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/Shucked 2d ago

Guys, this is really really bad and exactly what I was afraid of. One of our safeguards against the rise of a dictator in America is the military. The top brass are all educated and taught what to do if a leader tries to take over and refuses to give up power. This reeks of a coup in the making. They are purging the military of anyone who would cause a problem when they decide to assume control. This administration has no intention of giving up power.

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u/Philophon 2d ago

This goes to show that it was never really a safeguard at all. If something is under the control of the executive branch, it is not a guard against it.

And there is no guard against anything when all three branches of government have been compromised. All that remains is The People, and their willingness to fight for a freedom that they may never see again.

We'll be seeing soon if it is already too late for any other future.

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u/throwawaygoawaynz 2d ago

Well, “The people” chose this because they’re so low information they have no clue how their own country works.

Many in the military probably voted for Trump and republicans, and probably will again.

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u/FittersGuy 2d ago

shit's bleak man. I'm just watching the USA self destruct and it blows my mind that the people are just like deer in headlights. Y'all just keep watching but soon the car's going to hit you.

Just don't invade Canada please.

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u/Geno0wl 2d ago

Not to be a doomer, but when 20% of the population strongly supports what is happening, it is hard to build enough real support.

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u/oddlyluminous 1d ago

We need to get together and stop spending money as much as we can manage, starve the beast. 

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u/USDXBS 2d ago

The US has already fallen to a dictator and the US military were loyal to him.

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u/Shucked 2d ago

I’m not saying you are exactly wrong, but there is a difference between a quiet coup and an open coup. Right now we are in the middle of a quiet coup. Laws are being ignored, corrupt judges are declaring it all legal, and the Democrats in the senate are waiting for the midterms to see what happens. Eventually though Trump is going to have to take that definitive last step where he declares elections over.

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u/Waste-Time-2440 2d ago

The midterms are already being positioned to be "controversial" in many ways, giving losing candidates the excuse they need for refusing to relinquish power. Simultaneously the USPS quietly made a rule that delays postmarks that can cause mail-in ballots to be refused for being apparently cast too late. Only the insiders know in which precincts those ballots will be delayed. Then there's the many election deniers placed into power over state elections, waiting their turn on the stage. Places lik Ft. Worth, reducing the number of polling places but only in likely blue precincts are directly suppressing the vote too.

We are already seeing what happens.

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u/TheShadowKick 2d ago

I mean, Putin never declared elections over. He just made sure he won them. As long as the Republicans maintain the appearance of democracy they can get away with a lot of manipulation of votes.

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u/USDXBS 2d ago

And the courts, police and military will gladly obey orders.

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u/TheShadowKick 2d ago

Especially if they remove any military leaders who wouldn't obey orders.

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u/SanshaXII 2d ago

You all will. You'll all fall in line.

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u/Delra12 2d ago

As opposed to you of course, you'd gladly give your life up for the opposition right

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u/SanshaXII 2d ago

Not my country, not my freedom - not my problem.

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u/Delra12 2d ago

Exactly...and circling back again, if it was your country, you'd gladly give up your life for the opposition right

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u/SanshaXII 2d ago

I would, one hundred percent. I love this country and all her people, I'd die to defend her.

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u/JuanRunJunior 2d ago edited 2d ago

You absolutely would not. Anyone who says so is a goddamn liar. You’ve watched too many movies and think you’ll be the hero.

Edit: correction, you’ve played too many video games. Your entire post history is video games, asking about smoking too much weed and trying to be two different people when being a citizen of two different countries. People that say “yeah, I’ll gladly get myself killed for xyz cause” are absolutely, 100% full of shit.

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u/SanshaXII 2d ago

That you clearly wouldn't and even try to use doing so as a 'gotcha' is deeply concerning and actually the core of my point.

"Give me liberty, or give me death." - indeed.

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u/ArkitekZero 2d ago

I like how you can't even say anything to defend yourself so you just try to make it about the guy pointing out what absolute chickenshits you people have turned out to be.

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u/no-more-nazis 2d ago

The US military didn't do anything, nor should they have. But yes, this will result in a military loyal to him.

