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Robert Jaffee's avatar

Or just as plausible, it will be a Saddam like purge. He brings the entire senior military leadership into one room, then he starts calling out names of disloyal generals and admirals, but instead of sending their bodies in pieces back to their families, they are summarily dismissed in disgrace.

The net effect is a SHOCK DOCTRINE that paralyzes the rest, and brings them to heel and makes them MAGA compliant….:)

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Ronald Stack's avatar

Well, calling out "disloyal" FGOs in one room gives rise to the possibility of an "I am Spartacus" moment. More likely is an announcement that a signed document is required before they leave ... either for their commands or for early retirement.

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John Robert's avatar

At similar gatherings, Saddam would order someone taken out and shot for disloyalty and then order someone else who was not formally a part of his terror apparatus to carry out the execution. The designated executioner would carry out the order out of justified fear of the consequences for disobeying it. This had the effect of giving the unfortunate executioner a vital interest in the preservation of the regime; its continued power was his only protection from retribution that was sure to follow Saddam’s fall from power.

Trump is certainly such a viper he knows this dynamic. Every functionary who carries out one of Trump's abuses of power becomes even more tightly bound to the administration’s continuation in power.

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