Any ideas?

[UrHuckleberry]

The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) on Threads

Exclusive: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered virtually all of the U.S. military’s top commanders worldwide to gather on short notice — and without a stated reason — at a Marine Corps base in Virginia next week. Here’s what we know: https://wapo.st/46TtlVo

www.threads.com

@ANEW

 

[dpic73]

The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) on Threads

Exclusive: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered virtually all of the U.S. military’s top commanders worldwide to gather on short notice — and without a stated reason — at a Marine Corps base in Virginia next week. Here’s what we know: https://wapo.st/46TtlVo

www.threads.com

@ANEW

I've been wondering about it too.

 

[baltimorened]

The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) on Threads

Exclusive: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered virtually all of the U.S. military’s top commanders worldwide to gather on short notice — and without a stated reason — at a Marine Corps base in Virginia next week. Here’s what we know: https://wapo.st/46TtlVo

www.threads.com

@ANEW

first of all, from the comments I might have guessed that this was from WaPo, NYT or msnbc

But, there has been quite a bit of activity around venezuela. Just read something this morning about JSOC forces in the area.

 

[UrHuckleberry]

first of all, from the comments I might have guessed that this was from WaPo, NYT or msnbc

But, there has been quite a bit of activity around venezuela. Just read something this morning about JSOC forces in the area.

I really wasn't try to do anything fearmongering, etc. Regardless of what it is, feels like a gathering of that many leaders stationed around the world on short notice has to be somewhat of a big deal. Otherwise it would be a memo. (I could be wrong, but my take).

So I always learn when things like this are announced, particularly from @ANEW who I tagged.

I know there's been activity in the Caribbean about Venezuela, but have seen some Russia chatter too.

But would really like to keep this non-partisan and learn from the people more in the know than myself.

 

[firegiver]

Just a guess: probably going to invade south america. justification: war on drugs. trillions in spending for the military industrial complex.

Another good guess: Europe. Trump lately has changed his entire message on Russia and Ukraine. Why? Because maybe he finally realized Putin is laughing at him.

 

[ANEW]

first of all, from the comments I might have guessed that this was from WaPo, NYT or msnbc

But, there has been quite a bit of activity around venezuela. Just read something this morning about JSOC forces in the area.

I really wasn't try to do anything fearmongering, etc. Regardless of what it is, feels like a gathering of that many leaders stationed around the world on short notice has to be somewhat of a big deal. Otherwise it would be a memo. (I could be wrong, but my take).

So I always learn when things like this are announced, particularly from @ANEW who I tagged.

I know there's been activity in the Caribbean about Venezuela, but have seen some Russia chatter too.

But would really like to keep this non-partisan and learn from the people more in the know than myself.

Huck. Im in the middle of some things so can't read the article or research. No need for an top level "all hands" just to put a beat down an Venezuela. Conflict would limited to SOUTHCOM area of responsibility.

My first thought is a policy thing that secwar wants to tell everyone personally so no wiggle room. Or this is a come to jesus on something that has already been put out but there has been grumbling or bureacratic foot dragging and selective noncompliance..

Or its something much bigger than a potential fight with Venezuela

Just my personal $0.02

 

[UrHuckleberry]

Huck. Im in the middle of some things so can't read the article or research. No need for an top level "all hands" just to put a beat down an Venezuela. Conflict would limited to SOUTHCOM area of responsibility.

My first thought is a policy thing that secwar wants to tell everyone personally so no wiggle room. Or this is a come to jesus on something that has already been put out but there has been grumbling or bureacratic foot dragging and selective noncompliance..

Or its something much bigger than a potential fight with Venezuela

Just my personal $0.02

Thank you. And I haven't read the article either lol, just more curious on the topic and whether there was any scuttle.

 

[ANEW]

Thank you. And I haven't read the article either lol, just more curious on the topic and whether there was any scuttle.

Ah.. looking like it might be regards a general officer (and associated staffs) reduction in force. Makes sense to put the word out and take questions. Could do by video conference but this way yo can control exactly who is in the room.

 

[UrHuckleberry]

Ah.. looking like it might be regards a general officer (and associated staffs) reduction in force. Makes sense to put the word out and take questions. Could do by video conference but this way yo can control exactly who is in the room.

