And The Generals Were Silent
Last week, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth required the attendance at a meeting at Marine Corp Base Quantico, Virginia of all Generals and Admirals in the U.S. military encompassing every branch of the service. Thet total number of senior officers that travelled from duty stations from around the globe was approximately 800 men and women. The meeting was widely publicized, and President Donald Trump was also scheduled to make a speech at the meeting.
The meeting was widely criticized because of the significant cost incurred due to the travel, lodging and other associated costs. Additionally, and many retired senior military officers would agree, this same meeting could have been accomplished through a teleconference on a secure network and saved the taxpayer the significant cost. Security was also a key concern with all the top military leaders in the world meeting at one location in a highly publicized event.
The actual meeting has been characterized by the media as anywhere from right-wing political propaganda to overtones of Christian Nationalism. Secretary Hegseth constantly stressed the “warrior ethos”, gender-neutral physical requirements, grooming, soldiers wearing dresses and the fact that he doesn’t like fat Generals walking the halls of the Pentagon.
Let’s dissect some of his comments. The gender-neutral physical requirements are to a “male standard”. In Secretary Hegseth’s words, if you’re a woman and can’t perform to the male standard, “It is what it is”. Clearly, it appears that Secy. Hegseth is now trying to weed as many women as possible out of combat roles as possible. It’s common knowledge that Secy. Hegseth doesn’t favor women in combat roles, and he fired the only two four-star military officers in the military. In my opinion, I think he is generally hostile toward women in the military, period.
As far as grooming standards, every member of the military is now required to be clean shaven unless they have a medical waiver, but the medical waiver must be resolved withing a year or the service member will be separated from the military. This regulation holds special significance for many Black military members who suffer from Pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB), which is a painful condition that causes ingrown hairs, and affects as many as 60% of Black men. In my opinion, this is a legal means for Secy. Hegseth to weed out as many Black military male members as possible.
As far as fat Generals, I am in favor of fat Generals because they have earned the right to be fat and be in the military. Being a fat General should be a rite of passage. I think a General should be allowed to be at least as fat as their respective Commander and Chief. Now if you were a General during the Obama administration, it might be a little problematic for you.
Next, Trump decided to step to the podium and give a rambling incoherent political speech spewing his usual lies and half-truths about stolen elections, the economy and critical comments about President Biden and the Democrat party as a whole. Someone forgot to tell President Trump that the military is A-political, and conducting a political rally and spewing political propaganda in front of military personnel is highly unethical and beneath the Office of the Presidency.
The worst part of President Trump’s speech by far is that he stated to our Generals and Admirals that he wanted to use some of the dangerous cities as training grounds for the military. The President of the United States is intent on using our military against U. S. citizens and referred to us as “the enemy within. Not only is this rhetoric wrong, it is also contrary to the Constitution and illegal.
At the end of President Trump’s speech, he was expecting applause like he’s used to receiving at one of his political rallies, BUT THE GENERALS AND ADMIRALS SAT IN STUNNED SILENCE. That was the message from the senior military officers without actually saying it.
Let’s be clear, everything that President Trump is doing with the military is geared toward the mid-term elections. Donald Trump and Pete Hegseth want to promote the military as a maga fighting force and use it to intimidate voters and election officials or even assail precincts and commandeer ballots.
Donald Trump knows that when the Democrats take control of the House of Representatives after the mid-terms, and they will, the House will effectively become a guardrail for Democracy by having much of Donald Trump’s power neutered, and the top members of his administration will be constantly paraded before House committees to atone for their actions. BOTTOM LINE, MID-TERM ELECTIONS MUST BE HELD AT ALL COSTS.
Venezuelan Boats
Well, is the Trump administration up to a total of five Venezuelan speed boats destroyed? Is this what we are doing now? It’s obvious that Brown and Black lives aren’t worth a plug nickel to the Trump administration.
I wouldn’t want to be a Venezuelan fisherman right now. That would have to be the most hazardous occupation on Earth. I’m sure the number of Venezuelans fishing from the shore has increased exponentially. The sad part is, the Trump administration hasn’t provided a shred of evidence that any of these boats carried drugs at all. For all we know, the boaters were out for just a fun boat ride when Trump decided to have them blown to smithereens.
Trump doesn’t have a clue if the boats carried drugs or not. Even if the boats carried drugs, does it matter that much.? The boats are 2700 miles away from the closest U.S. shore. They better be able to refuel at sea if they plan to make it to U.S. shores.
Trump is probably not interested in reading any intelligence on potential drug boats even if it existed since he doesn’t like to read. Trump is saying, “Let’s just blow up that boat for the heck of it because I feel like it. I don’t need evidence that they are carrying drugs”. Whomever is carrying out the orders of blowing up the boats is possibly guilty of following an unlawful order. It’s ridiculous not to stop and search the suspected drug carrying boats.
Trump thinks this is a video game. Pete Hegseth is showing that he may be in prison some day because he wants to be a cowboy. Trump better be able to pardon Hegseth because he’ll need it. The receipts are piling up. These attacks on the Venezuelan speed boats could possibly be considered
All opinions herein are solely the opinions of Herb Booker. Comments are welcome and can be sent to hbooker2@yahoo.com, or at the bottom of this page.