When I was in the Army right after the end of the Vietnam war and the atrocities committed by LT William Calley, the Army gave a LOT of training on not being a primitive, kill-everything-that-moves criminal, instead emphasizing rule of law and professional armed forces that are committed to lawfully achieving our mission without becoming war criminals or barbarians.
I worked for the Department of Defense for three decades after my active duty military service. In the aftermath of Abu Ghraib and Gitmo, I started paying more attention to the training of those still in uniform around me. I am saddened and angry to report that it appears that the emphasis in training on rule of law and professionalism and avoidance of barbarism and "I was only following orders" NOT being an excuse for war crimes IS NOW ALL BUT GONE.
This must be remediated as soon as possible, because draft-dodger Trump and drunk Hegseth are making an already dangerous situation MUCH, MUCH WORSE.
As an American attending the ceremony honoring our Veterans at UtahBeach on June 6th 1944,I was embarrassed to see this drunk despicable human represent our country 🤬
I don't think that Hegseth coukd have made it as a career military member. He has such a shallow, almost cartoonish idea of the military and its purpose.
Traveling to visit military bases and workinout with selected troops is just a performance. Secretary of Defense is a serious position for which Hegseth is utterly unsuited.
While the process was far from ideal, the Army did try and convict Calley by general court martial. And there were courts martial and dismissals regarding the Abu Ghraib crimes. So all is not lost yet - but we must remain vigilant and true to our real values, which do not include blind obedience.
I was one of those who received the training you described in 1973 and was horrified by Abu Ghraib, Gitmo and the pardoning of a war criminal by the Felon. Hegseth is the epitome of what happened at Abu Ghraib and what William Calley did in Vietnam.
They were still doing that training regularly into the late 1970s. As a teenager, I had watched with horrow news about what Calley and his men did on the evening news soon after it happened. My siblings and I grew up watching “The World at War” at the dining room table and with many Jewish family friends who had only survived the Nazis because they fled. In our family, the Geneva Conventions and the trials of the Nazi war criminals were a big deal and were discussed.
Jimmy Carter was president when I joined and I was so glad to get that training all those years ago because SO MANY people were NOT aware of these horrors and were completely astonished to learn out our duty to never participate in or be silent about such crimes.
Thank you! I think we need more service members like you speaking out about the need to return to emphasizing training on "the rule of law and professionalism and avoidance of barbarism" and what constitutes "war crimes." Our current members of our armed forces would be better for it and so would our reputation in country and around the world.
These name changes are, though unacceptable, can be easily corrected to the original after Trump administration is gone. Our priority now is to stop Trump BBB and minimize further damage. We could use a new exciting headline news and I am wondering a national leader could emerge to annouce a new party including ACO.
He is another weak minded, immoral MAGA white man who is afraid to work to improve himself. Instead he tries to bring the country down to his deplorable level so he can feel better.
Hegseth and Trump are extreme examples of the Peter Principle - they have risen to their level of incompetence. Furthermore, neither of them has a clue about actual values, such as courage and sacrifice.
Let’s not forget that if we were a mature country, Trump would’ve placed last in his first primary in 2016 and would be a laughingstock today. Instead, our fellow citizens chose to make him the most powerful man in the world. Do not forget where the ultimate blame lies.
Right. The Peter Principle. Was part of the Zeitgeist through the 1990s? Young people don't know what it means but it's the epitome of the incompetent sycophants of the Trump regime. We need to use it more often.
Congratulations should go to the republicans in the senate for being suckers to trump's MAGA BS and the tearing down of our Country over building on 250 years of working to make a more perfect union. If we make it to 2026, not one of them should be reelected. The dems better have a challenger in every senate race.
They are not suckers. The GOP in Congress fall into two categories: sucking up sycophants and gung-ho bigots, misogynists and bullies cheering on the dismantling of government in the service of the very rich and Christian nationalists who despise the idea of government they do not control irrespective of the Constitution and duly enacted laws.
