If generals and other military leaders don't resign, what distinguishes them from any who would replace them?

[bigtree]

...if they stay and acquiesce to Trump declaration of 'war' against American, Democratic-run cities, what's the difference between them and ones Trump might replace them with?

Both would essentially be acquiescing to war against Americans, something that should be abhorrent to our military forces.

I'm not a big fan of the military as an institution. I'm even less enamored if it after listening to Hegseth dumb it down to something out of the 40's or 50's; a time when white men coveted their superiority over everyone else, and defended that privilege with the armed forces and government all Americans help fund and maintain.

What are we tolerating when we allow soldiers we arm, now ostensibly armed and arrayed against us, to abuse our rights - even as they, themselves, are being subjected to abuses of their own rights?

It would be one thing to deploy a military force against a foreign nation; one in which it's leaders refused to strive for diversity within ranks, and leadership that closely resembles America. It's quite another to deploy that deliberately homogeneous force against a diverse nation; deepening the tyranny of using the weight and power of our government that we fund and support, against Americans in opposition.

If these military leaders go along to get along, or stay in the vain hope they can influence policy away from this president's autocratic, anti-democratic tendencies, they're late.

This has gone on for long enough that these generals and others in the leadership know what's at stake, and know well the anti-democratic statements and declarations Trump has made.

We can pretend they haven't already been acquiescing to it all along, but, after today, there's really no denying where their president stands, and it's not with the American people as he uses the troops as the instrument of his tyranny against us.

[Cheezoholic]

1. I dunno, I think they now have an obligation to protect us from these fascists. They may be all that ends up standing

between us and tyranny.

[bigtree]

2. are they, though?

...aren't they just instruments of it right now?

[Cheezoholic]

3. Depends on what happens next. We are truly at a pivotal point not seen since the Civil War after today IMHO n/t

[bigtree]

4. it's interesting to me how some people already feel the boot of this government and military on their backs

..and others see it happening sometime in the future.

I'd be concerned that my expectation of safety in the future would be undermined by acquiescence to the tyranny that's occurring right now.

[Cheezoholic]

6. I sure as hell dont see it in the future, I see it right now IMO and believe we may need our military's help

now while there may still be military leadership in place that believe in their oath and before they all step aside or are dismissed and replaced with a Kegsbreath/Miller version of the SS (ICE for instance ). I would rather have a military thats loyal to the Constitution than one thats loyal to a cult. If all of the military leaders with integrity leave the vacuum would be filled with sycophants. The hardware stays with the civilian in power, technically. But if enough of the military that holds their oath dear stays then it will be harder or at the very least take longer for these fascists to filter through and replace. Our military, as I'm sure you know, is an unbelievably giant machine that needs huge amounts of skill and structure to run smoothly. Things not quickly replaced by just firing everybody like its a hedge fund takeover. Those who stay and quietly fight within their ranks against these fascists could clog it up long enough for the civilian aspect to get back reasonable control over this mess.

I mean thats just my opinion just as is the one I posted about having a military coup to rid us of these fascists.
Respectfully

[bigtree]

8. I don't know how anyone can distinguish between people agreeing to serve under this now

...and any that would serve as instruments of this tyranny later.

What evidence, beyond resigning, is there that these troops today aren't already compromised, or even willing participants?

[Cheezoholic]

9. What choice do we have? I'd rather take a chance they are on the side of their oath or its underground war time

I really, honestly see no way out of this unless we shut down the economy. Maybe I'm just circling the drain of despair. The rope of hope is down to a few threads

[bigtree]

10. I think action is better than inaction

...don't despair. You're responding and advocating well.

Keep your head up.

[Demsrule86]

5. The trouble is they will be replaced with Trump goons....

I pray everyday that the military holds against Trump.

[bigtree]

7. what distinguishes these troops already carrying out the tyranny

...from any that would replace them?

How do we tell the difference?

With two major cities alread invaded and occupied, you have to understand that there are people under assault there TODAY by armed federal agents, with the military there to quell dissent and resistance.

[H2O Man]

11. Recommended.

If one looks at history, and examines "mad kings" ruling in crumbling empires, it might not be wise for the leader to insult and degrade the military. While many at the lower levels might be maga, those at the higher levels are seeing the felon as a threat to the Constitution that they took an oath to uphold.

[bigtree]

12. didn't Trump purge the top level officers

Last edited Tue Sep 30, 2025, 05:55 PM - Edit history (1)

...6 top-level military officers, as I recall.

We look to be well into the military stage of this autocracy, and most still serving in the top ranks either agree with it all, or appear to be doing next to nothing to stop it.

Btw, we did see some 60k leave the Pentagon this year.

I get that masses of military officers resigning would enable Trump to replace them, but with two cites already invaded, I'm having a hard time imagining the replacements would be much worse.

I'd think a stunning move like a mass resignation of officers would not only send a strong message to the nation, but would set the tone for whatever came next.

I'm concerned with the way we seem to be advancing toward oppression with many of our country folks already feeling the weight and power of the federal government crushing them, advantaged by these armed forces serving today, and many others not yet directly or otherwise affected tending to be more sanguine, supposing the future is the concern, instead of the danger now.

How will we know who in the military is defending our democracy as they're still instruments of it?

[wiggs]

14. Time for some top brass to resign, and then join with former gop cabinet members and with

current and former elected goprs to hold a conference TOGETHER to describe to the public what is going on.

Serious conditions require serious responses and it must be evident to all that we are in deep trouble. And even though dems are the ones historically chosen to clean up gop messes I don't think it works this time. It must come from serious coalitions of others. Soon.

[H2O Man]

16. Yes, he did.

I'm not saying I think we will have a military coup. Nor am I saying that there aren't times I almost wish for one.

Now, years ago -- actually several decades -- I was talking with an associate who was a military historian. Since that's not an area of history that I take great interest in, I respected that he knew a lot more than me. But there is a site from the Revolutionary War's border wars I am familiar with. It is a stop on the Great Warriors Trail, part way between PA and Canada. Mohawk leader Joseph Brant frequently camped there. Brant assisted people who had escaped from slavery get to Canada, kind of an early underground. This particular field is where those who preferred to join with Brant to fight white folk were, as mentioned in Clinton's infamous letter to Washington.

My associate was from the NYC area, and was familiar with the Shinnecock taking people escaping from slavery in. And further south, of course, so did the Cherokee.

Anyhow, as I wait for my medical appointment on Friday, I lose track of what I started to write. My associate said in many, but not all cases, a military coup is led by a second-level officer.

[Fiendish Thingy]

13. There is a third option

They could stay, and refuse to obey unlawful, especially those related to waging war on civilians.

Force Trump to fire them, one by one, and then, once separated from service, go to the press and urge other officers and enlisted to refuse to follow unlawful orders.

[bigtree]

15. I think that's a bit fantastical

...given their aquiescence right now to the invasion of two Democratic cities.

What actual good are they if they're essentially instruments of the tyranny right now? How would we identify these patriots inside of an oppressive regime?

I get that it's mostly experiential how one might view the level of repression going on today, but I can assure you that many, many Americans are already being crushed by the weight of this government which has given permission to their enforcers to single out Americans for harassment because of the color of their skin.