Article contentOver 800 of the most senior U.S. generals and their enlisted counterparts were summoned to attend a conference in Quantico, Virginia. Article contentThe stage setting, with a massive Stars and Bars behind the podium faced by rows of attendees, was based on the opening scene from the 1970 Hollywood blockbuster Patton, the biopic based on the life and death of General George S. Patton. That scene featuring actor George C. Scott portraying Patton is an incredible show of personal force. Article contentUnfortunately for Hegseth and Trump, in trying to replicate Patton, they came closer to an incredible show of personal farce. What stopped it from being laughable was the sinister undertone of their actual message. Article contentThe farcical bit was Hegseth denouncing the assembled generals for being overweight and un-warrior-like, only to be followed on stage by the obese Commander-in-Chief, who used the excuse of bone spurs to obtain deferments from his Vietnam draft request. Article contentArticle contentIt was also ironic that Hegseth and Trump, both wearing more make-up than their wives, would use the opportunity to shun ‘dudes in dresses’ as part of their anti-trans campaign. Article contentUnfortunately, that staggering example of a lack of self-awareness was dampened by the staggering threat made by Trump to use the U.S. military against American citizens. Article contentTrump told the assembled generals that they would be crucial to his fight against “the enemy from within” and that they could use the homeland as a “training ground.” Article content“We’re under invasion from within,” Trump said. “No different than a foreign enemy, but more difficult in many ways because they don’t wear uniforms.” Article contentTrump added ominously, “in our inner cities, which we’re going to be talking about because it’s a big part of war now. It’s a big part of war.” Article contentTrump advised the generals that he had already given marching orders to the Secretary of War. Article contentArticle content“I told Pete, we should use some of these dangerous cities as training grounds for our military … because we’re going into Chicago very soon. And San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles. They’re very unsafe places. And we’re gonna straighten them out one by one. It is going to be a major part for some of the people in this room. It is a war too. It is a war from within.” Article contentThe assembled generals, as is the custom for what is to be non-partisan military assemblies, did not applaud nor condone their Commander-in-Chief’s statements. However, it would appear that the U.S. is proceeding on a course that could only result in civil war. Article contentThat being the case, the discussions about Canada getting new submarines in 2035 and Carney establishing a new procurement agency in Ottawa were overshadowed by the very real threat of our neighbour, the world’s largest superpower plunging itself into existential danger. Article contentAs important as Canadian defence issues might seem, what happens south of our border will have a far greater impact on our future as a nation. Article content
Scott Taylor: Canada moves on procurement while U.S. prepares for war against its citizens
