Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has become “emboldened” after ousting some of the military’s most senior officials as he moves to “consolidate control” at the Pentagon, according to a report. The firing of Navy Secretary John Phelan and the Army’s chief of staff Gen. Randy George was part of Hegseth’s reported pursuit to “consolidate control” of the Pentagon, leaving him “more confident than ever in his job,” The Washington Post reports. Despite concerns from those in President Donald Trump’s inner circle, including White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, Hegseth appears to have secured his standing within the administration amid a turbulent first year in office, the newspaper reports. “All the power has been taken away from the uniforms and 100 percent gone to the political appointees,” one official told the Post. Phelan was removed on April 22 shortly after voicing concerns to lawmakers regarding what he characterized as a “land grab” by Hegseth and Deputy Defense Secretary Steve Feinberg, according to the newspaper.
I just can’t help seeing Hegseth as Soltan Gris, the incompetent drunk alien CIA operative who manages to lie, embezzle, and grift himself to riches on the planet he is meant to be saving
L Ron Hubbard was a rapist and a grifter. But NEGL his Mission Earth is a great read (yes, all 10 books of it) and it’s insane how relevant it is under Trump 2.0
Actually well written and intelligent science fiction book.
“Stand On Zanzibar” by John Brunner.
Won the 1969 Hugo for best novel.
Set in the 21st Century, it predicted AI, legal marijuana, mass shooters, mass homelessness, personalized ads, and a host of other ideas we now take for granted.
I enjoyed Battlefield Earth (the book, not whatever that movie was), even with its issues. I read the first of Mission Earth when it came out. I don’t remember why it didn’t click for me, but I never read another.