Well put. They are also members of the trump CULT and they are afraid to challenge the orange faced fascist for fear of retribution and be ostracized by their fellow followers. Challenge trump and you will lose your family, neighbors and friends. trump and the christian nationalists both use the tools of a cult to trap their followers. It will be tough to break them out of it....but our democratic republic relies on us achieving that.
This article is beautifully written. Bravo from the daughter of a WWII pilot who gave his life and stepdaughter of a pilot who served 30 years in the US Navy. These were warriors who understood empathy as well as courage. Protectors !
Trump’s Cabinet thugs are like a bunch of pre-adolescent boys hopped up on steroids and testosterone and playing Army. It’s disgusting. Tom Homan is another despicable and incoherent bully who should be mocked and ridiculed. This is all a domination game to them. When will any of them be held accountable? The Supreme Court needs to admit they made an error in their immunity decision and fix it. Hegseth needs to be court martialed. The military needs to quit taking illegal orders. I’m so sick and embarrassed for our country.
Will we all be in the streets on Saturday to peacefully protest this vile administration? If we don’t send a clear message to the despicable, anti-American despots,then we’re complicit. Our beloved nation was born out of protest. This is no time to sit idly by while others try to right the wrongs being done in our names.
And bring your American flags to the No Kings protests. I don’t have an upside down flag but I will bring handheld right-side-up flags and will offer some to those at the protest.
Yes, we will be in the streets of Daytona Beach on Saturday. We are not intimidated in the least by trump & cult. We will not go back. We will not let trump be trump. Enough already. Trump must be put in prison where he belonged, a long time ago.
Thank you, Jen! Every time I hear Hegseth prattle on about "warriors," it makes me grind my teeth. He's not referring to the nobility and sacrifice of real warriors. For him, it's clearly just a code word for "bigoted thugs."
Not for the first, and not for the last time, where, oh where, are the Republicans in the Senate and the House who will openly (I couldn't give a rat's ass what they say in private) condemn the idiotic cancer that has metastasized within their own party?
Where's the senior Senator on the Defense Appropriations Committee who will finally pick up the phone, get Kegsbreath on the line and say: "sick and tired of your primping and preening for the cameras, you grotty little man. Remember who controls your budget."
Where is anybody sane left in that miserable, hollowed-up shell of a fascist movement to stand up and say: "have you no decency finally, Mr. President/Secretary, have you at long last no decency?"
It is widely reported that the WH is unable to find people willing to serve under Hegseth at the Pentagon. He is nothing but a drunkard and an ideologue. Just another member of tRump's kakistocracy, out to destroy the expertise of out military and government.
Warrior, warrior ethos, two of several words that should be retired along with weaponizing. We are not a Spartan warrior elite society with helots to do all the work, and even be killed when convenient. We are a democracy that has a military built on citizen soldiers, sailors, airman, and coast guard. No Praetorian Guard for a dictatorial wannabe was ever written into the Constitution. We are teetering on knife edge now with a president thirsting to beat down the Blue States to demonstrate to all states their “new” mission, which is to succor him and MAGA for what ever needs they may imagine. “Be still, and know that I rule you!”
When I was in the Army right after the end of the Vietnam war and the atrocities committed by LT William Calley, the Army gave a LOT of training on not being a primitive, kill-everything-that-moves criminal, instead emphasizing rule of law and professional armed forces that are committed to lawfully achieving our mission without becoming war criminals or barbarians.
I worked for the Department of Defense for three decades after my active duty military service. In the aftermath of Abu Ghraib and Gitmo, I started paying more attention to the training of those still in uniform around me. I am saddened and angry to report that it appears that the emphasis in training on rule of law and professionalism and avoidance of barbarism and "I was only following orders" NOT being an excuse for war crimes IS NOW ALL BUT GONE.
This must be remediated as soon as possible, because draft-dodger Trump and drunk Hegseth are making an already dangerous situation MUCH, MUCH WORSE.
As an American attending the ceremony honoring our Veterans at UtahBeach on June 6th 1944,I was embarrassed to see this drunk despicable human represent our country 🤬
I don't think that Hegseth coukd have made it as a career military member. He has such a shallow, almost cartoonish idea of the military and its purpose.
