57 Comments
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Joe Bacon's avatar

When it comes to the military I have to ask where is the red line when they will finally stand up to Trump, Miler and Hegseth and refuse to obey illegal orders?

Diane J's avatar

Same here. They haven't done well rejecting illegal orders so far.

Joe Bacon's avatar

I live in Los Angeles. I SAW with my own eyes how National Guard and Marines gladly assisted the Gestapo rounding up innocent people!!!!!!!!!

Ruby Slipper's avatar

Doesn't look like there is one. Damn scary.

Valerie Starr's avatar

Saying that the people who defend our freedoms have no freedom of speech is anti American and treasonous behavior. (Yes, I know the actual definition!) Thank you for this alert.

Mary Gabriel's avatar

Great article, Earl. Sharing.

D. Earl Stephens ✍️'s avatar

Thanks.

Wish I never had to write it, Mary.

Megan Ross's avatar

When I read an article written by an NPR journalist, regarding Hegseth getting involved in the Stars and Stripes newspaper, I first became angry and then sad. How can these despicable people in TRump's Clown Car Cabinet get away with what they're doing? I don't understand! Where is the pushback from Congress? My rage is getting worse every day and I'm at a loss as to how to deal with it, at this point. It's uncomfortable.

D. Earl Stephens ✍️'s avatar

My faith in Congress is ZERO.

My faith in the people in places like this is 100%.

Roger Helbig's avatar

We all should follow Minneapolis's lead and demand resignation of Trump, Vance MAGA Speaker Hegseth, Noem, Kennedy, Vought, etc (all of the minions whose only talent is kissing the posterior). All need to be gone before 4 July 250th birthday of the United States which never was to be authoritarian.

Teri Gelini's avatar

I agree but not sure how this happens unless the military rises up and dethrones the whole bunch of them including the 20225 writers..

Frank's avatar

Because 95% of them are all good with it. They want a dictatorship run for and by the oligarchs. Look at how rich Marjorie Taylor Greene became during her 5 years in Congress.

Megan Ross's avatar

It's time to party like it's 1789-1793 France! Sharpen the guillotines!

Sharon Bjork's avatar

Thanks, Earl. The administration is losing the messaging on so many fronts. JD Vance referring to Trump's economy as the Titanic...murdering Renee Good was ok because she disrespected Ross...it was ok to put a 5-year-old into ICE custody because we were taking care of him...the more they spew BS, the harder we fight back. If tens of thousands can get out in frigid subzero weather in ICE occupied Minnesota to let Trump and the World know that we are not going down without a fight...the rest of us can call our Reps, from the comfort of our homes, to save the independence of Stars and Stripes.

Teri Gelini's avatar

Don't forget the 2 year old they sent to Texas with her dad instead of giving her to her mom. The atty was able to get her back to her mom and is trying to get dad back. I cried over that one. and now today they shot and killed a man they had pinned to the ground with 5-6 thugs/ice ( think he was killed.. hope not_ and took all the observers into custody and their phones and cameras. Where are the Minnesota police to arrest and charge them with cold blooded murder???

Rodney Proctor's avatar

During my time as acting news editor with the Pacific edition of Stars and Stripes, I saw, first hand, unsuccessful attempts at intimidating the paper’s editors into slanting its news coverage. But at that time, the intimidation was coming from the then-dictator of a host country. To see such tactics now coming from Trump’s civilian leadership at the Pentagon is disillusioning beyond belief. This cannot stand.

D. Earl Stephens ✍️'s avatar

Was hoping to hear from you, Rodney.

-Cheers

Rodney Proctor's avatar

Can’t stay silent. Guess you’ve heard; another fatal ICE shooting in Minneapolis.

Diane Rose Halstead's avatar

Despicable! Trump and Hegseth don’t believe in free speech. Except for themselves. And in their cases, they’re always lying. God help our military.

D. Earl Stephens ✍️'s avatar

Trump called our troops "suckers and losers."

No surprise he treats them that way, Diane.

Al Bellenchia's avatar

“Civil disobedience is not our problem. Our problem is civil obedience.” - Howard Zinn

Roger Helbig's avatar

For once, I agree with Howard. Thanks.

Sharon Fiyalka's avatar

I will contact my congressional reps as well.

D. Earl Stephens ✍️'s avatar

Thanks.

EVERYBODY SHOULD.

Gundy Walton's avatar

When I read this earlier in the week, I immediately thought of you… and how this must have made your blood boil. It did mine!

Trump just wants to take away and breakdown any creature comforts we have in our lives. He wants everyone to suffer a little bit more.

This sounds like a Hegseth move‼️Trump probably didn’t know much about the purpose of S&S. You would be the best advocate (along with former editors) to thwart this effort to abolish it. Good luck. And thank you for your service and what you do on Substack!

D. Earl Stephens ✍️'s avatar

Trump knew full well what he was doing, because he tried it during his first administration, Gundy.

He is unchained this time around, and will break everything he can.

Thanks as always for your readership and support. Really appreciate it.

Teri Gelini's avatar

I feel for you as the S&S had to be like your own kid that you guarded and made sure it was informational and never political. Hope it survives unblemished..

D. Earl Stephens ✍️'s avatar

That's a really interesting, profound way to put it, Teri.

gary chandler's avatar

At the current rate of insanity, the Orange Felon will dismantle every form of independent journalism in America. I am mad about that and also mad at the Democrat's leadership in Congress for letting this happen. Will Rogers was right when he said, "The opposite of progress is congress.

Jane's avatar

It true. Everything tRUMP touches dies. This is reality!!Wake Up America!

DaveHo's avatar
16hEdited

I started reading the Stripes in late '75 when I went to Germany after Dragon training. I was still reading it 7 years later when I left Korea to come back to the world. I have an online subscription to this day. It would pain me mightily to see a drunk and his felon boss try to fuck with it.

D. Earl Stephens ✍️'s avatar

Thanks for your support through the years, Dave.

I, too, was a reader overseas in the '70s and thought it was the greatest thing ever.

DaveHo's avatar

Your six will always be covered dude.

Franky Edder's avatar

Two of the most unqualified putting their nose where it doesn't belong.

Charles Parker's avatar

Willie and Joe..Patton haited them..Eisenhower recognized the good they did for morale.. .. dunce and dunce junior fear people laughing at them... Wllie and Joe would have a field day now..

Matt's avatar

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