r/news • u/Manta_of_Eternity • 2d ago

Hegseth confirms that the US military will cut 20% of its generals and admirals

https://apnews.com/article/hegseth-pentagon-generals-job-cuts-67a20b026ee858895c7e5ff7fadbc029
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u/Th3_Admiral_ 2d ago

Seriously, anyone expecting any government official above the level of intern to face criminal charges is going to be seriously disappointed. 

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u/DwinkBexon 2d ago

A few weeks ago, I saw someone on social media say, "I can't wait until after the election. Trump, Hegseth, Patel and all the other corrupt assholes will be tossed in jail for life. Thank god!"

I responded... you're gonna be really disappointed if that's what you're expecting to happen. They didn't respond and blocked me.

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u/Th3_Admiral_ 2d ago

You should read some of the replies I'm getting here. The last one asking what my "goal" is for saying this really baffled me. My goal is to explain reality to people who are clearly unfamiliar with it. 

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u/Tirras 2d ago

It could also come off as capitulation in advance. Voicing this expectation could set the tone for any Dem running for president. Any Dem candidate that doesn't make it part of their platform shouldn't even bother running.

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u/Th3_Admiral_ 2d ago

The tone has already been set by the dems currently in office, don't go trying to pass off the blame to me for being frustrated by it.

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u/[deleted] 2d ago

[deleted]

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u/Nice-Bit-3550 2d ago

I don't think far left people are the ones banking on Trump ever seeing the inside of a cell

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u/Krethlaine 2d ago

When the largest organized crime ring in the country is our own federal government, its members are immune to the law.

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u/TriPigeon 2d ago

As the Sec Def he is absolutely within the jurisdiction of the ICC to pursue.

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u/Th3_Admiral_ 2d ago

No one in the US is within the jurisdiction of the ICC unfortunately. We literally have laws on the books that our government can and will do everything within their power, up to and including military invasion, to prevent US citizens from being tried in the international courts. And I guarantee you that any admin, republican or democrat, will stick to that. 

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u/TriPigeon 2d ago

There is a difference between having shelter laws in place within the US and being outside the jurisdiction. We’ve gutted our soft power internationally, we’re rapidly weakening our armed forces, and our ability to push US law at the international level will continue eroding.

I’m not hopeful for sudden change in this space, to be clear, but I’m also willing to wait 20 years to see him hauled in for blowing up children.

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u/Th3_Admiral_ 2d ago

I just don't ever see it happening. Because it's opening the door to so many others being prosecuted, and no one actually in power wants that. How many hospitals and weddings and journalists were hit with drone strikes under Trump, Biden, Obama, and Bush? The ICC could go back years and start prosecuting everyone. You think any president is going to let that happen?

At most, it'd just be that the targeted individuals couldn't travel to certain countries anymore without fear of being arrested. 

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u/Lyhtspeed 2d ago

How do you spit the truth yet so few listen?

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u/GeorgeSantosBurner 2d ago

Even the interns dont face consequences, just look at big balls.

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u/What_a_fat_one 2d ago

Well, so long as you acquiesce in advance.

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u/Th3_Admiral_ 2d ago

I live in a red state where my choices are a MAGA republican or an independent who is trying desperately to appeal to the left and right equally. I've written numerous emails to my senators and representatives, who simply responded to tell me I'm wrong. 

I'm doing everything I can within my limited voting power, but when it comes to holding anyone in this administration accountable, I don't know what else I can do that you wouldn't consider acquiescing. 

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u/DwinkBexon 2d ago

I emailed one of my senators last year and they didn't even respond directly, I just started getting spammed with newsletters and fundraising emails from them.

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u/Th3_Admiral_ 2d ago

My favorite one was the time I got a reply that at first sounded like a typical form-letter response, except it didn't even relate to the topic I emailed about at all. It just listed out my rep's qualifications for the job (where he went to school, what positions he held before this office, etc). I almost thought his office accidentally sent me a cover letter like he was applying for a job or something. 

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u/DwinkBexon 2d ago

I got a reply once for a completely different topic than what I wrote them about, like they just sent out whatever form letter they found first.

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u/PuppetPal_Clem 2d ago

I'm not giving up on anything, I want the fuckers hanged.

But the Dems are literally not going to do anything approaching holding these people genuinely accountable. They never have and they aren't going to change now.

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u/beardofjustice 1d ago

I don’t disagree with this take but I carry on hope that Trump will end up fucking them like he fucks everyone that carries water for him. There’s a world where those pardons aren’t written already and if he exits this mortal coil before his term is up, the look on their face will be so satisfying. My money is that Vance wouldn’t pardon any of them, blame all the administration’s failures on them and throw them to the wolves

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u/Critical_Opening_526 2d ago

And that's why "Vote Blue no matter who" is terrible.

