Lawrence O'Donnell

That brilliant rescue was described by the Secretary of Defense and by General Dan Cain, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, as a longstanding American military rule of never leaving anyone behind.

We leave no man behind.

That is, of course, the old school version of the idea back when only men flew American military planes.

General Dan Cain, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, put it this way.

We leave no one behind.

The general knows, unlike Pete Hegseth, that that could have been a woman they were trying to rescue, and it might be a woman the next time.

In the name of Jesus Christ means that the misguided fanatic who is by far the most incompetent Secretary of Defense in history does not want the prayers or good wishes or anything else from the 38% of Americans who are not Christian.

Donald Trump's Secretary of Defense does not want one Jewish prayer said in support of Donald Trump's war.

Not one.

He very obviously does not want a Muslim prayer spoken anywhere in the United States in support of Donald Trump's war on bended knee or not.

And he does not want the prayer of Christians who are not literally on their knees.

I used to kneel down for most of the prayers that we did when I was an altar boy in Catholic elementary school, but the priests didn't.

Catholic priests, who live an even more religious life than Pete Hegseth, do most of their public praying standing up, which is apparently unacceptable to the religiosity of Pete Hegseth.

Pete Hegseth is the first Secretary of Defense in history who thinks he can define for Americans the proper way of praying.

The proper way of praying for a war.

On bended knee,

Yep.

Yep.

Well, here's the thing. This is day 52. I thought it was day 92. It turns out it's day 52, Rachel, and I'm exhausted at day 52. And so I'm going to take next week off. And I'm telling you that now because I know you don't like it when I just drift away. Just taking next week off. Then I'm going to come back.

Well, here's the thing. This is day 52. I thought it was day 92. It turns out it's day 52, Rachel, and I'm exhausted at day 52. And so I'm going to take next week off. And I'm telling you that now because I know you don't like it when I just drift away. Just taking next week off. Then I'm going to come back.