longer.blue

Source-Dan Rather Forwarded this. Charade Dan Rather and Team Steady Jun 12 For all those who have served and sacrificed so much, celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States Army is fitting. But the Army doesn’t need to celebrate Donald Trump. On Tuesday, Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth visited Fort Bragg for what turned out to be a campaign-style speech and rally. There was nothing nonpartisan about their appearance, including the audience, bumping up against the military’s long-standing commitment to political neutrality. What followed should give every American pause. The crowd was curated by the White House. The soldiers, who flanked the stage and filled the audience, were handpicked for their political leanings and physical appearance. A communication with potential attendees asked for “no fat soldiers,” according to Military.com. Another note to the Fort Bragg troops, according to the website, said, “If soldiers have political views that are in opposition to the current administration and they don’t want to be in the audience, then they need to speak with their leadership and get swapped out.” So the mostly white, mostly male, exceptionally fit, pro-Trump troops booed when the president mentioned California Governor Gavin Newsom, President Joe Biden, and the press. They whooped and roared as Trump and Hegseth talked about ridding the military of “woke garbage” and “political correctness,” and reverting more military bases to pro-Confederate names, as Hegseth did with Fort Bragg. A Trump merchandise table, set up at the rally, was busy selling MAGA necklaces and fake credit cards emblazoned with the slogan “White Privilege Card: Trumps Everything.” When men and women become members of the U.S. military, they take an oath, not to the president but to the Constitution. What happened at Fort Bragg didn’t just obliterate the lines between the military and partisan politics; it violated DoD directive 1344.10, which prohibits partisan political activity by active-duty service members. The military’s biggest cheerleader (at least today) didn’t serve in Vietnam because of “bone spurs” and has repeatedly vilified our troops, calling them “suckers and losers.” But when service members are needed for a photo op or to prop up flagging poll numbers, all is forgiven, apparently. Criticism of the rally has come from all quarters, including retired Army brass.