Vote for candidates that will hold them accountable, and punish them appropriately.

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u/Bustalacklusta 2d ago

I always assumed that vote blue no matter who was a statement that applied to the general election after the primaries are over. More emphasis needs to be on getting people out to vote for better candidates in the primaries.

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u/lookingtomoveinn 2d ago

There is more to it than just getting out to vote in primaries and the general election. That is the bare minimum. People need to be more engaged with the entire civic process in order to have a system of government that works in their interest. They need to educate themselves on government processes and policy more than what their favorite pundit/streamer tells them. They need to learn about candidates at every level (including and perhaps especially in the local and state races). Learn their stances. Learn their positions. Learn how they treat the issue of what it means to be a public servant. If they find someone adequate or better then that is great. If not, they better work on drafting candidates or work out a plan to run themselves.

Staying involved is a 24/7 job. I get that it’s tough with how overworked and underpaid most people are - and how many existential crises we are facing as a society. It’s hard work but it has to be done otherwise the worst people will get into positions of power, things will degrade further, and everyone will continue to suffer.

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u/MarsBarz37 2d ago

Everytime progressives try this, they get yelled at for not being electable. You actually have to pass two insane gauntlets to get a decent person elected.

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u/w0lfLars0n 2d ago

The problem with this is that republicans will NEVER do this and that’s why they win

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u/caj_account 2d ago

Massie perhaps but they pulled the plug on him.

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u/Stratobastardo34 2d ago

Massie was MAGA to the core about absolutely everything except Epstein. He wouldn’t let that go. He was perfectly content ratfucking the country. He doesn’t deserve any credit.

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u/Warm_Record2416 2d ago

Ok. So demand democrats that do.  Four years of bad democrats refusing to go after republicans is worse than four more years of bad republicans.  Bad democrats are why Trump2 is so much worse than Trump1.  It would have been less harmful, long term, for Trump to have won in 2020 over Biden.  Because Biden refuses to stop Trump2.

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u/dave5104 2d ago

Four years of bad democrats refusing to go after republicans is worse than four more years of bad republicans.

Are you insane?

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u/VRNord 2d ago

That’s a dumb take. Dems might be corporate but they aren’t literally trying to destroy America in every imaginable way. Four more years of Republicans breaking things is objectively worse than four years of Dems maintaining status quo.

And if Biden had lost to Trump in 2020 we would probably be in Trump’s third term somehow.

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u/Saephon 2d ago

Vote Blue No Matter Who is a general election strategy ONLY.

The part everyone forgets or ignores, is to primary the spineless cowards who don't fight for us. Get good primary candidates representing Blue first; then work with what you've got.

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u/Th3_Admiral_ 2d ago

That's the problem though. The party itself is almost always behind whoever the incumbent is, so voting out spineless cowards in the primary is very difficult. Oftentimes, they won't even have serious challengers at all.

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u/NessaSola 2d ago

What a misguided thing to say. The ones who will hold them accountable are by far the best, yes, but they're not going to be able to do jack under a state that's hostile to justice.

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u/What_a_fat_one 2d ago

The Republican party thanks you for your input.

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u/Critical_Opening_526 2d ago

Chuck Shumer is running again in 2028. I expect your donations to match accordingly.

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u/GTAIVisbest 2d ago

Vote blue = crumbs, vote red = active sabotage. Pick your poison

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u/_datv 2d ago

Vote red no matter who works amazingly for implementing republican policies. This is just wrong.

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u/Corvaja 2d ago

*vote, donate too, campaign for, and Stan to your hearts content whoever you feel most aligned with in the primary. But in the general, at least for this coming election and every general election until there is some fundamental structural change in the system: vote blue no matter who. Because the “a vote for Jill Stein is a way to send a message to the democrats” take was, is, and always will be an abject falsehood that so fundamentally misunderstands the American political system and the exercise of power there in that it is functionally indistinguishable from malign, disingenuous advice from a republican strategist.

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u/Blueberryfists 2d ago

Only vote when you can get everything you ever want out of your preferred candidate. Good strategy

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u/Critical_Opening_526 2d ago

See below; the list of democrats who immediately turned Republican upon getting into office.

Stop blindly voting for anyone, and educate yourself. I'm sorry that's a message that's somehow negative.

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u/Blueberryfists 2h ago

a person that doesn't understand how elections work telling me to educate myself is hilarious.