Interesting. So getting everyone together to do a military layoff?

 

[ANEW]

Interesting. So getting everyone together to do a military layoff?

The fact that they were looking into cutting costs out of the Department is not a new thing. Combining /eliminating some headquarters ad reducing General Officer/ Flag Officer bullets was under study. A fox article threw out "100" as number of GO/FO cuts.

Doing this in person is the right way and als save the GO/FO management office phones from being blown up . Can lay it all out when what billets what happens if.. and have all the staffers in the room to answer questions.

 

[TigerRagRob]

Interesting. So getting everyone together to do a military layoff?

You dont need to get everybody together for that. Im thinking its bigger, Russia-Ukraine related. We could go there and have them pushed out in less than a month. Im sure all of NATO will be down to do that. It could also be Israel related...

 

[UrHuckleberry]

You dont need to get everybody together for that. Im thinking its bigger, Russia-Ukraine related. We could go there and have them pushed out in less than a month. Im sure all of NATO will be down to do that. It could also be Israel related...

Right, those two and South America all seemed “on the table” so was curious of thoughts.

 

[dpic73]

FWIW

"One source familiar said they’d heard theories ranging from a group physical fitness test, to receiving a briefing on the state of the Defense Department, to a mass firing of officers, but regardless of the reason the sudden convening of so many senior military officers is highly unusual.

“It’s being referred to as the general squid games,” one official quipped.

Some officials also voiced security concerns about having so many high-ranking officers in one place at the same time. A congressional aide told CNN that unless Hegseth planned to announce “a major new military campaign or a complete overhaul of the military command structure, I can’t imagine a good reason for this.”

The meeting comes as the Trump administration has fired a slew of high-profile general and flag officers since taking office in January, in many instances due to Hegseth’s campaign against diversity-related issues, but often also for unspecified reasons. Hegseth also ordered the Defense Department in May to cut the number of four-star generals and admirals by at least 20%.

Before taking on the role of defense secretary, Hegseth repeatedly voiced disdain for much of the military’s currently serving general and flag officer corps. In a podcast appearance last summer, Hegseth said a third of the military’s senior officers are “actively complicit” in what he argued is a move towards politicization of the military. In a second podcast, he said senior officers are “playing by all the wrong rules” to cater to “idealogues in Washington, DC.”

https://www.cnn.com/2025/09/25/politics/hegseth-generals-surprise-meeting

 

[ANEW]

FWIW

"One source familiar said they’d heard theories ranging from a group physical fitness test, to receiving a briefing on the state of the Defense Department, to a mass firing of officers, but regardless of the reason the sudden convening of so many senior military officers is highly unusual.

“It’s being referred to as the general squid games,” one official quipped.

Some officials also voiced security concerns about having so many high-ranking officers in one place at the same time. A congressional aide told CNN that unless Hegseth planned to announce “a major new military campaign or a complete overhaul of the military command structure, I can’t imagine a good reason for this.”

The meeting comes as the Trump administration has fired a slew of high-profile general and flag officers since taking office in January, in many instances due to Hegseth’s campaign against diversity-related issues, but often also for unspecified reasons. Hegseth also ordered the Defense Department in May to cut the number of four-star generals and admirals by at least 20%.

Before taking on the role of defense secretary, Hegseth repeatedly voiced disdain for much of the military’s currently serving general and flag officer corps. In a podcast appearance last summer, Hegseth said a third of the military’s senior officers are “actively complicit” in what he argued is a move towards politicization of the military. In a second podcast, he said senior officers are “playing by all the wrong rules” to cater to “idealogues in Washington, DC.”

https://www.cnn.com/2025/09/25/politics/hegseth-generals-surprise-meeting

Speculation will run wild as this IS very very, very unusual. 830ish General/flag officers within the deparment. Earlier there was talk of a 20% reduction in 4 stars. 10% reduction in the others on active duty . 20% reduction from the Army and Air Guard.. If this was to give a warning order on "we're going to kickoff WWIII" he wouldn't be flying all the generals to virginia... It would be the 4-star combatant commanders maybe with their deputies leaving the rest in the field to receive the written Warning order and be briefed via secure Video Teleconference fror them to get busy doing whatever they needed to do while the principles hopped in their jets and fly home. Orders and coordinations are done via secure VTC all the time.

