Donald Trump’s dangerous inclination towards war

Donald Trump’s speech at Quantico to the U.S. Army’s general officers was a display of narcissism (not a display of strength). His attempt to emulate the late George C. Scott in his iconic role in Patton was a failure, because instead of delivering a concise and punchy message, Trump spoke in a monotone for more than an hour, repeating many of his standard lines – for example, “this war would never have started if I had been president” – but did so with little enthusiasm. Certainly, a moment devoid of energy.

Although the assembled generals and admirals listened in silence to his rambling speech, none of them had the courage to stand up, walk out of the room, and resign in protest. It was a convention full of plush heads……. And many bald heads to boot. They are more interested in securing a lucrative retirement package than in refusing to carry out an illegal order – namely, the bombing of a civilian ship allegedly carrying drugs that did not fire on American ships or personnel.

By renaming the Department of Defense the new Department of War, Trump is not sending a message of peaceful intentions to the other nations that populate this world. Quite the opposite. While he appears to have shifted the responsibility for waging war against Russia to Europe, there are troubling signs that he has not completely detached himself from the dream of defeating Russia. For example, just days after vowing to stop referring to Russia as a paper tiger, he did so again.

Some European leaders are still toying with the idea of seizing Russian assets. There is a short article from Bloomberg, published on October 2: Russia drafts plan to seize foreign assets. Here are the key points:

• Russia could nationalize and quickly sell foreign assets under a new privatization mechanism in response to any European move to seize Russian assets abroad, a source close to the government reported.
• Recently, Putin signed a decree allowing the accelerated sale of state assets through a special procedure.
• If the European Union begins to seize Russian assets, Moscow could respond with symmetrical measures.
• Hundreds of Western companies operating in various sectors – from banking to consumer goods production – still operate in Russia, including UniCredit SpA, Raiffeisen Bank International AG, PepsiCo Inc and Mondelez International Inc., the agency recalls.
• So far, Russia has refrained from nationalizing the assets of international corporations. Instead, it has taken over the temporary management of some companies.

Meanwhile, France appears to have raised the war flag and is leading the charge in provoking a wider confrontation with Russia. On September 30, the French navy detained the oil tanker Boracay off the country’s coast, allegedly part of the Russian “ghost fleet.” The ship is under sanctions from the UK and the EU. Earlier this year, it was already detained in Estonia for sailing without a valid flag.

According to MarineTraffic, the Boracay departed the Russian port of Primorsk on September 20, carrying oil, crossed the Baltic Sea, bypassed Denmark, entered the North Sea and continued through the English Channel. The tanker is currently anchored near Saint-Nazaire, France.

In parallel with this incident, the Chief of Staff of the French Army announced that French troops needed to be prepared for the start of an intense war. This announcement may have been a reaction to a report published on October 2 by Borzzikman, according to which the Russians had hit a naval target in Odessa and killed 20 French engineers.

If the following Reuters report is true, it means Trump is authorizing an attack on Russia, which could provoke a significant reaction from Moscow, which could escalate the situation into an all-out war:

“The United States will provide Ukraine with intelligence for long-range missile attacks on Russia’s energy infrastructure, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday [Oct. 1], while considering sending Kiev weapons that could put more targets within range.

The United States has long shared secret information with Kiev, but the latest report showed that the new development will make it easier for Ukraine to strike refineries, pipelines, power plants and other infrastructure, with the aim of depriving the Kremlin of revenue and oil.

According to US officials cited by the Wall Street Journal, the approval of additional classified information came shortly before Trump posted on virtual communication networks suggesting that Ukraine could retake all territory occupied by Russia, in a striking shift in rhetoric in favour of Kiev.”

Pete Hegseth, Secretary of War, at meeting with hundreds of US generals: We became the “Woke Department.” But it is over. No more climate change worship, no more gender-related distractions. Prepare for war!

At the Quantico military base, the new Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, delivered a tough message to America’s generals: the end of diversity and “wokeness” in the military. In their place, he promises a return to tough discipline, unique physical standards, and training focused exclusively on combat.

In a blistering speech at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, Hegseth announced that the Department of Defense was once again becoming the Department of War, with the sole objective of preparing for war. “We do not want war, but we are preparing to win it. Our strength guarantees peace,” the official said, warning that any adversary who tries to provoke the US will be “FAFO” – “f*** around and find out.”

Hegseth announced the introduction of a single physical standard for all soldiers, men and women alike: “If the women make it, great. If they don’t, that’s it. Same for the weak men. This is real combat.” The new regulations also aim to return to tough training, in which instructors “can lay hands on recruits” to discipline the troops, according to the Daily Mail.

The Secretary of War directly attacked diversity and inclusion policies: “No more climate worship, no more gender division, no more gender distractions, no more gender illusions. We are ready to leave that mess behind.” He promised to eliminate DEI offices and climate change initiatives, which he considered “dangerous distractions from the real mission.”

In his speech, Hegseth criticized the “fat generals” and the diversity initiatives in the armed forces, which he said had led to decades of decline. “Crazy and reckless leaders have given us the wrong direction and we have gone astray. We have become the Woke Department. But this is over,” he warned. The minister said that “it is completely unacceptable to see fat generals and admirals in the halls of the Pentagon” and announced that, in the future, all physical fitness standards will be set at values for men. He also stressed the importance of personal grooming standards: “The era of unprofessional appearance is over. No more beards.”

He invited those who disagree with his policies to resign.

The speech comes after months of Pentagon purges. Hegseth has already cut the number of generals and admirals by a quarter and eliminated positions deemed redundant. “When in doubt, I go by gut instinct and do what’s best for the military,” the official said, adding that the leadership modifications will continue.

He also announced the restructuring of the General Inspectorate and the Employment Equality Office, which he accused of being “turned into weapons” by anonymous and repeated complaints. “No more destroying reputations and artificially blocking careers,” he pointed out.

Hegseth cited the Gulf War as an example of how the U.S. military needs to act: quickly, decisively, and alongside allies. According to Len Khodorkovsky, a former State Department official, Hegseth’s measures are both aimed at aligning with the president’s MAGA direction and strengthening his own position: “It’s a total recalibration toward real combat capability.”

Some former officials have expressed concerns that gathering all the generals in one place could pose a security vulnerability. However, sources close to Hegseth say that all safety precautions were taken and that the participants were carefully selected.

In parallel, internal sources state that Hegseth, traumatized by the assassination of Charlie Kirk, fears for his own security and is increasingly tense in his relationship with his subordinates.

 

yogaesoteric
October 16, 2025

 

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