Traveling to visit military bases and workinout with selected troops is just a performance. Secretary of Defense is a serious position for which Hegseth is utterly unsuited.
"Cartoonish" is a very good adjective to apply to this administration.
Observing training exercises in full gear is also just for show and absolutely ridiculous.
Per his actual job description, doesn’t he have other actual duties to be performing?
Jeannie, thank you for your service! 🇺🇸🙏🏽💕
While the process was far from ideal, the Army did try and convict Calley by general court martial. And there were courts martial and dismissals regarding the Abu Ghraib crimes. So all is not lost yet - but we must remain vigilant and true to our real values, which do not include blind obedience.
I was one of those who received the training you described in 1973 and was horrified by Abu Ghraib, Gitmo and the pardoning of a war criminal by the Felon. Hegseth is the epitome of what happened at Abu Ghraib and what William Calley did in Vietnam.
They were still doing that training regularly into the late 1970s. As a teenager, I had watched with horrow news about what Calley and his men did on the evening news soon after it happened. My siblings and I grew up watching “The World at War” at the dining room table and with many Jewish family friends who had only survived the Nazis because they fled. In our family, the Geneva Conventions and the trials of the Nazi war criminals were a big deal and were discussed.
Jimmy Carter was president when I joined and I was so glad to get that training all those years ago because SO MANY people were NOT aware of these horrors and were completely astonished to learn out our duty to never participate in or be silent about such crimes.
Thank you! I think we need more service members like you speaking out about the need to return to emphasizing training on "the rule of law and professionalism and avoidance of barbarism" and what constitutes "war crimes." Our current members of our armed forces would be better for it and so would our reputation in country and around the world.
Thank you for your service and sacrifices.
These name changes are, though unacceptable, can be easily corrected to the original after Trump administration is gone. Our priority now is to stop Trump BBB and minimize further damage. We could use a new exciting headline news and I am wondering a national leader could emerge to annouce a new party including ACO.
Agree.
But what a waste of time for a new President
He is another weak minded, immoral MAGA white man who is afraid to work to improve himself. Instead he tries to bring the country down to his deplorable level so he can feel better.
Whenever I see him, I hear Tammy Duckworth's words directed at him during his hearings: "YOU"RE NOT QUALIFIED!"
Well said
Hegseth and Trump are extreme examples of the Peter Principle - they have risen to their level of incompetence. Furthermore, neither of them has a clue about actual values, such as courage and sacrifice.
I think maybe they were both incompetent prior to their present positions.
They leapfrogged over their level of competence into the stratosphere of incompetence.
Actually, I question whether they were competent at any level.
Touché!
😆
Maybe?? They are textbook examples of incompetence.
Yes, I tend to understate things.
"maybe" ??
Let’s not forget that if we were a mature country, Trump would’ve placed last in his first primary in 2016 and would be a laughingstock today. Instead, our fellow citizens chose to make him the most powerful man in the world. Do not forget where the ultimate blame lies.
Right. The Peter Principle. Was part of the Zeitgeist through the 1990s? Young people don't know what it means but it's the epitome of the incompetent sycophants of the Trump regime. We need to use it more often.
Congratulations should go to the republicans in the senate for being suckers to trump's MAGA BS and the tearing down of our Country over building on 250 years of working to make a more perfect union. If we make it to 2026, not one of them should be reelected. The dems better have a challenger in every senate race.
They are not suckers. The GOP in Congress fall into two categories: sucking up sycophants and gung-ho bigots, misogynists and bullies cheering on the dismantling of government in the service of the very rich and Christian nationalists who despise the idea of government they do not control irrespective of the Constitution and duly enacted laws.
Well put. They are also members of the trump CULT and they are afraid to challenge the orange faced fascist for fear of retribution and be ostracized by their fellow followers. Challenge trump and you will lose your family, neighbors and friends. trump and the christian nationalists both use the tools of a cult to trap their followers. It will be tough to break them out of it....but our democratic republic relies on us achieving that.
They all fear him, fear how easily he says he can end their careers in politics
Congratulations is the wrong word for these complicit toadies. A Bronx cheer would be more appropriate.