It could be to bring them in to ***** at them all in person, but the 1stars and the vast majority of 2 stars don't even have names when viewed from the SecWar Level. I dont' see the SecWar wasting his time with them.

I thing major re-org / reduction in force is the reason. There will be many GOs that thought they had a shot at that next star that will not have a chair when the music stops and they will have to just... fade away.

 

[BigPapaWhit]

On a side note...

Protocol is absolutely losing their minds right, now. Can you imagine the seating chart? Order of precedent? Who out ranks who? Lot of prep goes into a visit for one General officer. That base could be crazy.

Is their a conference table big enough? Not to mention all the attachés and staff.

Oh and did I mention travel expenses? This will be big hit somewhere right at the closeout of the fiscal year. However at that level, it's probably a minor concern.

 

[UrHuckleberry]

On a side note...

Protocol is absolutely losing their minds right, now. Can you imagine the seating chart? Order of precedent? Who out ranks who? Lot of prep goes into a visit for one General officer. That base could be crazy.

Is their a conference table big enough? Not to mention all the attachés and staff.

Oh and did I mention travel expenses? This will be big hit somewhere right at the closeout of the fiscal year. However at that level, it's probably a minor concern.

Would think it would be i some sort of auditorium, right?

 

[BigPapaWhit]

I thing major re-org / reduction in force is the reason. There will be many GOs that thought they had a shot at that next star that will not have a chair when the music stops and they will have to just... fade away.

I think this is closer to the truth. There has been a lot of talk the past few years of reducing the bloat at the top. There won't be many tears shed. These people will transfer to the private sector. Instead of being on Gov't payrolls, they will now be on contract, on the golf course, or enjoying a beach front retirement.

...

Unless this is one of those Midnight Massacres...

Stalin and Hitler had no problem shooting a few Generals. I kid...

I 100% do not believe any Generals will be shot in the basement at Quantico. Now if they were meeting at Camp David...

Seriously, I am not serious.

 

[BigPapaWhit]

Would think it would be i some sort of auditorium, right?

Yeah, I was being somewhat facetious about the conference table. Still though, there can be a lot of egos about who is sitting where even in an Auditorium. On one hand, you might be the type to not push be fine with a seat in the back. On the other hand, you don't want to seem indifferent, disinterested, or weak. Some people will absolutely lose their minds over thinking this. Many don't get those stars by sitting in the back of the room. Colonel, maybe? 04 and 05 not hard if you keep your head down and nose clean depending on branch.

 

[ANEW]

# of general officers/flag officers is capped . Only a very few places designed for generals to hang out inbetween jobs in the pentagon. And those spaces are for the very senior guys (3stars) to hang out while they wait for the 4 star job that they have been promised to open up. All others....if you are not slated into another job of equal or greater rank before or very shortly after your current assignment is scheduled to end you have to retire. You aren't "FIRED" everyon is just sorry that you weren't placed into an open billet before your clock ran out so you have to go to make room for the next guy who is inbound into your job who had to leave his job for the next guy who had to leave his job so some 06(Colonel / Captain (USN) can pin on his star. It's a big shell game and those that are already in the club have input into the slating of those General Officers/Flag Officers (USN) coming up behind them.

Each service also has GO/FO management office that tracks all these guys and hand holds them and makes sure all the protocol due to them is taken care of. Hi Colonel congratulations on your promotion to Brigadier General will you want to purchase your general officer pistol? Of course we'll take care of that and get it sent to you we will need you to fill out some paperwork first. . Your Flag? We'll get that sent to you as well.. We'll also be making arangements for you and you and Mrs General to attend charm school. would these dates be ok? Great. Could you please review this bio and approve it before we make it official? Yes we will need an official picture as well. Major General Smith? Yes how can we help you. No we dont currently have the result of the slating board for your next assignment but we will have more information for you next tuesday.

Think about all the egos in play and all the phone calls and emails demanding information and the freaking chaos uf anything is not laid out in detail and all entitled egos get th proper stroking. Go/fo management office would be carpet bombed and getting **** on for not instantly picking up the phone or answering emails.

SecWar having them all in person telling them what is going to happen stops all of that stone cold dead.

