All I want to know is one thing:

[AverageOldGuy]

I’m an old soldier, 28 years active duty (1967-1995); one tour in the bush in Vietnam. Listening to Secretary of War (as he calls himself) Hegseth, really, really pissed me off. I can’t decide which is the more incompetent dumbass boob – Hegseth or Trump.

I spent a year in Vietnam with a 60-pd rucksack on my back and an M-16 in my hand and I had a lot of opportunities to use it.

About Gender. I don’t care if you stand up to pee or sit down to pee. What I want to know is: WHEN THE SHIT HITS THE FAN, CAN I COUNT ON YOU?

Shaving. We carried basic shaving stuff in our rucksacks – razor, soap – would heat water in a canteen cup over a burning ball of C4 plastic explosive – when we could. I have gone as long as 12 days without a shave or a shower (unless you count wading through rivers or walking through the monsoon). I don’t care is you have a beard, a mustache, are a Sikh with a turban, a woman with a ponytail, or someone with a shaved head and face. What I want to know is: WHEN THE SHIT HITS THE FAN, CAN I COUNT ON YOU?

Fat generals and admirals, doing PT every morning. I’m 81; 6’1”, 175, work out 5 days a week. I don’t care how many pushups, pull-ups, or whatever else you do I don’t care if there’s a bit of a roll around your waist. What I want to know is: WHEN THE SHIT HITS THE FAN, CAN I COUNT ON YOU?

The audience for the Two Stooges Show was 800 generals and admirals and their senior enlisted advisors. Every one of the generals or admirals holds at least one advanced degree, some of them are PhD; all are graduates of their service Command Staff College and War College. Most of the senior enlisted advisors hold advanced college degrees. Every one of them has more time in the latrine than Hegseth had in combat (if you can call what he did in Iraq “combat”) and we all know Trump was a draft dodger (of course, he was a cadet at a military school, so there’s that).

All I ever cared about and still all I care about is: WHEN THE SHIT HITS THE FAN, CAN I COUNT ON YOU? In the case of Trump and Hegseth, we all know the answer to that.

[ms liberty]

1. Well said.

[GoCubsGo]

2. Trump and his toadies are all about appearances.

They think it's all a big reality TV production. I have a feeling the generals will do away with Whiskey Pete, one way or another.

[Joinfortmill]

21. Me, too. That shit show was a bridge too far.

[CincyDem]

3. When I read about your military background, you sound...

…ABOVE average (at least).

[Clouds Passing]

4. Thank you AOG

[GoodRaisin]

5. I'm surprised Krasnov allowed Kegbreath to talk about fat people.

[pandr32]

14. Krasnov doesn't think he is fat.

When he looks in the mirror he sees handsome and fit.

[BaronChocula]

32. As of 5 days before

Crass-nov didn't even know what the event was. That explains his late injection into the fiasco.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100220685808

[GopherGal]

43. As of after the event

I think we still don't know what the &*^$ the event was, so I think Crass-nov can be excused on that point (and only that point).

[TommyT139]

51. Am I the only one wondering

...if this was another instance of Hegseth trying to pull a fast one, like when he was going to give Elon a China "war plans" briefing?

[Midnight Writer]

6. My Viet Vet friend said a lieutenant in the bush who comes in and starts disciplining over shaving, shoeshines,

uniform codes would not last long with the unit.

He intimated but did not specify that the solution involved 'fragging".

He said in the bush all soldiers cared about was staying alive, and hygiene and appearance was not a priority.

Hegseth is a candyass, a man who dresses up and plays soldier but hasn't got the heart of a soldier.

Armies throughout history have done very well without their commanders obsessing over their shaving and posture.

[Ilsa]

8. My father-in-law lost a stripe for

assaulting his Lt while they were in the bush in Vietnam.His defense was that the Lt was green and was going to get them all killed. I think even the Lt was glad he wasn't fragged for being dangerously stupid.

My FIL was very intelligent, but not educated. He was a quiet sort, always reading, great physical shape, and was Army Special Forces, probably since early 1960s. Was sent to Hebrew school in 1967 when things were heating up for Israel, but the Six Day War being what it was, the Army recalled him from language school.

