and viewed as a savvy(精明的，有见识的) reformer, Mr Driscoll’s departure raises yet more questions about the turmoil(动荡，混乱) roiling(搅动，使动荡) the Pentagon and the viability(可行性，生存能力) of reforms meant to(旨在，打算) drive the army’s adaptation to the age of drones.
陆军部长丹·德里斯科尔是他最新的牺牲品。8月31日，德里斯科尔在与赫格塞斯就高级军官免职和军队未来问题发生数月冲突后，向总统递交了辞呈。德里斯科尔广受尊敬，被视为精明的改革者，他的离职引发了更多关于五角大楼动荡以及旨在推动陆军适应无人机时代的改革可行性的质疑。
Mr Hegseth’s purge(清洗，清除)s have been dramatic. Since taking office, he has ousted(罢免，驱逐) at least 24 flag or general officers. Many appear to have been dismissed for no reason beyond(除了……之外没有原因) their race, sex or associations with officers Mr Hegseth disliked. A former national guardsman who rose to the rank of major, Mr Hegseth has long held a particular grudge(怨恨，积怨) against the army, an institution he claims “spit me out(把我吐出来，抛弃我)”. In April he sacked(解雇，开除) General Randy George, the most senior army officer and someone with whom Mr Driscoll had forged(建立（关系）) a close relationship. Chris Donahue, who headed US Army Europe and Africa, was forced into retirement two months later after Mr Hegseth downgraded(降级，降低) his command. As of today the army has no Senate-confirmed chief of staff, secretary or commander of forces in Europe. Mr Driscoll’s deputy is also said to be on the cusp of(即将……，处于……的边缘) leaving.
赫格塞斯的清洗行动是戏剧性的。自上任以来，他已罢免了至少24名将官。许多人似乎仅仅因为种族、性别或与赫格塞斯不喜欢的军官有联系而被解职。赫格塞斯曾是国民警卫队队员，升至少校军衔，长期以来对陆军怀有特别的怨恨，他声称陆军“抛弃了我”。4月，他解雇了陆军最高军官兰迪·乔治将军，德里斯科尔与乔治关系密切。两个月后，负责美国陆军欧洲和非洲司令部的克里斯·多纳休在赫格塞斯降级其指挥部后被迫退休。截至目前，陆军没有参议院确认的参谋长、部长或欧洲部队指挥官。据说德里斯科尔的副手也即将离职。