The Woke War Machine: Patriotism Purged, Terrorists Trained
The dawn of 2025 began not with fireworks but with tragedy. Two terror attacks—one in New Orleans, where former Army Staff Sergeant Shamsud-Din Jabbar plowed into a crowd on Bourbon Street, killing 14, and another in Las Vegas, where a Tesla Cybertruck exploded outside the Trump Hotel, linked to active-duty Army Master Sgt. Matthew Livelsberger, a Green Beret on approved leave—shocked a nation already grappling with deep divisions. These incidents raise urgent questions about how individuals with access to sensitive intelligence and advanced weapons become radicalized. But these were not the work of foreign adversaries or shadowy extremist groups. Instead, the perpetrators were American soldiers, products of a military reshaped to value ideological conformity over patriotism. This is not an anomaly; it’s the inevitable result of years of purging those who cherish traditional American values while grooming a new kind of soldier—one who sees the United States as the enemy.
The Department of Defense’s war on conservative Christians and patriotic Americans has birthed a monster of its own making: a military that loathes the country it was sworn to protect. These attacks are merely the first tremors of a coming earthquake. As the ranks continue to fill with ideologues hostile to America’s founding principles, we must brace for more enemies from within.
From Patriots to Pariahs: The Purge of Traditional Values
Under the banner of combating “extremism,” the Pentagon has undertaken an ideological purge unprecedented in American history, exemplified by initiatives such as the Countering Extremism Working Group, which sought to identify and expel service members associated with certain political ideologies, and official statements characterizing traditional conservative views as potential security threats. Soldiers who profess their faith openly, express conservative views, or even hint at support for leaders like President Trump have found themselves branded as threats. The military, once a sanctuary of honor and service, now demands ideological submission to the Radical Left’s narrative.
This shift was epitomized during General Mark Milley’s tenure. His obsession with “white rage” and his willingness to paint January 6th as a military failure gave carte blanche to a witch hunt within the armed forces. One of the most notable examples of this ideological purge was the relentless targeting of Pete Hegseth, a Trump appointee and vocal advocate for traditional American values. Hegseth, a decorated veteran, was flagged by Pentagon officials as an “insider threat,” allegedly due to his Christian beliefs and conservative viewpoints. Leaked internal memos suggested that his vocal criticism of progressive policies and advocacy for military readiness made him a target of suspicion. This smear campaign culminated in his removal from consideration for key roles, a move that many viewed as emblematic of the broader ideological purges reshaping the armed forces. These actions laid the groundwork for a force more concerned with rooting out imagined enemies of progressivism than preparing for real-world threats.
Ideological Conformity over Combat Readiness
The COVID-19 pandemic provided the perfect pretext for weeding out dissent. Vaccine mandates disproportionately targeted conservative service members, many of whom raised legitimate concerns about government overreach. A 2023 Department of Defense report revealed that service members who identified as politically conservative were 153% more likely to be discharged for vaccine refusal than those who identified as liberal, with conservatives comprising 43% of such discharges compared to only 17% for liberals. Case studies from Army personnel further highlighted the disproportionate impact, with decorated veterans citing religious exemptions denied without proper review. Their resistance was treated as insubordination, leading to the forced exit of tens of thousands of experienced soldiers.
This exodus didn’t just weaken the military’s effectiveness; it replaced seasoned patriots with recruits who often lacked both the experience and commitment to defend the Constitution. The void left by these purges created fertile ground for ideological indoctrination, turning the armed forces into a petri dish for radicalism.
The Cost of Wokeness: New Year’s Day as a Warning
The attacks on January 1st reveal the horrifying consequences of this transformation:
In New Orleans, Shamsud-Din Jabbar—a former Army Staff Sergeant with a deployment to Afghanistan—allegedly drove his vehicle into a crowd, killing 14. Jabbar’s radicalization reportedly stemmed from exposure to extremist ideologies during his transition out of the military. Investigations suggest that his disillusionment was amplified by anti-American narratives pervasive in online forums and in the mainstream media.
In Las Vegas, Matthew Livelsberger, an active-duty Green Beret, detonated a Tesla Cybertruck outside the Trump Hotel. Livelsberger, known for his open disdain for conservative political figures, utilized his elite military training to execute the attack. The incident underscores the alarming potential for ideological indoctrination to weaponize military expertise.
Rome’s Warning: When the Defenders Turn on the Republic
History offers a chilling parallel. As the Roman Republic crumbled, its legions ceased to serve the state, pledging loyalty instead to individual generals and factions. The Marian Reforms, which professionalized the army but tied soldiers’ allegiances to their commanders, and the eventual power struggles between Julius Caesar and Pompey underscore how this shift in loyalty accelerated the Republic’s collapse. Scholarly analyses, such as Adrian Goldsworthy’s work on Roman military decline, further illustrate the dangers of such internal fractures. Cicero warned that a republic cannot survive when its guardians forsake their duty to the people. Similarly, the U.S. military risks becoming an ideological weapon wielded against dissenting citizens rather than a shield against external foes.
The military’s embrace of radical progressivism mirrors the cultural rot that plagued late Rome. By alienating those who embody traditional American virtues—faith, family, and freedom—we are eroding the very foundations of our republic. The result is not just a weakened defense; it is an open invitation to chaos.
Conclusion
The terror attacks in New Orleans and Las Vegas are harbingers of a deeper crisis. They reveal the existential threat posed by a military divorced from its constitutional mission. In its zeal to enforce ideological orthodoxy, the Pentagon has alienated the patriots it so desperately needs and empowered a generation of radicals.
As President Trump prepares to lead the nation once more, his administration must prioritize restoring the military’s moral and constitutional compass. A key step in this direction is appointing Pete Hegseth as the new Secretary of Defense. Hegseth, a decorated Army veteran and prominent critic of the military’s ideological purges, was himself a victim of these campaigns during the Biden administration. His leadership offers hope for reversing years of anti-conservative indoctrination and returning the military to its constitutional mission. The stakes could not be higher. If we fail to address the cancer of ideological purges and anti-American indoctrination, we may soon face a military that sees its own citizens as the enemy. The time to act is now, before the Republic follows Rome into history’s graveyard.
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