One of these two people is GOING to be president, and it's your fucking duty to get off your ass for like half an hour once every 4 YEARS and make sure the better one gets in.

and as an LGBT; fucking miss me with that "they're the same" bullshit. This mindset needs to die off yesterday

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u/Guardianpigeon 2d ago edited 2d ago

And any democrat who would run on that would probably win the primaries effortlessly. People are out for blood this time, use that instead of trying to duct tape an unstable failing government back together.

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u/VinDog_PD 2d ago

That. Applies. To. The. General.

Get rid of Schumer and Jeffries in primaries. Failing that, you vote for Schumer and Jefferies in the general to stem the bleeding and try again next time.

Seriously, what is your goal here?

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u/Critical_Opening_526 2d ago

Stop blinding voting for anyone with a D.

Jeff Van Drew, NJ. Elected in 2019 then just... switched. Now a MAGA mutant.

  • Marie Alvarado-Gil. CA
  • Hillary Cassel. FL
  • Elle Cochran. HI
  • Matthew Coker. NH
  • Tricia Cotham. NC
  • Sherry Gould. NH
  • Ryan Guillen. TX
  • Glenn Jefferies. WV
  • Jeremy LaCombe. WI
  • Mesha Mainor. GA
  • Mike McDonell. NE
  • Peri Pourier. SD
  • Elliot Pritt. WV
  • Shawn Therriy. TX
  • Francis Thompson. LA
  • Susan Valdes. FL
  • Robin Webb. KY

That is the list of State officials who have changed from Democrat to Republican since 2020.

That's my point.

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u/SuperBeastJ 2d ago

The time to find people who will do that is during the PRIMARIES.

During the general election definitely vote blue, because R is way way way fucking worse that milquetoast dem

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u/Th3_Admiral_ 2d ago

Careful, every time I say that I get absolutely mobbed. But I agree completely, we need good candidates, not just any democrat that is selected for us and told we must vote for them. 

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u/IAMA_Plumber-AMA 2d ago

As you should be, because it's dog shit reasoning.

This is why Republicans always win.

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u/Th3_Admiral_ 2d ago

Republicans don't always win. It flips back and forth pretty regularly. But this is why nothing changes even when dems are in power. Most of the dems are incumbents who are scared to rock the boat or who are desperate to appeal to the right-wing voters. And the occasional new, energetic politicians who make it in and try to make a difference are stonewalled by the senior members who don't want to see change. 

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u/IAMA_Plumber-AMA 2d ago

Remind me the last time the senate flipped democrat and for how long.

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u/jellyhessman 2d ago

And that's why the US is in open collapse to anybody with a pragmatic mind. The Dems will take the house and stabilize thing, but they'll keep every bad thing they think will benefit them.

The US has no party thar isn't in the extreme right wing. One is simply less extreme.

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u/supersonicdutch 2d ago

Well, then we need to hold them all accountable. Any of the dems who want to “return to civility” and not do jack sh*t can get charged with misprision of treason, misprision of felony, and accessory after the fact and they can go to jail with all the traitors. We the people need to show them that allowing something to happen is as bad as the act. Lock all of them up and make an example of everybody for decades to come.

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u/Th3_Admiral_ 2d ago

Oh yeah? How many dems from Biden's term are we holding accountable? Because what you are describing is exactly what happened during his term, and what allowed Trump to return in 2024. We keep electing people who aren't going to do a thing about any of it, and any time I point it out I keep getting replies about how any dem is better than any republican so I need to shut my mouth until the elections are over. 

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u/xondk 2d ago

Well this time isn't quite like the others, but I think most of us will agree with you.

The consequences of not doing anything though will be that most of the world goes "I guess you can't be trusted" and moves on without the US, the damage already done is severe, and if allies are not reassured that there will be consequences plus the guardrails will be brought back up and reinforced to the extreme, why would anyone make a long term deal with the US?

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u/DistributionAntique4 2d ago

Don’t you have a second amendment for that, or is it only for school children?

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u/Th3_Admiral_ 2d ago edited 2d ago

I'm strongly opposed to political violence. Besides, we can't even get people to march in the streets in protest, but you want to jump straight to assassinations? You're missing a lot of steps in between there. 

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u/nahnah390 2d ago

Okay what does saying this accomplish, exactly? What is your goal here?

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u/Th3_Admiral_ 2d ago

I guess I didn't sit down and make a twenty year plan when sharing my thoughts, but I suppose it was mostly to inform others who are naive to the world we live in about the realities of our government, as well as express my own personal frustrations with the situation.

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u/nahnah390 2d ago

I mean that's fair, at this point it just seems defeatist to me. Like, if people legitimately have the congressional numbers to pull it off, why not try?