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Not a single authoritarian leader or would-be dictator has ever assembled the entire senior military leadership of their armed forces in one room to belittle them as failures and embarrass them for their unprofessional grooming standards, while degrading whole classes serving in the army, navy and air force as inferior and undeserving.

Donald Trump is accustomed to entering events with energetic audiences cheering to music. "I have never entered a room so silent before," he stated 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 was attempting to elicit some laughter, an vintage performance tactic to rouse a unresponsive audience. "You know what? Just enjoy yourselves."

His syllogism perfectly encapsulated his mindset of victimhood and approach of retribution. Should you do not bend the knee to him, he is personally offended. Your failure to worship him must be punished. Your slight of his authority dooms you to ruin.

Armed Forces Discipline vs. Partisan Demands

The speaker cannot grasp that the quiet demeanor of the commanders during his unprecedented speech to them showcased their highest duty. Their composure showed fidelity to uphold their oath to the nation's founding document. By their stillness they presented themselves as examples for the remainder of the military leadership and the troops.

They aren't loyal to Trump or any cult of personality, but to his legal position.

They served as a backdrop for a campaign-like event, but they were resistant to serving as partisan players.

Basic Misunderstanding

Trump's inability to understand their steadfastness in the face of his challenges showed his incomprehension not only of the military but the presidency under the legal system. When he became offended at their stoney silence his rebuke made clear that he viewed them merely as his tools.

Trump had arrived on an pressing task for them to execute. His purpose to inform the armed forces leadership they were to be his unquestioning agents for the greatest change of military strategy since the "anti-terrorism campaign" – an unprecedented conflict to be fought against his viewed domestic rivals at home in contravention of the federal law of 1878, which forbids the domestic use of the American armed forces as a law enforcement agency.

Context and Executive Measures

Every high-ranking generals had been assembled for the historic event at the Marine Corps Base Quantico on the directive of the defense chief. They had no idea for what momentous occasion they were being summoned. They wouldn't speculate that they were being assembled to be a captive crowd for a self-focused vanity presentation attempting to rehabilitate his reputation and assert his power.

But the commanders could have obtained more than a clue that they were being rounded up for the most recent episode of political theater by reviewing the executive order Labeling an activist movement as a terror group, an "organization" that lacks formal structure. Subsequent actions included a National Security Presidential Memorandum citing multiple events as pretexts: "This political violence is not a collection of isolated events and doesn't originate organically.

Philosophical Basis

Per the directive, a new "government approach" would be implemented against an ideology of "anti-Americanism, anti-capitalism, and anti-Christianity; advocacy of the removal of the federal government; extremism on migration, ethnicity, and sex; and hostility towards those who hold traditional American views on family, religion, and ethics."

These vapors were not a description of an ideology so much as a hodgepodge of partisan catchphrases. Should any ideology expressed it was an inchoate authoritarianism based on a repressive drive that created an universal enemy called "the opposition".

Defense Secretary's Presentation

The dramatic display at Quantico started with the defense secretary moving back and forth on the platform. He was a inspirational presenter as a drill sergeant with a publication to promote – and a opening performance for the main speaker.

The former military reserve officer said he had been "deemed an radical"; he was identified as a possible "insider threat" by fellow officers. Despite numerous reports of his drinking issues, he told journalists in an interview: "I never had a alcohol issue," but then allegedly promised a senator that he would "avoid alcohol while I have this role."

Procedural Changes and Controversial Remarks

While serving as media personality, the defense secretary had been a leading advocate for pardoning or showing mercy to service members charged or convicted of military offenses. He described them as "warriors" rather than "offenders".

Now, in his speech, he announced he was removing "the debris". He encouraged loosening regulations aimed at stopping forbidden violence within the military. He announced the "overhauling" of the inspector general and whistleblower complaint process, which would undermine safeguards and protect violent or reckless offenders from accountability.

He would, he said, impose discriminatory measures of "unisex" or "male level" physical standards for combat roles, saying: "If that means no women qualify for some military positions, that's acceptable."

Confrontational Language and Military Reaction

The defense secretary strutted in front of the commanders, shouting vulgar language – "Acronym for explicit phrase", or explicit language. "No more identity months, DEI offices, cross-dressing individuals. End environmental focus. Stop separation, distraction or identity issues. Remove debris. As I stated before and will say again, we are done with that nonsense."

The generals sat expressionless at his crude language that could be charged under the military legal system as a infraction against improper speech that "fails to the detriment of proper conduct and military standards".

Appearance Requirements and Individual Observations

According to the speaker, it was the out-of-shape commanders who required to exercise like him. "It's totally improper to see overweight military leaders in the halls of the Pentagon and overseeing operations around the country and the world. It's a bad look," he said. "Eliminate beardos."

Final Remarks and Governmental Background

At no point did the defense secretary mention "the Russian Federation" or "the Ukrainian nation". He offered not the smallest mention to Russia's huge aerial assaults bombarding Ukraine, Russia's unmanned aircraft over neighboring countries, the strained relations over US uncertainty within the international coalition, or express anything that might be construed as a military consideration.

After his threatening speech, the defense secretary stepped aside for Donald Trump. Trump showed his usual contempt for the armed forces by baiting them with an array of political insults to which they remained rigidly motionless.

During the course of his stream of consciousness, he introduced his new mission for the armed forces against the "enemy from within", with major American cities as the "training grounds … the ones that are governed by the progressive politicians … And this is going to be a major role for some of the individuals in this room. This represents conflict, too. It's a war from within." No response.