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No dictator or would-be dictator has ever gathered the entire high-ranking officer corps of their military in a single location to demean them as incompetent and humiliate them for their unprofessional grooming standards, while degrading whole classes serving in the military branches as lesser and undeserving.

The former president is used to entering events with enthusiastic crowds cheering to music. "I have never walked into a room so silent before," he remarked when addressing the country's top military leaders at the Marine Corps Base Quantico. "No laughing. Don't know if you're permitted to do that." He tried to force some laughter, an vintage entertainment technique to energize a dead audience. "Listen up, Just have a good time."

Trump's logic perfectly encapsulated his mindset of victimhood and politics of revenge. If you fail to bend the knee to him, he is personally offended. The failure to admire him must be punished. Your slight of his majesty dooms you to ruin.

Armed Forces Professionalism vs. Partisan Demands

Trump cannot grasp that the silence of the military leaders during his extraordinary speech to them showcased their highest responsibility. Their composure showed fidelity to uphold their oath to the nation's founding document. Through their calm they presented themselves as examples for the rest of the military leadership and the troops.

They aren't loyal to any individual or any cult of personality, but to his constitutional role.

They served as a background for a political rally, but they were resistant to serving as political players.

Fundamental Misunderstanding

Trump's inability to comprehend their stolidity in the presence of his provocations showed his incomprehension not only of the military but the executive office under the law. When he became offended at their stoney silence his criticism made clear that he viewed them merely as his tools.

Trump had arrived on an pressing task for them to execute. His purpose to tell the military chiefs they were to be his obedient instruments for the most significant change of defense policy since the "anti-terrorism campaign" – a new war to be waged against his perceived domestic rivals at home in contravention of the Posse Comitatus Act of 1878, which forbids the domestic deployment of the US military as a law enforcement agency.

Background and Executive Actions

Every high-ranking generals had been assembled for the historic gathering at the Marine Corps Base Quantico on the order of the defense chief. They had no idea for what momentous purpose they were being called. They dared not theorize that they were being assembled to be a captured crowd for a self-focused vanity presentation attempting to restore his image and assert his power.

But the military leaders could have gotten more than a clue that they were being assembled for the most recent chapter of political theater by reading the presidential directive Designating an activist movement as a Domestic Terrorist Organization, an "entity" that lacks formal structure. Subsequent actions included a security directive citing multiple incidents as pretexts: "This political violence is not a series of unconnected incidents and doesn't originate naturally.

Philosophical Framework

According to the directive, a new "government approach" would be implemented against an ideology of "anti-Americanism, anti-capitalism, and opposition to Christianity; support for the removal of the United States Government; radical views on immigration, race, and sex; and opposition towards those who hold traditional American views on family structure, religion, and morality."

These concepts were not a portrayal of an philosophy so much as a mixture of partisan catchphrases. Should any ideology expressed it was an inchoate authoritarianism based on a controlling impulse that created an all-purpose opponent called "the opposition".

Military Chief's Performance

The dramatic display at Quantico began with the military leader moving back and forth on the platform. He acted as a motivational speaker as a military instructor with a publication to hawk – and a warm-up act for the headliner.

The ex national guard major said he had been "considered an extremist"; he was identified as a possible "insider threat" by fellow officers. Despite numerous reports of his drinking issues, he told journalists in an conversation: "I have never had a drinking problem," but then reportedly assured a legislator that he would "avoid alcohol while I have this position."

Procedural Changes and Contentious Remarks

As a television host, the speaker had been a leading supporter for pardoning or showing mercy to military personnel charged or found guilty of military offenses. He characterized them as "fighters" rather than "war criminals".

Now, in his address, he announced he was clearing away "unnecessary elements". He promoted loosening regulations aimed at stopping prohibited violence within the armed forces. He announced the "restructuring" of the inspector general and whistleblower complaint process, which would undermine legal protections and shield violent or careless violators from responsibility.

He would, he said, impose selective measures of "unisex" or "masculine standard" fitness requirements for combat roles, stating: "Should it result that no women meet standards for some military positions, so be it."

Confrontational Rhetoric and Service Reaction

The defense secretary strutted in front of the military leaders, barking obscenities – "Acronym for explicit phrase", or vulgar expression. "No more identity months, diversity initiatives, dudes in dresses. No more climate change worship. Stop separation, diversion or gender delusions. No more unnecessary elements. As I've said before and repeat again, we are finished with that nonsense."

The generals sat expressionless at his vulgarity that could be considered under the military legal system as a violation against improper speech that "neglects to the detriment of proper conduct and discipline".

Physical Requirements and Personal Comments

According to the speaker, it was the out-of-shape commanders who needed to work out following his example. "It's completely improper to see overweight military leaders in the halls of the Pentagon and overseeing operations around the country and the globe. It appears unprofessional," he said. "No more beardos."

Concluding Observations and Political Background

At no point did the speaker mention "Russia" or "Ukraine". He offered not the slightest reference to the Russian huge missile attacks striking Ukraine, Russia's unmanned aircraft over European nations, the strained relations over US wavering within the western alliance, or express anything that might be interpreted as a military consideration.

After his threatening address, the speaker made way for Donald Trump. The president displayed his customary disrespect for the military by provoking them with an array of political insults to which they remained completely motionless.

During the course of his stream of consciousness, he dropped his new objective for the armed forces against the "internal threat", 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. That's a war, too. It's a war from within." No response.