 

[Dadar]

It is all political to blame Dems for not agreeing to a bill they had no input into

 

[UrHuckleberry]

# of general officers/flag officers is capped . Only a very few places designed for generals to hang out inbetween jobs in the pentagon. And those spaces are for the very senior guys (3stars) to hang out while they wait for the 4 star job that they have been promised to open up. All others....if you are not slated into another job of equal or greater rank before or very shortly after your current assignment is scheduled to end you have to retire. You aren't "FIRED" everyon is just sorry that you weren't placed into an open billet before your clock ran out so you have to go to make room for the next guy who is inbound into your job who had to leave his job for the next guy who had to leave his job so some 06(Colonel / Captain (USN) can pin on his star. It's a big shell game and those that are already in the club have input into the slating of those General Officers/Flag Officers (USN) coming up behind them.

Each service also has GO/FO management office that tracks all these guys and hand holds them and makes sure all the protocol due to them is taken care of. Hi Colonel congratulations on your promotion to Brigadier General will you want to purchase your general officer pistol? Of course we'll take care of that and get it sent to you we will need you to fill out some paperwork first. . Your Flag? We'll get that sent to you as well.. We'll also be making arangements for you and you and Mrs General to attend charm school. would these dates be ok? Great. Could you please review this bio and approve it before we make it official? Yes we will need an official picture as well. Major General Smith? Yes how can we help you. No we dont currently have the result of the slating board for your next assignment but we will have more information for you next tuesday.

Think about all the egos in play and all the phone calls and emails demanding information and the freaking chaos uf anything is not laid out in detail and all entitled egos get th proper stroking. Go/fo management office would be carpet bombed and getting **** on for not instantly picking up the phone or answering emails.

SecWar having them all in person telling them what is going to happen stops all of that stone cold dead.

Good information, thank you

 

[baltimorened]

It is all political to blame Dems for not agreeing to a bill they had no input into

what are we blaming Democrats for?

 

[BigPapaWhit]

It is all political to blame Dems for not agreeing to a bill they had no input into

IF you're implying Gen Officers being let go is a result of the stalling on the budget, I believe these two events are unrelated. The thinning of this herd has been on the agenda for a while, IIRC.

There has also been some talk of downsizing the E-9 force as well. Not sure if that is just whispers or if the E9 thing has legs.

 

[BigPapaWhit]

# of general officers/flag officers is capped . Only a very few places designed for generals to hang out inbetween jobs in the pentagon. And those spaces are for the very senior guys (3stars) to hang out while they wait for the 4 star job that they have been promised to open up. All others....if you are not slated into another job of equal or greater rank before or very shortly after your current assignment is scheduled to end you have to retire. You aren't "FIRED" everyon is just sorry that you weren't placed into an open billet before your clock ran out so you have to go to make room for the next guy who is inbound into your job who had to leave his job for the next guy who had to leave his job so some 06(Colonel / Captain (USN) can pin on his star. It's a big shell game and those that are already in the club have input into the slating of those General Officers/Flag Officers (USN) coming up behind them.

Each service also has GO/FO management office that tracks all these guys and hand holds them and makes sure all the protocol due to them is taken care of. Hi Colonel congratulations on your promotion to Brigadier General will you want to purchase your general officer pistol? Of course we'll take care of that and get it sent to you we will need you to fill out some paperwork first. . Your Flag? We'll get that sent to you as well.. We'll also be making arangements for you and you and Mrs General to attend charm school. would these dates be ok? Great. Could you please review this bio and approve it before we make it official? Yes we will need an official picture as well. Major General Smith? Yes how can we help you. No we dont currently have the result of the slating board for your next assignment but we will have more information for you next tuesday.

Think about all the egos in play and all the phone calls and emails demanding information and the freaking chaos uf anything is not laid out in detail and all entitled egos get th proper stroking. Go/fo management office would be carpet bombed and getting **** on for not instantly picking up the phone or answering emails.

SecWar having them all in person telling them what is going to happen stops all of that stone cold dead.

Appreciate the education, Sir.

 

[ANEW]

Yeah, I was being somewhat facetious about the conference table. Still though, there can be a lot of egos about who is sitting where even in an Auditorium. On one hand, you might be the type to not push be fine with a seat in the back. On the other hand, you don't want to seem indifferent, disinterested, or weak. Some people will absolutely lose their minds over thinking this. Many don't get those stars by sitting in the back of the room. Colonel, maybe? 04 and 05 not hard if you keep your head down and nose clean depending on branch.

