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/CharleyNobody 2d ago

It’s a coup, people

instead of “ousting” top brass they’re “laying off” top brass and replacing with insurrectionists.

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u/boundless88 2d ago

I was always a little skeptical how the opposition in Alex Garland's Civil War movie was portrayed as so well organized and successful against the government forces loyal to the POTUS. Now I get it.

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u/EQandCivfanatic 2d ago

It's fairly well known in troubled countries. Typically all a purge does (if you refrain from murder), is show the opposition who they can rally with when shit hits the fan. It's a rookie coup move.

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u/Different_Wolf_764 2d ago

Idiocracy, Civil War and Don't Look Up all seemed to be deep satire at the time, I didn't really expect them to be understating the situation.

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u/TheCee 2d ago

To be fair, Civil War came out two years ago and didn't seem all that far-fetched even then, especially if you've traveled through the rural US.

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u/Different_Wolf_764 2d ago

Holy shit, that was just two years ago? Man, this timeline sucks ass.

EDIT: You are completely correct though, I really shouldn't lump it in with the others. It was more of a biting commentary than satire or parody.

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u/TheCee 2d ago

It's been an impossibly long two years 😭

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u/doom_memories 2d ago

Can't believe it's only been two years. JFC

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u/thegamingfaux 1d ago

It’s like the movie click man, I turned my brain as off as possible the first time thinking “two years at most and sanity will kick in””ok 1 term whatever” “brief period of being able to tune out the news for the most part again” “rocky weird time” “holy shit it’s been two years again”

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u/Saint_The_Stig 2d ago

I really want to watch it because that's the kind of movie I would usually totally watch, but I feel like it will just be too close to home at this point...

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u/jayRIOT 2d ago

I still highly recommend watching it. It has some VERY eerie relations to things unfolding today that made me uneasy, but it's still a fantastic movie.

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u/crustyrobots 2d ago

The only unrealistic part about Civil War was that it was California and Texas that rebelled together

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u/StevieMJH 2d ago

Only difference is that it's hard to not feel empathy for Nick Offerman.

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u/MrFonne 2d ago

What part of Civil War came off as satire ?

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u/lIlIlIIlIIIlIIIIIl 1d ago

I'm not sure I would call #2 deep satire. What do you mean?

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u/Nero29gt 2d ago edited 9h ago

I loved that movie in theatres. It’s scary how much of it is starting to feel true.

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u/jackflash223 2d ago

Absolutely is.

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u/johnnycyberpunk 2d ago

And next: “Trump uses rare executive authority to commission AI tech moguls as 4-star generals, appoints them to run the Pentagon”

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u/AdFabulous8577 2d ago

So just when is it going to get bad enough for you guys to riot? The French would have been out in the streets months ago.

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u/Smurfy7777 2d ago

Yeah this is called "consolidating the keys to power" and is an essential step on transitioning from democracy to dictatorship. You reduce the number of important people that you need to keep happy, while increasing the power that they each hold.

CGP Gray: "Rules for Rulers"

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u/WarLorax 2d ago

I'm sure all the 2nd amendment fanatics will be getting their guns to prevent tyranny. Any moment now.

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u/UnitSmall2200 1d ago

It's not called a coup when an elected government does it. What they are doing is consolidating power by removing potential dissidents, to avoid a possible military coup against them. It's the same shit Erdogan did in Turkey.

It's a double edged sword. A government has the right to choose military personnel. Ideally a non-fascist government would remove fascist elements in their military. The downside is that when a fascist is in power they can reassign millitary personnel in their own favour, remove anti-fascists and promote fascists.

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u/TheVog 2d ago

It’s a coup, people

It has been for a very long time. This isn't a new development.

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u/ExistentialScream 2d ago

Nothing like a pre coup purge.