“But as I look at today’s political environment — at President Donald #Trump, his allies & #Defense Secy #PeteHegseth — I’m forced to ask a question I never thought I’d have to pose: Should young #BlackAmericans serve in a #military led by people who seem openly hostile to them & the legacy of those who came before them?”

The conflict within #PeteHegseth’s inner circle persists even after he purged several political appointees in April & attempts to portray a sense of unity among his remaining *brain trust*. His claims, however, are belied by continued behind-the-scenes #dysfunction, brought on by unresolved personality conflicts, #inexperience, vacancies in key #Pentagon leadership roles & a steady-state of #paranoia over what political crisis is next…

@knotfeed

"450 million Europeans should not be begging 340 million Americans to protect Europe from 140 million Russians who cannot take on 38 million Ukrainians,"

@Nonilex

So, a political officer, like the Soviet Union used to do?

"#Defense Sec #PeteHegseth on Friday issued orders that require #journalists to have ofcl escorts within much of the Pentagon bldg"

But the #Trump #GoldenDome's #funding remains uncertain. Republican lawmakers have proposed a $25 billion initial investment for it as part of a broader $150 billion #defense package, but this funding is tied to a contentious reconciliation bill that faces significant hurdles in #Congress.

#Trump’s #GoldenDome has strong & powerful allies in the #defense contracting community & defense #technology arena, many of whom have been preparing for Trump's move into #space #weaponry.

"We knew that this day was likely going to come. You know, we're ready for it," L3Harris CFO Ken Bedingfield said in an interview.

"L3 Harris has an early start of building the sensor network that will become the foundational sensor network for the Golden Dome architecture."

Under President #Biden, US Space Force had grown vocal about a need for greater offensive space capabilities due to #space-based threats from #Russia & #China.

When #Trump announced his #GoldenDome plan in January, it was a clear shift in strategy, one that emphasizes a move into #space w/ #expensive, #untested #technology that *could* be a financial boon to US #defense contractors [or just #ElonMusk].

…Interviews w/14 people involved in or briefed on the search for the replacement plane say it started when the WH Military Office, which oversees presidential travel, worked w/Boeing & the #Defense Dept to compile a list of every late-model 747 on the market with a business-jet layout, which could more quickly be retrofitted into #AirForceOne.

There were only 8 planes in the world that fit the bill, including a flashy double-decker jet that #Qatar had been trying to sell for years…

…It was not immediately clear if the #states would also have to approve the plan.

#NationalGuard #troops have generally played a supporting role to domestic authorities in enforcing #immigration issues at the #border, including logistics, security & other assistance. But the #Defense Dept ofcl said that if the request were approved, it would be the first time National Guard troops were used to help enforce an immigration crackdown inside the #US.