There will be assigned seats. It will be by rank and date of rank and tweaked based on the actual layout of the room . Aides will know ahead of time and if LTG X is known to hate LTG Y they will communicate that and they may bust strict date of rank order if needed to make sure they don't sit next to each other. It is crazy. If you haven't seen it or dealt with GO/FO egos and protocol crap its hard to fathom.

I wasnt protocol, far from it ha!, but I have some experience...so making semi-educated guesses.

 

[LafayetteBear]

That genius Hegseth probably wants to make sure that all of the generals and admirals understand that the new name for his Department is the "Department of War." Something truly fundamental like that.

 

[dpic73]

New details emerge on Hegseth’s unusual mass gathering of top brass​

"The defense secretary is expected to lecture about the “warrior ethos” for less than an hour, according to multiple people familiar with the event. But top generals are bracing for possible firings or demotions"

"The Pentagon has declined to clarify the purpose or detail the agenda of the meeting and did not immediately respond to questions on the nature of Hegseth’s speech. Sean Parnell, a spokesman, affirmed in a statement that Hegseth “will be addressing his senior military leaders early next week.”

Hegseth appeared to address concerns about the meeting for the first time Friday morning, using his personal social media account. After a retired senior officer, Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges, tweeted that German generals were “called to a surprise assembly in Berlin” in 1935 and “required to swear a personal oath to the Führer,” the defense secretary responded with sarcasm."

“Cool story, General,” Hegseth wrote.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2025/09/26/hegseth-generals-meeting-warrior-speech/

 

[ANEW]

Everyone is speculating at this point and those that feel compelled to do so are adding their own hyperbole.

My opinion is that when retired general officers that do it, like LTG (Ret) Hodges, it is professionaly embarrassing.

In this case it's not just embarrassing, it's reprehensible. LTG (Ret) Hodges' words are calculated so as to walk the line. Factual, but carefully said and timed so as to imply something else that literally casts doubt on the legitimacy and authority of the administration that the people elected. And implying/promoting the disgusting "Nazi" imagry that is liteally feeding and fermenting domestic political violence that is getting people killed right now? Add disgusting to the list of adjectives.

Worse than all that is his lack of personal courage. Why not just come out and call Hegseth a Nazi? Because he doen't have the personal courage to do so even though actual recall and prosecution of retired officers under Article 88 of the UCMJ is as rare as a unicorn.

Edit: Comment on how unusual. Sure. Maybe the security risk. Sure. How unprecedented? Yup. Alternate ways that a the SecWar could speak to that audience? Sure. But Nazi comparisons? WTF.

 

[dpic73]

Everyone is speculating at this point and those that feel compelled to do so are adding their own hyperbole.

My opinion is that when retired general officers that do it, like LTG (Ret) Hodges, it is professionaly embarrassing.

In this case it's not just embarrassing, it's reprehensible. LTG (Ret) Hodges' words are calculated so as to walk the line. Factual, but carefully said and timed so as to imply something else that literally casts doubt on the legitimacy and authority of the administration that the people elected. And implying/promoting the disgusting "Nazi" imagry that is liteally feeding and fermenting domestic political violence that is getting people killed right now? Add disgusting to the list of adjectives.

Worse than all that is his lack of personal courage. Why not just come out and call Hegseth a Nazi? Because he doen't have the personal courage to do so even though actual recall and prosecution of retired officers under Article 88 of the UCMJ is as rare as a unicorn.

Edit: Comment on how unusual. Sure. Maybe the security risk. Sure. How unprecedented? Yup. Alternate ways that a the SecWar could speak to that audience? Sure. But Nazi comparisons? WTF.

Be honest, with the way things are trending, if Hegseth required them to swear a personal oath to Trump would you really be surprised? And if he did, are you telling me you wouldn't support it?

The rest of us can plainly see how Trump is destroying all checks and balances so that no one can challenge his destruction of all our cherished institutions, except magas. Or let me re-phrase that, they see it but they don't care and actually applaud it.