My FIL would have rolled his eyes over Kegsbreath and ignored Krasnov (he hated politics).

[HAB911]

7. Preach

[MLAA]

9. Excellent post.

[csusan]

10. Count on me!

I'm 73 female. Most activities I did in my life time were swimming, hiking, camping, softball, racketball, and rafting. Now I do yoga and walk. I can't carry 60 lbs never wanted to, I've never held a gun never wanted to, never got into a physical altercation never wanted to. But I'll say this - when the shit hits fan I'll be there. We both may die in the process but I'll be there.

[Attilatheblond]

23. Right there with ya, sister, but I have used a firearm at a pistol range, took some self defense.

and welcome to DU!

[rubbersole]

11. A large majority of Americans would probably support a military coup at this point.

Humiliating Generals with shallow bs and a dementia tutorial isn't good for one's political health.
The country's downward spiral is accelerating.

[BaronChocula]

35. Makes me think of the classic Trident commercial

Who wants a coup?
I do! I do!

[róisín_dubh]

49. Studying modern Latin America...

for 20 years, I agree with you. Chile had a pretty consistent constitutional democracy for decades before many of its citizens supported the Chilean right wing/CIA orchestrated military coup. Happily they watched or shrugged as thousands of their fellow citizens were tortured, disappeared and murdered.
Or Argentina.
Or Brazil.
Or Guatemala.
Etc.
We’re not special in the US. We just have an older Constitution and relative inexperience with authoritarianism.

[Ray Bruns]

12. "I can't decide which is the more incompetent dumbass boob - Hegseth or Trump"

[Attilatheblond]

26. Both are ignorant narcissists and racists, but part of Trump's recent problems are age related

Hegseth's shortcomings are ALL his choice. I wish he would drink himself into the gutter and leave our military to more deserving hands.

[dwayneb]

13. Thank you for your service - and your motto is true in many walks of life

I am sure when you life is on the line that last thing you care about is whether someone has shaved or not, or what their gender might be.

Same is true for many walks of life. As a mechanical engineer working on jet engine product development it came down to exactly the same thing - WHEN THE SHIT HITS THE FAN (literally on a jet engine), CAN I COUNT ON YOU?

[Tetrachloride]

15. Thank God for ketchup

[H2O Man]

16. Way recommended.

Thank you for this.

[BidenRocks]

17. Oorah!

Worse than butter bars!

[Paladin]

18. Beautifully stated, AOG. My compliments. (nt)

[Joinfortmill]

19. Thank you..

Someone very close to me served in Vietnam. He always ran toward the danger, the crisis, the emergency. Always. Trump and Hegseth aren't worthy of wiping his, yours, or any of the boots of the people in that room.

[swong19104]

20. We can definitely count on Hegseth and Trump

to take a shit-hitting-the-fan moment and fuck things up to eleventy. That is a given. They’ll take a mess and make it worse.

[Wounded Bear]

34. Remember the euphemistic "3AM phone call?"

trump would answer at 4 or 5 after he did his hair and makeup.

[GopherGal]

44. When the Shit Hits the Fan, Drumpf and Kegbreath can be counted on

only to struggle to point the fan at others.

[BattleRow]

46. Instead of unplugging the fan.

[democrank]

22. A deeply sincere thank you for your service

and for this post.

[carpetbagger]

24. And if I were the president...

If I don't want to hear something and disagree with you, your job is to give me the best possible advice. Can I count on you?

[mgardener]

25. Two things can be true at the same time...

can’t decide which is the more incompetent dumbass boob – Hegseth or Trump.

[no_hypocrisy]

27. I've got your back, Sir!

And thank you for your service.

[Diamond_Dog]

28. A Big K & R

[underpants]

29. The Two Stooges Show

I completely agree. PT test requirements and weight are adjusted for age. General or Admiral is almost certainly in their 50’s I’d think depending on MOS.

I was in for 3 years and I never saw a General.

