15 Comments
User's avatar
Maggie Cecil's avatar

Okay. I think I am properly alarmed. Now what? Seriously, beyond calling/writing our representatives.

Jack Hopkins's avatar

Maggie Cecil...good! Alarm is the correct response. Now...let's make it productive.

Beyond the representatives...who matter, but who are operating INSIDE a system that is ITSELF under pressure...here's what actually moves the needle:

REFUSE TO LET THE FLOOD WORK.

The zone-flooding strategy...only succeeds...if people lose track.

You don't have to track everything. Pick two or three specific threads...military leadership changes...court decisions...electoral rule changes...and follow them with the kind of sustained attention...that the news cycle is specifically designed to PREVENT.

Depth over breadth.

-Jack

Susan's avatar

Terrifying!! Thank you, Jack. I’ll be watching for the paid piece. By the time Hegseth and Trump get finished with these purges will this still be the most powerful military in the history of the world? I fear it might not and our service men and women are going to pay a high price… In many cases, the ultimate price.

I’m angry and afraid.

#Holdfast

~Susan

Jack Hopkins's avatar

Susan...your anger and fear are BOTH warranted. Hold onto them both.

To answer your question honestly...no. Not if this continues at its current pace. Military superiority is not primarily a function of hardware. It's a function of leadership... institutional knowledge...and...the trust between commanders and the people who follow them into combat. That takes DECADES to build.

It can be destroyed with a PHONE CALL.

You already named where the cost shows up. You're right.

-#HoldFast

-Jack

Chris Wistert's avatar

I don't think it's coincidence that Trump was going on and on today about how Medicare, Medicaid, and child care are too expensive for the feds to pay. Trump said those things should be done by the states. The loss of experience and excellence within the upper levels of the military will result in the entire war costing more (in actual dollars), as well as lives, etc. This is really bad.

Jack Hopkins's avatar

Chris...you're connecting dots most people aren't connecting yet.

Hollowed-out military leadership makes wars longer...and more expensive...by every HISTORICAL measure. Combined with offloading Medicare...Medicaid...and child care to states that can't absorb them...the math writes itself.

The federal government becomes a warfare apparatus. The social contract gets abandoned. And...the people bearing the cost of a longer...bloodier war...are the SAME people losing the safety net meant to catch them when they come home.

-Jack

Janie Jones's avatar

So -- are we at Step 3?

Jack Hopkins's avatar

Janie Jones...yes.

We ARE at Step 3.

The existing officer corps has been identified as a threat. Check.

Pretextual reasons have been found and used to remove the most credible voices. Check.

Loyalty-based replacements are being installed. Check

-Jack

Lynne Revis's avatar

If I was fond of betting, I'd wager Miller, Hegseth will still be in place when t isnt, however that transpires.

Jack Hopkins's avatar

And, Lynne...I'd probably slip you a $20 to place on that bet.

-Jack

more cowbell's avatar

fucking insane

thank you

Jack Hopkins's avatar

You're welcome.

-Jack

Concerned Citizen's avatar

Between Hegseth getting rid of seasoned, qualified military officers, and Trump only seeing two minute “victory” videos,, what can possibly go wrong? (I’m being sarcastic.) Noem is out, Bondi is out. How long do we have to wait for Hegseth, Miller, and the rest of the regime clowns to be fired before Trump is out?

Chris Wistert's avatar

If I were a betting woman, my money is on Tulsi being the next to go. Why do you think she was involved with the removal of the 2020 votes from storage and taking them to Washington? She's trying to find a way to stay in Trump's good graces. Plus, Trump's a misogynist. He really doesn't want women around, especially the upper echelon of government.

Joan Powell's avatar

Jack it’s alarming and horrifying at the same time not only for our military overseas, their families and all Americans/people of our Nation but the experts needed are being fired. Thank you Jack, by the way Captain is adorable photo you shared. Stay safe everyone ❤️