If he disapproves of being called a fascist, he needs to stop impersonating one. We've seen enough...

 

[other1]

hegseth telling anyone in the military what to do is like some cook at Waffle House telling Gordon Ramsay how to cook. This clown is in way over his head.

 

[LafayetteBear]

New details emerge on Hegseth’s unusual mass gathering of top brass​

"The defense secretary is expected to lecture about the “warrior ethos” for less than an hour, according to multiple people familiar with the event. But top generals are bracing for possible firings or demotions"

"The Pentagon has declined to clarify the purpose or detail the agenda of the meeting and did not immediately respond to questions on the nature of Hegseth’s speech. Sean Parnell, a spokesman, affirmed in a statement that Hegseth “will be addressing his senior military leaders early next week.”

Hegseth appeared to address concerns about the meeting for the first time Friday morning, using his personal social media account. After a retired senior officer, Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges, tweeted that German generals were “called to a surprise assembly in Berlin” in 1935 and “required to swear a personal oath to the Führer,” the defense secretary responded with sarcasm."

“Cool story, General,” Hegseth wrote.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2025/09/26/hegseth-generals-meeting-warrior-speech/

I had considered that perhaps a personal loyalty oath to Trump was in the cards, but the idea is so repugnant and non-democratic that I did not want to even mention it. My thought was that it would draw a whole lot of criticism from the conservatives on this Board (e.g., "How could you even make such an accusation?! Every soldier's oath of fealty is to the Constitution, and everyone already knows that the President is the Commander in Chief!"). But considering that other people, including General Hodges, have mentioned that as a possibility, I'm now thinking that it was wise of Hodges to come out with this in advance, and hopefully provoke negative feedback that preempts Trump from making such an attempt. ("Only Hitler would do something like that, Donald!")

Not that there is any confirmation Trump is going to attempt this but, quite frankly, I think making the attempt should be deemed a high crime or misdemeanor.

 

[dpic73]

I had considered that perhaps a personal loyalty oath to Trump was in the cards, but the idea is so repugnant and non-democratic that I did not want to even mention it. My thought was that it would draw a whole lot of criticism from the conservatives on this Board (e.g., "How could you even make such an accusation?! Every soldier's oath of fealty is to the Constitution, and everyone already knows that the President is the Commander in Chief!"). But considering that other people, including General Hodges, have mentioned that as a possibility, I'm now thinking that it was wise of Hodges to come out with this in advance, and hopefully provoke negative feedback that preempts Trump from making such an attempt. ("Only Hitler would do something like that, Donald!")

Not that there is any confirmation Trump is going to attempt this but, quite frankly, I think making the attempt should be deemed a high crime or misdemeanor.

I mean, so many things that we once thought were unthinkable keep stacking up so its hard not to imagine that anything could be possible. And no matter how many deranged, cruel and un-American things he does, Republicans do nothing, in fact, polling shows their approval numbers barely budge.

If these last two weeks haven't made a dent, I dont have faith that anything will bother them, no matter how corrupt he becomes, which is a scary thought because if they keep going along, this country will never be the same and not in a good way.

 

[baltimorened]

I had considered that perhaps a personal loyalty oath to Trump was in the cards, but the idea is so repugnant and non-democratic that I did not want to even mention it. My thought was that it would draw a whole lot of criticism from the conservatives on this Board (e.g., "How could you even make such an accusation?! Every soldier's oath of fealty is to the Constitution, and everyone already knows that the President is the Commander in Chief!"). But considering that other people, including General Hodges, have mentioned that as a possibility, I'm now thinking that it was wise of Hodges to come out with this in advance, and hopefully provoke negative feedback that preempts Trump from making such an attempt. ("Only Hitler would do something like that, Donald!")

Not that there is any confirmation Trump is going to attempt this but, quite frankly, I think making the attempt should be deemed a high crime or misdemeanor.

I love how nobody, except maybe Hegseth and his personal staff, know what this about, but we've already, seemingly, deciding that it's a Nazi like loyalty oath.

Maybe it is and maybe it's not. But let's not let any common sense stop us from making our own predetermination

 

[UrHuckleberry]

I love how nobody, except maybe Hegseth and his personal staff, know what this about, but we've already, seemingly, deciding that it's a Nazi like loyalty oath.

