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No authoritarian leader or would-be dictator has ever assembled the complete high-ranking officer corps of their armed forces in a single location to belittle them as incompetent and embarrass them for their unprofessional personal appearance, while degrading whole classes serving in the army, navy and air force as inferior and unworthy.

The former president is accustomed to entering events with energetic audiences applauding to music. "I have never entered a room so quiet before," Trump remarked when speaking to the nation's highest-ranking military leaders at the Marine Corps Base Quantico. "Don't laugh. Don't know if you're allowed to do that." He tried to elicit some amusement, an old entertainment tactic to rouse a unresponsive audience. "You know what? Just have a good time."

His syllogism perfectly encapsulated his psychology of victimhood and approach of retribution. Should you do not bend the knee to him, he is deeply wounded. The failure to admire him must be penalized. Your slight of his majesty dooms you to ruin.

Armed Forces Discipline vs. Political Demands

Trump cannot grasp that the quiet demeanor of the military leaders during his extraordinary speech to them demonstrated their highest duty. Their composure displayed fidelity to maintain their oath to the constitution. By their stillness they represented themselves as examples for the rest of the military leadership and the troops.

They are not devoted to Trump or any personal following, but to his legal role.

They served as a background for a political event, but they were resistant to acting as partisan participants.

Basic Misunderstanding

Trump's failure to understand their stolidity in the face of his challenges revealed his lack of understanding not only of the military but the presidency under the legal system. As he took offense at their unresponsive silence his rebuke made clear that he saw them merely as his pawns.

Trump had arrived on an pressing mission for them to carry out. His purpose to inform the military chiefs they were to be his obedient instruments for the greatest reversal of defense policy since the "war on terror" – an unprecedented conflict to be waged against his perceived domestic rivals at home in violation of the federal law of 1878, which forbids the internal use of the US military as a police force.

Context and Presidential Actions

Every senior generals had been assembled for the unprecedented event at the Marine Corps Base Quantico on the directive of the defense chief. They had no idea for what momentous purpose they were being called. They wouldn't theorize that they were being brought to be a captive crowd for a self-referential ego-driven presentation attempting to restore his image and establish his authority.

But the military leaders could have obtained more than a hint that they were being rounded up for the most recent chapter of political theater by reviewing the executive order Labeling Antifa as a Domestic Terrorist Organization, an "organization" that lacks formal structure. This was followed included a security directive citing multiple events as justifications: "This political violence is not a collection of isolated incidents and does not emerge naturally.

Philosophical Basis

According to the directive, a new "national strategy" would be enacted against an ideology of "opposition to America, anti-capitalism, and opposition to Christianity; support for the removal of the federal government; radical views on immigration, race, and sex; and opposition towards those who hold traditional American views on family structure, religion, and morality."

These vapors were not a description of an ideology so much as a mixture of partisan shibboleths. Should any belief system expressed it was an inchoate fascism based on a controlling drive that created an universal opponent called "Antifa".

Defense Secretary's Presentation

The theatrical display at Quantico began with the defense secretary darting back and forth on the stage. He was a motivational speaker as a military instructor with a publication to hawk – and a opening performance for the headliner.

The ex military reserve officer said he had been "considered an radical"; he was identified as a possible "security risk" by fellow officers. Regardless of numerous reports of his alcoholism, he informed journalists in an conversation: "I have never had a alcohol issue," but then reportedly promised a senator that he would "not touch alcohol while I have this role."

Policy Modifications and Controversial Statements

While serving as television host, the speaker had been a leading supporter for pardoning or showing mercy to service members accused or convicted of military offenses. He characterized them as "fighters" rather than "offenders".

Now, in his speech, he declared he was removing "unnecessary elements". He promoted loosening rules aimed at stopping prohibited force within the military. He announced the "overhauling" of the oversight and informant reporting system, which would weaken safeguards and shield aggressive or reckless violators from responsibility.

He planned to, he said, implement selective measures of "gender-neutral" or "male level" physical standards for combat roles, saying: "Should it result that no females qualify for some combat jobs, that's acceptable."

Aggressive Language and Military Reaction

The defense secretary swaggered in front of the commanders, barking vulgar language – "Fafo", or explicit language. "Eliminate heritage observances, diversity initiatives, dudes in dresses. No more environmental focus. Stop division, diversion or gender delusions. Remove unnecessary elements. As I've said before and will say again, we are done with that nonsense."

The military leaders sat without reaction at his crude language that could be considered under the Uniform Military Code of Justice as a violation against improper speech that "neglects to the prejudice of good order and discipline".

Appearance Requirements and Personal Comments

According to the speaker, it was the flabby generals who required to exercise like him. "It's totally improper to see overweight military leaders in the halls of the Pentagon and leading commands around the country and the world. It's a bad look," he said. "No more facial hair."

Final Remarks and Political Context

Not once did the speaker mention "Russia" or "the Ukrainian nation". He made not the smallest reference to Russia's huge aerial assaults bombarding Ukraine, Russia's drones over neighboring countries, the tensions over US wavering within the international coalition, or express anything that might be interpreted as a military consideration.

After his menacing speech, the speaker stepped aside for Donald Trump. Trump showed his customary contempt for the military by baiting them with an series of partisan barbs to which they remained completely motionless.

During the course of his rambling remarks, he introduced his new mission for the military against the "enemy from within", with large American cities as the "training grounds … the ones that are governed by the radical-left Democrats … And this is going to be a significant role for some of the individuals in this room. This represents conflict, too. It's a war from within." No response.