Get_Off_My_WLAN

To be fair, they’re not meant to be in combat. They’re supposed to be a visible peacekeeping force, at a very visible post.

I’m not saying they shouldn’t resist.

I’m saying right now it’s neither wise nor warranted, as messed up as it may sound.

When Trump actually orders them to do something unconstitutional, they can refuse it. When he refuses to step down from the end of his term as president and order them to crush the states that don’t ratify his third term, they can remove his ass.

But the things you want them to do right now, while I don’t inherently disagree with, just sound impulsive and foolish.

Are you saying the National Guard should fight ICE right now?

Or are you saying the National Guard soldiers should frag their officers?

Or just the soldiers here and there resist how they can and go to jail for refusing to pick up trash? This one leaves you with a National Guard completely not on your side instead of at least half on your side when you might need it most.

Look man, you don’t know the military well, so it’s easy to criticize the actions of people whose position you never have to imagine yourself in, but it’s like open-and-shut, you go to jail and fail to change anything if you’re not careful.

If they resist, they have to be smart and do it as a collective.

And jesus christ, these guys aren’t being told to attack civilians and kidnap children like ICE is doing, so forgive them a little if they’re having a hard time between deciding if they want to risk being marked a felon by the federal government for life or instead pick up trash while carrying a gun so Trump can scare people a bit because he knows he can’t legally use them for any more than that.

They don’t just mean ‘who’ individually. They’re in that group chat together because they don’t know who or how many of them feel similarly enough that they can reasonably challenge their command.

Right now, the orders are deliberately vague enough, technically legal, and not blatantly unethical so that they can’t refuse it. They can’t disobey orders to guard federal property and go pick up trash from the streets because that’s not something you’ll likely win against in a UCMJ case, even if you know the real purpose of the orders is for Trump to make a show of force.

Also, a lot is up to their officers, who are obligated to disobey illegal and unethical orders. They have to set the climate for the soldiers. It’s really hard for soldiers to speak up if they don’t feel like their leaders have their back.

Everything he touches turns to 💩

That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t address the symptoms in addition to the source.

Mark Waters says sales at his Odessa, Texas, tools business, which he describes as a “Home Depot for the oilfields,” are down about 10 percent. He does not regret voting for Trump, saying he is willing to take a personal hit to support the president’s agenda. But he said it is ironic that over the decades he has made a lot more money when the party he despises is in power. “The oil business has thrived under Democratic leadership despite them being true haters of all things fossil,” Waters said. “For whatever reason, I made millions of dollars under Clinton. Then I made even more under Obama and Biden. I have never had a solid explanation.” His business outlook for the coming months under Trump? “Hopefully it won’t be catastrophic,” Waters said.

Almost some self-awareness there. Almost.

At least the names of all the bases named after Confederates were changed a few years ago. West Point also renamed things that were named after Lee (which only existed because for the sake of Reconciliation after the war).

Did you see that ludicrous display last night?

I understand what you’re trying to say, but I do want to clear up some misconceptions people have about U.S. soldiers.

High school drop-outs are not eligible for the U.S. military. GED holders might be if they score high enough on the ASVAB, but it’s generally rare.

Also, U.S. military commanders, and officers in general, are both morally and legally required to disobey illegal orders. While the President may be the commander-in-chief, officers swear an oath to the Constitution, not the President.

That’s why General Milley publicly apologized and considered resigning after unwittingly letting federal troops be used to clear protestors, not knowing Trump wanted it for a photo op instead of legitimate need. That’s why so many generals called him a threat to democracy. That’s why Trump fired so many generals, because they wouldn’t go along with his stupid shit.

I have hope that the U.S. active duty military will not get involved in this. I know for sure they don’t want to get involved in this.