I swear by God this holy oath: That I shall render unconditional obedience to the Leader of the German Reich and people, Adolf Hitler, supreme commander of the armed forces, and that as a brave soldier I shall at all times be prepared to give my life for this oath.
The oath required of every member of the German military beginning in 1934--commonly referred to as the, "Hitler Oath."
No, we aren't there yet. But let's face it, it feels like every single day during this regime we edge a little closer toward that fateful moment. Or, as the old Three Stooges bit began, "Slowly I turned, step by step, inch by inch..."
The last few days have been an all too familiar reminder of what 21st century America has become. On Sunday a guy rammed his pickup truck into a Latter-Day Saints church in Grand Blanc, MI. The suspect's name is Thomas Jacob Sanford of nearby, Burton. He was well armed--hey it's America, everyone is--and the truck, festooned with two large U.S. flags, was chock full of explosive devices. He set the church on fire and opened up with a semi-automatic rifle. Four members of the congregation were killed and a fifth remains in critical condition.
In the immediate aftermath of the nightmare social media wags began playing hysteria filled blame games. Those on the right blamed the, "radical left," and those on the left blamed the, "radical right." Donald Trump posted that the mayhem was, "...another attack on Christians..." hinting that it was inspired by left wing rhetoric. Everybody appeared to ignore the obvious (besides the fact liberals don't usually run around in pickup trucks with American flags flying from the bed) that Thomas Sanford belonged to that uniquely American organization known as, "Bat Shit Crazy Guys With Guns." His only known philosophy, at least at this time, is that he considers all Mormons anti-Christs.
Then last night the government of the United States ran out of funding. The main reason, as usual, depended on who you ask. The cost of American health care is the primary sticking point. Democrats say they won't budge, although a few of them already have. Republicans say pretty much what they always say. "If you can't afford decent health care it's not our fault. You should have been born in Europe." The Trumpster is promising massive furloughs of government workers and possible permanent cutbacks, finishing the job his former pal Elon Musk started. The end result being, at least in the President's mildew ridden mind, is he will have the opportunity to consolidate even more power for himself.
Then we come to the Generals and Admirals who were called into a meeting yesterday. These weren't just Pentagon pencil pushers and analysts. They were field commanders, many of them with 20 plus years of combat leadership experience. They sat in silence as Pete Hegseth, the Secretary of Defense--oops, now the Secretary of War (the SOW?)--explained to them that Defense was too woke of a word, that War had the Machismo he was aiming for.
The Secretary went on to tell them that all the DEI shit was over and done, there would be no more promotions of women, or minorities unless they were uber qualified. That the Department of War wouldn't tolerate fat Admirals, Generals, or NCOs. He told the officers that they and their men wouldn't have to worry about things like accusations of sexual harassment, or war crimes ever again. That's right, a lean, mean, fighting machine unfettered by any sense of morality when it comes to either an enemy, or itself. Oh, and ladies you might want to rethink any idea you might have had about joining this man's armed forces.
The attempted pep rally caused many commentators to wonder aloud why the whole thing couldn't have been done through emails, or other forms of communications. At least one officer reportedly said, "I flew 8,000 miles for this?"
Then came the Commander in Chief, Donald J. Trump. He was 20 plus minutes late and seemed taken aback that when he was met with stone cold silence. He even commented that he was used to applause. Then he made a joke about anyone who didn't like what he was saying could leave the room. "Of course," he added, "if you do you'll get demoted." The response was a low ripple of what could be described as cynical chuckles.
Most of Trump's address was the same old campaign bullshit every American has heard before. Biden was bad, he is good. It included the usual meandering side trips--"I like my signature. A lot of people like my signature. I personally sign all your promotions and commissions. I don't use an auto-pen." He droned on about tariffs and at one point even dragged out the bizarre idea Canada should become part of the United States. As he rambled aimlessly the continued lack of vocal approval and applause seemed to drain him. It was as if we were watching him slowly run out of oxygen.
Finally, he got to it. He told the United States' most experienced combat leaders that they and their troops would have to become "a major part of fighting, "a war from within." He noted that this enemy from within was a problem that had to be taken care of quickly. He speculated that their troops could use places like, San Francisco, Chicago, New York and Los Angeles for, "training," before being deployed overseas. He was in fact prepping them for a time in the near future when he would order this audience to break the law--to violate an oath which they, unlike him, actually believe in and live by. Every person in that room had to know it.
Anyone who witnessed the deranged spectacle had to also.
The President of the United States didn't say who exactly the, "enemy within," was, or is. He did say, however they would be harder to identify because they, "don't wear uniforms." One can hazard a guess though. It doesn't take much. All many of us have to do is look in a mirror.
Step by step, baby, inch by inch...
10-1-25