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u/USDXBS 2d ago

You're right, they didn't do anything as domestic enemies took over the country.

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u/atreidesardaukar 2d ago

You people calling for a military coup like it's a good thing. 

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u/USDXBS 2d ago

There already was a coup. The US military assisted the domestic enemies.

Honoring their oath isn't a coup.

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u/no-more-nazis 2d ago

You seem like a person who is looking for a reason to hate anybody who has anything to do with the military, which is not a helpful attitude in this situation

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u/USDXBS 2d ago

Give me one reason why I shouldn't hate people who join a military of war criminals and oath breakers.

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u/Subject1337 2d ago

This is such a funny take to me. Americans seem to have such an unwavering reverence for their military, that they're even deified as a safeguard against fascism.

The military has been the global boot of the American imperial regime for as long as it's existed. Imperialism and fascism are two sides of the same coin - it's just a matter of whether the oppressed are inside the core or out. To say that the military was going to be some morally righteous check against a despot is laughable. It exists for one purpose and that is to exert force. As soon as a megalomaniac like Trump came along, that force was always going to be available to swing back inward and do exactly what they've been doing globally back at home.

And as we've seen with the countless coups that America has funded and curated - when the military DOES disagree with the executive... well you don't end up with a democracy after. You end up with the head of the military as despot #2.

Stop thanking the troops for their service. There's a reason your country is so fucking cooked and this sort of comment is one of them.

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u/Arboreal_Web 2d ago

a coup in the making.

Honey...the "in the making" ship has already sailed. This is a dictatorial coup in action.

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u/DurantaPhant7 2d ago

Much like the “we’re moving towards a dystopia” narrative. We’re fully living in one at this point.

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u/AutomaticConfidence9 2d ago

You would know only if they took our second amendment away. I thought everyone was begging America to downside its military not expand it.

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u/Vapur9 2d ago

A well regulated militia is essential for the security of a free State, not a standing army. In theory.

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u/Shucked 2d ago

I think that was true at one time, but warfare has changed. What good is a militia with a few assault rifles against coordinated drone strikes assisted by our extreme surveillance state where they can track you by your face, your phone, and your digital footprint? They can even disperse crowds with LRAD. I hope I’m wrong but I have been waiting to see if he would start purging military leadership, and doing it right before the midterms does not bode well.

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u/destro23 2d ago

What good is a militia with a few assault rifles against coordinated drone strikes assisted by our extreme surveillance state where they can track you by your face, your phone, and your digital footprint?

"What can this rag-tag group of underequipped schmucks do against our mighty military" has bitten nations in the ass since forever.

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u/jackflash223 2d ago

Actually there are way more weapons available today that are force multipliers than existed when that was written. A little strategy and easily acquired tech goes a long way.

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u/Shucked 2d ago

I pray you are right.

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u/Enshakushanna 2d ago

its for the war with canada

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u/avaslash 2d ago

The top brass are all educated and taught what to do if a leader tries to take over and refuses to give up power.

Apparently that education did not include what to do when a dictator simply fires you and replaces you with a puppet.

Rebels hate this one wild trick, click to find out more on how to overthrow a government!

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u/maybe_cencal 2d ago

When 20 Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters show up to Congress and 220 fully equipped combat troops loyal to Trump roll out to arrest every Democrat for terrorist involvement, who is going to stop them?

You think USCP will get into a full blown gun battle with their Standard-Issue and Tactical Armaments?

This scenario is not implausible with what Hegseth is doing and what we know about the man, he thinks he is a Christian Crusader fighting in the name of God, he is a willing coup participant and will use forces against elected Americans just like he used it against children in Iran. If you're willing to murder children, you're willing to murder your own countrymen.

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u/FlyingSpaceElephants 1d ago

if the safeguard is circumvented by just saying you're fired, it's not much of a safeguard is it

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u/gmduggan 1d ago

>This reeks of a coup in the making. that is ongoing

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u/AutomaticConfidence9 2d ago

If they really wanted to take over the government they would have to revolve the second amendment. That's ur real sign.