[BaronChocula]

30. This is awesome!

Thanks for the post.

[Blue Owl]

31. When the shit hit the fan, could we count on Josh Hawley?

[Wounded Bear]

33. In the end, what they fight for is the people to their right and left...

and those ain't political decriptors.

USMC for 7 years, and lucked out of combat in Nam, but the oath I took in 1970 to defend the Constitution from enemies foreign and domestic still applies as far as I am concerned.

[John Farmer]

54. I've4 heard the phrase ex-marine used, but

It seems inappropriate. The Marines I've known were still Marines even well after they left the Corps.

[Wounded Bear]

56. Yeah, "former" Marine is closer to the heart of it...

As in former active duty.

[llmart]

36. Absolutely spot on post!

Hogsbreath and the Dump don't have a clue what really goes on in a war zone. Both have yellow stripes up their backs. They are the type of cowards that talk a good game as if they're so manly men, but when it comes time to walk the talk, they get bone spurs.

My sister volunteered to go to Nam with the Red Cross when she was 28 years old. She worked at a military hospital in Da Nang. She had more courage in her little finger than those two asswipes put together.

I don't use this saying often, in fact seldom but thank you for your service!

[Vinca]

37. Excellent post.

[proud patriot]

38. Welcome Home

Thank you for your service

[Buddyzbuddy]

39. Very well said.

I think they're worried. Bullies are scared by nature.
They get louder, pump their chest and try to give the impression they're bigger than they are. It's too avoid an actual challenge. If you're intimidated you're unlikely to make the 1st move.

Removal from office using the 25th Amendment or impeachment are highly unlikely so that only leaves 1 threat to his authority, the military. A coup or friendly fire is doubtful but ignoring an illegal order can go a long way to neutralizing him. If you game it out, the end result would be a severely weakened Presidency with other Republicans maybe, finding their spines. Not enough for impeachment, but enough to halt his agenda and start investigations.

If you control the military, you control the narrative. I think he lost much of the military, today. It was a bad miscalculation in my opinion. It was totally unnecessary, he was in control by default but because of his fear and lack of military experience he doubted their loyalty and showed his ass.

[beemerphill]

40. The only problem with your post is..

I could only like it one time. This one deserves about ten likes.
You hit the nail on the head. I would not want to trust "bone spurs" to back me up.

[red dog 1]

41. I just hope Kegbreath and Shitler don't start WW3.

[Layzeebeaver]

42. When SHIT HiTS THE FAN...

... its the muscle between the ears that counts.

If you can do 100 pull ups, then great - you can carry a big gun.

When we need folks to THINK and LEAD, then its the brain that counts.

"Drunkseth" is an idiot that just showed his true colours and his lack of perspective.

Fuck him and "Prez. CankleToad" he rode in on.

[soldierant]

47. Wonkette likes to call him

"Secretary Shitfaced." I usually use "Hogsbreath" which is really too ice for him, but I do love their term.

[Dem4life1970]

45. Thank you for your service...

...and I couldn't agree more with your post. Trump was hoping to have the Generals/Admirals hooting and hollering when he came into the room playing Hail to the Chief but he was met with a stony silence and zero applause (as it should be). Their oath is to the Constitution, not to a disgraced, twice impeached, 34 time convicted felon, insurrectionist. I hope none of them is willing to allow 250 years of history to be deleted to satisfy a failed, former Reality TV show host.

[calimary]

48. Sadly enough, we all know that answer.

Thank you, AOG, for all your years of service. The words “thank you” just don’t seem sufficient, though.

[pnwest]

50. Righteous. And thank you

for your service to our country. What is your take on what will happen when these men and the service men and women they command are ordered to fire on US citizens on US soil. Will they refuse? Will they be the ones to put a stop to the coup?

[MiHale]

52. Sing it loud, my brother...

Righteous rant. I got so angry it ripped off the scabs that have carefully formed over my emotions…but I swallowed and remembered my training. Having great backup helps.

[John Farmer]

53. Permission to quote?

[KentuckyWoman]

55. Excellent post.

Regret I can only rec 1 time.