"What's the deal with Pete Hegseth? Am I the only veteran that recognizes this guy's personality?"

[eppur_se_muova]

19. Currently reading a biography of Napoleon -- author calls him a pychopath, he was obviously a megalomaniac as well.

Some of the parallels with Trmp are eye-opening, as is the contrast. NB was better educated, much more competent, and actually reformed the wreck that was the French government (not entirely for the better, to be certain). And he was more at war with his own family (mostly over Josephine) than Trmp has ever appeared to be. Of course, he won some campaigns through exceedingly hands-on tactics and some truly astonishing luck, but lost two entire armies (so far -- we haven't even gotten to Moscow yet) through appallingly bad planning, where he engaged in planning beyond the fantasy stage at all. And he looted not just France, but its recent conquests, to accomplish those disasters.

The comparison with Kegsbreath seems almost laughable. The only power Kegsbreath has is what was handed to him on a gold-plated platter. Napoleon seized power through audacity and cruelty and, admittedly, tactical competence (strategy was another thing). Kegsbreath looks like a Mean Girl who found a powerful sugar daddy in contrast. If Trmp stops supporting him, he's not just done, he's incinerated.

(I'm no military expert, and would welcome hearing from real military thinkers/planners where they can speak out re Kegsbreath. I know he has some accomplices, but can't believe they're all that many (could the Universe really be that cruel ?) or sufficiently well-placed to survive the next ketchup-flinging outburst.)