I believe that Peter Wood was being sarcastic in using the word "Congratulations."
Quite probably, though one never knows for certain these days.
too kind
This article is beautifully written. Bravo from the daughter of a WWII pilot who gave his life and stepdaughter of a pilot who served 30 years in the US Navy. These were warriors who understood empathy as well as courage. Protectors !
Trump’s Cabinet thugs are like a bunch of pre-adolescent boys hopped up on steroids and testosterone and playing Army. It’s disgusting. Tom Homan is another despicable and incoherent bully who should be mocked and ridiculed. This is all a domination game to them. When will any of them be held accountable? The Supreme Court needs to admit they made an error in their immunity decision and fix it. Hegseth needs to be court martialed. The military needs to quit taking illegal orders. I’m so sick and embarrassed for our country.
I add to you exellent list: an impeachment is clearly indicated.
Will we all be in the streets on Saturday to peacefully protest this vile administration? If we don’t send a clear message to the despicable, anti-American despots,then we’re complicit. Our beloved nation was born out of protest. This is no time to sit idly by while others try to right the wrongs being done in our names.
And bring your American flags to the No Kings protests. I don’t have an upside down flag but I will bring handheld right-side-up flags and will offer some to those at the protest.
Exactly. We'll be waving the American flag in Honolulu this Saturday. It's our flag, not just theirs. And it won't be defiled by any Trump contagion.
Yes, we will be in the streets of Daytona Beach on Saturday. We are not intimidated in the least by trump & cult. We will not go back. We will not let trump be trump. Enough already. Trump must be put in prison where he belonged, a long time ago.
We will not go back!!!!!!
History will not be kind to these evil people.
Let's hope we "get there."
Nor to the people who put them into power.
Thank you, Jen! Every time I hear Hegseth prattle on about "warriors," it makes me grind my teeth. He's not referring to the nobility and sacrifice of real warriors. For him, it's clearly just a code word for "bigoted thugs."
Everything about Hegseth and this administration is one long performance.
Fascist Porn for the MAGA Matrix. It's 100% about fake manhood. Better than Viagra for the Beast.
Not for the first, and not for the last time, where, oh where, are the Republicans in the Senate and the House who will openly (I couldn't give a rat's ass what they say in private) condemn the idiotic cancer that has metastasized within their own party?
Where's the senior Senator on the Defense Appropriations Committee who will finally pick up the phone, get Kegsbreath on the line and say: "sick and tired of your primping and preening for the cameras, you grotty little man. Remember who controls your budget."
Where is anybody sane left in that miserable, hollowed-up shell of a fascist movement to stand up and say: "have you no decency finally, Mr. President/Secretary, have you at long last no decency?"
They are not there for the Republic. They are not yet part of the pro-democracy coalition in America. They are lost.
Good grief. Doesn’t he have better things to do? So petty.
In Hegseth's little mind, he is doing great things - as great as he can manage.
It is widely reported that the WH is unable to find people willing to serve under Hegseth at the Pentagon. He is nothing but a drunkard and an ideologue. Just another member of tRump's kakistocracy, out to destroy the expertise of out military and government.
it's all a reality tv show to Trump.
Thank you. l totally agree. He has sullied the name "warrior" and the people who were warriors. He should be ashamed (but of course he is not)....
We can add "warrior" to the list of words they have appropriated just like "patriot".
Warrior, warrior ethos, two of several words that should be retired along with weaponizing. We are not a Spartan warrior elite society with helots to do all the work, and even be killed when convenient. We are a democracy that has a military built on citizen soldiers, sailors, airman, and coast guard. No Praetorian Guard for a dictatorial wannabe was ever written into the Constitution. We are teetering on knife edge now with a president thirsting to beat down the Blue States to demonstrate to all states their “new” mission, which is to succor him and MAGA for what ever needs they may imagine. “Be still, and know that I rule you!”
Obviously, there are no "conservatives" who are appalled enough to pressure the GOP fascist Congress top stop this abomination of a regime.
"Conservatives" have been purged from the GOP. It's now for cult members only.