Maybe it is and maybe it's not. But let's not let any common sense stop us from making our own predetermination

Agree with this. Very little would surprise me with Hesketh/this administration but I’m not going to get outraged in advance.

 

[tboonpickens]

hegseth telling anyone in the military what to do is like some cook at Waffle House telling Gordon Ramsay how to cook. This clown is in way over his head.

step 1: get some lame tattoos
step 2: be a drunk
step 3: settle a sexual harrassment/assault case
step 4: get a fox news show
step 5: transmit war plans on unsecured app

pretty easy plan for these generals to follow so they can be just like old blood and guts Sneaky Pete

 

[ANEW]

Be honest, with the way things are trending, if Hegseth required them to swear a personal oath to Trump would you really be surprised? And if he did, are you telling me you wouldn't support it?


If he disapproves of being called a fascist, he needs to stop impersonating one. We've seen enough...

The way thigs are trending? Lol. We? You and your imaginary friends?

Yes i'd be surprised. And if that were the case then everyone in the room should resign their commissions in protest. They all have qualified for a retirement. Maybe the 1stars might have to retire as a Colonel. Maybe some Twos stars as a 1star 3's as 2's but none of them would lose a lifetime pension. No protests or complaints from you on the ramp up to the absolute idiocy that is being finally rolled back. So spare me.

My comments were limited to an embarrasing and reprehensible post by a retired senior Army officer\

 

[BigPapaWhit]

I love how nobody, except maybe Hegseth and his personal staff, know what this about, but we've already, seemingly, deciding that it's a Nazi like loyalty oath.

Maybe it is and maybe it's not. But let's not let any common sense stop us from making our own predetermination

I am still trying to determine what is common.

Much of this would seem unprecedented to many of us in the military. However, it does not mean it is unwarranted nor unnecessary. At a minimum it has not been uninteresting.

So while I don’t think this is some nefarious work of a fascist regime, it does not mean I have high hopes for some profound event. I’m just hoping no one embarrasses themselves.

 

[dpic73]

The way thigs are trending? Lol. We? You and your imaginary friends?

Yes i'd be surprised. And if that were the case then everyone in the room should resign their commissions in protest. They all have qualified for a retirement. Maybe the 1stars might have to retire as a Colonel. Maybe some Twos stars as a 1star 3's as 2's but none of them would lose a lifetime pension. No protests or complaints from you on the ramp up to the absolute idiocy that is being finally rolled back. So spare me.

My comments were limited to an embarrasing and reprehensible post by a retired senior Army officer\

I understood your comment and I didn't claim there would be a Nazi oath but I also wouldn't be surprised at anything he does anymore - see last two weeks. He sure as hell isnt behaving like a good American, that's for certain.

 

[LafayetteBear]

I love how nobody, except maybe Hegseth and his personal staff, know what this about, but we've already, seemingly, deciding that it's a Nazi like loyalty oath.

Maybe it is and maybe it's not. But let's not let any common sense stop us from making our own predetermination

Ned: I have not made any predetermination. I specifically wrote "Not that there is any confirmation Trump is going to attempt this ..."

But if he DOES attempt to do this, it will be fascist AF. No U.S. President or politician should EVER be seeking to extract a loyalty oath from anyone. Except perhaps his spouse, and then only in the context of wedding vows.

 

[LafayetteBear]

The way thigs are trending? Lol. We? You and your imaginary friends?

Yes i'd be surprised. And if that were the case then everyone in the room should resign their commissions in protest. They all have qualified for a retirement. Maybe the 1stars might have to retire as a Colonel. Maybe some Twos stars as a 1star 3's as 2's but none of them would lose a lifetime pension. No protests or complaints from you on the ramp up to the absolute idiocy that is being finally rolled back. So spare me.

My comments were limited to an embarrasing and reprehensible post by a retired senior Army officer\

I very much hope that something good comes out of this meeting Hegseth wants to have with all of his top brass. But I don't expect it.

I want to hope that he will not be asking for some kind of loyalty oath, primarily because that would be WELL beyond the pale. We'll see what happens.

But if General Hodges' speculating, as reprehensible as you regard it, ends up provoking enough negative public feedback to preempt Hegseth and Trump from adopting that very strategy, it will all have been worth it.