PETER JOHNSON JR (HOST): Terror striking around the globe this week, including in three cities in Saudi Arabia yesterday. That on the heels of a deadly week of attacks that claimed nearly 200 lives in Istanbul, Baghdad and Bangladesh. But, despite the carnage, the big news from the Pentagon is lifting the ban on transgendered troops. Kevin Lacz is a former Navy SEAL, a friend of the late Chris Kyle, and the author of The Last Punisher. Good morning, how are you? 

KEVIN LACZ: I'm doing great.Thanks for having me on. 

JOHNSON: Happy to see  you. Is this a grand distraction,this announcement about transgender troops, when people are being killed all over the world by ISIS, including here in the United States? 

LACZ: You're absolutely correct. It’s just a giant distraction as to what's really going on in this terrorism throughout this globe. You know, under this currentadministration, we’ve suffered morefailed states, more homegrown terrorist attacks, and we are less safe than we were a long time ago, and what  they're trying todo is force a square peg in a round hole with social changes within the U.S. military.  There's not an issue, but the Obama administration is creating one. 

JOHNSON: Kevin, watch with us what Ash Carter,the defense secretary, said on why a transgender ban needs to be lifted in this country, and I want you to react. Please, let's watch it together. 

[START VIDEO]

ASH CARTER: The Defense Department and the militaryneed to avail ourselves of all talent possible in order to remain what we are now,the finest fighting force the world has ever known. Our mission is to defend this country. And we don't want barriers unrelated to a person's qualification to serve preventing us from recruiting or retaining the soldier, sailor, airman or marine who can best accomplish the mission. 

[END VIDEO]

JOHNSON: Okay, Kevin, so here's the question this morning, so we know there’s between 2,500 and 7,000 transgendered troops out of a fighting force of about 1.3 million. Is this about political correctness or is this about making America a stronger, winning fighting force? 

LACZ: I think it's all about political correctness. I believe there are plenty of men and women that are ready to fight, but the mission isn't defined. It used  to be to keep America safe, but now it's to upheave the U.S. military and be more inclusive. You know, the job of the Pentagon is not to create a warm and fuzzy, attractive environment as an employer. It’s simply  is to keep America safe,so what goes on in society, it doesn't always translate well into the military. The job of the military is to keep America safe and we're failing to do that when we're losing focus.

JOHNSON: As a final question, talk about this. You say we're dividing our military into factions and that unity is really important. What do you mean by that?

LACZ: Absolutely. Conformity is key to the military. It's key to a unit's success, it’s key to  unity. As we become a unit that looks at the individual and not the team, we lose focus of the mission,and that becomes a distraction. As a result, we put men and women in harm's way. So if we're not unified together as a fight, you know, we're losing. And I talk about that in The Last Punisher.We focus as a team, we got the mission done, and we defeated terrorism in Ramadi with the Army,Air Force, and Marines. That's what the Obama administration needs to do. They need to look at the mission, stick with the mission, and avoid distraction.

Previously: 

Right-Wing Media Come Unglued Over Pentagon Repealing Ban On Transgender Military Service

National Review’s David French: Lifting The Ban On Transgender Military Service Will Result In “Thought Control”

The “Add-A-Dick-To-Me Procedure”: Rush Limbaugh Mocks Transgender People After Military Lifts Ban