General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsTrump is about to start his administration by nakedly looting the nation's largest boondoggle
By elevating a couch cushion to SecDef and eliminating any independent review, Trump now has the keys to the entire military industrial complex. Strategic policy is now whatever Stephen Miller says it is.
Everyone else is under chain of command.
We are in night of the long knives territory, folks.
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milestogo
(19,417 posts)But in this age, other countries can see what is happening. Hopefully that makes a difference.
wnylib
(25,183 posts)But I wouldn't count on them to come to our rescue. We've got to deal with this however we can.
Joinfortmill
(17,240 posts)Irish_Dem
(63,922 posts)The goals are power, wealth, revenge, hatred and cruelty.
Simeon Salus
(1,393 posts)The inspector generals' dismissal is a signal rocket fired over all commands; "your asses belong to me".
RockCreek
(854 posts)Very unfortately, they actually are some of the only ones in a position to do anything to stop him. Not an OK solution, but it could be better than nothing. NEVER thought I would say or think such things....
birdographer
(2,707 posts)he ordered someone—police? His SS?—to shoot protesters in the legs so he could get his photo op holding a Bible upside down, and the guy refused? Maybe some of the military people he will order to do insane things will have a thread of decency in them and refuse. Yeah, I know, and rainbow unicorns cavort in hidden meadows.
RockCreek
(854 posts)So many join for good reasons. Many value law and honor.
Child of Vietnam protestors raised to think the military was close to the devil speaking here Live and learn...
hedda_foil
(16,631 posts)wnylib
(25,183 posts)dickthegrouch
(3,926 posts)Although I’ll grant that many members of those are more wannabe than actual ex-service members.
wnylib
(25,183 posts)Yes, there are militias that are a shadow military. Many of them are present and former cops and military, with combat experience and training. They have been arming themselves for decades. They will serve the fascist regime.
But, the shadow military that I alluded to would be composed of people who are not MAGA, not fascist, and in fact, who oppose those ideologies and their practices. When those military personnel get fired for not being loyal fascists, will they give up on the country that they swore to defend? Or will they form their own shadow military to oppose the fascists?
dickthegrouch
(3,926 posts)Was my point.
Especially when MAGAts lie through their teeth as a matter of course.
wnylib
(25,183 posts)Midnight Writer
(23,449 posts)rampartd
(1,549 posts)RainCaster
(12,185 posts)The GOP has been pleasuring themselves with that thought for decades now. This time, they may actually do it.
Beck23
(344 posts)There will be no one to report when Hegseth goes off the rails.
Geechie
(990 posts)with that couch cushion talk
Bluethroughu
(6,859 posts)pfitz59
(11,321 posts)while angering others. Military regulations are vast, and the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) complex. It will not be lost on the troops that Major Hegseth violated one of the biggest no-no's in the UCMJ, adultery, which is a crime under military law. Sen Miss Lindsay Graham is a former JAGOFF, and should know this, yet he voted for Hegseth, a clear violation of his own oath as Senator and retired Officer. The hypocrisy is blatant.
Sneederbunk
(15,669 posts)haele
(13,887 posts)Plus women, disabled, LGBTQ, and naturalized citizens from the DoD, National Guard, or Reserves, he will end up with a military the size of the Mexican Military with far less support structure.
Not even adding in all the III percenters will give them a "military" that could protect the US, even against an internal insurrection.
His "unconstrained He-Man Military" ideal is highly flawed and leads to a corrupt, fairly inept conscript military, like that of Russia, North Korea and China.