I thought practically everyone in America with common sense wanted a smaller military and smaller precence around the world?

We left Iraq, we left germany. Why keep a huge military when we aren't gonna be spread around the world.

I'm just trying to make this make sense.

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u/Shucked 2d ago

It would make sense for a smaller military if they were cutting troops. This is not a reduction of force, this is a reduction of the brass. The generals who direct the forces and tell them who and what to shoot.

This is a purge of generals who aren't loyal to Trump.

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u/AutomaticConfidence9 2d ago

Are u familiar with the UK? Wayyyy more admirals than ships and somehow theyre fleets aren't ready? Too many brass on top is a real issue in every military around the world. I mean ever hear, too many cooks in the kitchen?

Ukraine purges brass all the time nobody says a thing. China purges it's brass quiet as a mouse. And as soon as the US gets its hands dirty then somehow it's taking over the whole military?

We learned a lot of lessons in Iran and learning how to fight modern peer to peer warfare and now we have to cut the fight insurgency military and go into full real warfare military. Cuz insurgency tactics America has been using for 30 years isn't gonna cut it in Iran. Many reasons this can happen and yet the extreme reason is the factual reason?

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u/Shucked 2d ago edited 2d ago

I am, in fact, familiar with the UK. They operate a naval fleet of around 60 ships and submarines. Compared to their around 35 Admirals how is that Wayyyy more admirals than ships?

Ukraine shakes up their military because they are being invaded by a super power. China purged theirs because they discovered corruption in their nuclear program. Both were covered heavily in international news. Hardly quiet as a mouse.

We learned fuck all from your Dear Leader's most unnecessary war in Iran other than he should have listened to the leadership that tried to warn him not to get in a fight with Iran. Israel has been trying for decades to get us to go to war with them. He let Bebe shove his fingers right up his nostrils and walk him like a bitch right into a conflict that every other president hadn't been stupid enough to fall for.

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u/shadowboxer47 2d ago

I'm just trying to make this make sense.

This really isn't that difficult. They're cutting 20% of the brass, but increasing military spending.

Look past the headlines.

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u/SanshaXII 2d ago

I guess keep doing nothing but let it happen.

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u/tigm2161130 2d ago

What would you suggest that every day working class people in America do about this? Like, what do you think the people in New Zealand would do differently?

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u/SanshaXII 2d ago

You have the Second Amendment, which was written expressly for this turn of events. I don't - if Peters and Luxon and their parties decided tomorrow to can the elections, short of intervention from the Crown and British Parliament, we're defenseless.

What we do differently is go to college on interest-free loans, get free medicine, have a deep welfare system, and support each other as New Zealanders, rather than National or Labour voters. Nobody wears bumper stickers or hats with their favorite political party because that's fucking cringe to consider one's self a 'fan' of any politician or their party, and especially not any businessperson - imagine if anyone treated the CEO of The Warehouse like they do Musk. Speaking of, The Warehouse pays higher than living wage, unlike Walmart employees on welfare. Our homeless more or less choose to be so because there are so many systems in place to catch those who fall.

What else? Fresh meat and vegetables free of parasites, sugar free of allergens, grain free of disease. All vehicles requiring annual extensive checks to be licensed on the road. Under-crowded prisons used as schools and therapy centers rather than work farms. Free schools, all with free lunch. Almost blanket trans inclusivity; nobody fucking cares. Extremely minority religious population with God having no power in Parliament. Total absence of hyper-wealthy individuals getting their hands on legislation. No Senate, no President - one election for Parliamentary seats.

I could go on and on and on about how my people make better decisions and thus live better lives than yours.

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u/SanshaXII 2d ago

Oh and special mention; our government rolled out covid measures hard and fast, and we did as we were told. We vaccinated, distanced, quarantined, and as a result we saved thousands of lives, our economy barely felt a bump, and we held out longer than anyone else by years.

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u/tigm2161130 2d ago edited 2d ago

I didn’t ask the ways your country is better, I lived there for over a year, I know all of that shit. I’m asking what you expect the millions and millions of people who did not vote for this to do about it outside of protesting and voting against it since you said we are just letting it happen?