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Speak softly and carry a big stick. That was the core phrase behind President Theodore Roosevelt’s Big Stick Diplomacy; an American value that has apparently been replaced by something more like, Look what a big d-ck I have diplomacy, as Pete Hegseth turned a massive gathering of more than 800 military commanders into something that resembled a product launch for a new Low T miracle cure. “In the days before the event, Democratic lawmakers and military specialists questioned the cost and disruption to daily operations caused by the meeting, as well as the security risks of concentrating so many top military commanders in one place. All, it appeared, for Mr. Hegseth to be able to lecture military leaders with decades of combat experience on an enhanced ‘warrior ethos’ in a forum that was televised live.” During the meeting, the president ominously argued that “we should use some of these dangerous cities as training grounds for our military.” And he was referring to American cities. Loud talk and big sticks coming soon to a military theater near you… NYT (Gift Article): Trump and Hegseth Recount Familiar Partisan Complaints to Top Military Leaders.
+ “President Trump did not have many bad things to say about America’s foreign adversaries. He spoke about Vladimir Putin in largely neutral terms (only saying he was ‘disappointed’ in him) and barely mentioned China. He did, however, speak with great moral clarity about certain classes of Americans whom he views as a grave threat: The American left: ‘They’re really bad. They’re bad people.’ Again, he’s talking about Americans here. His own domestic political opponents: ‘They’re vicious people that we have to fight, just like you have to fight vicious people. Mine are a different kind of vicious.’ American journalists: sleazebags.’ Residents of American inner cities: ‘animals.” The most consequential parts of the commander-in-chief’s speech were the sections in which he attempted to prepare flag officers for increased deployment of the military in American cities … He said America is ‘under invasion from within.'” (That’s true, but not in the way Trump means it.) The Bullwark: Trump prepares the generals for what comes next.
+ While Trump is trying to change the name of the Department of Defense to the Department of War, it sure seems like he and Hegseth are mostly preparing the department to fight the culture wars. Trump and Hegseth declare an end to ‘politically correct’ leadership in the US military.
