#common defense

[chaddavisphotography]

An ice sculpture that reads "PROSECUTE ICE" at the Minnesota State Capitol on January 5, 2026. I'm told the organization behind the sculpture is Common Defense.

More of my coverage: Photos: ICE IN MINNEAPOLIS

[missives-and-misgivings]

Confederacy of Dunces

When the draft dodging Commander in Chief Donald Trump took office, he fired over half a dozen of the military’s top generals. His Secretary of War Crimes, Pete Hegseth - who was previously flagged as an extremist by his own former unit - then followed that up with a directive for the armed forces to cut 20% of its active duty four star generals.

The pretense was to end ”wokeness” or some such nonsense. But anyone that was even half paying attention knew this was straight from the Project 2025 playbook. Replace government employees from top to bottom with Trump loyalists. Because to this administration, ideology is far more important than proficiency.

And what happens when you replace competence with fealty?

You get dead kids.

Over 165 little girls that will never get to grow up.

Expertise and sober decision making are being replaced with bravado and jingoism. And that gets people killed.

We are being dragged into a poorly planned, recklessly executed conflict by the least amongst us. They’ve started a war with no congressional approval, no coherent objective and no exit strategy. More American troops and Iranian civilians are likely to die needlessly, because the people in charge are in way, way over their heads. They are equal parts woefully unqualified, laughably inept and shockingly corrupt.  The United States military is being hollowed out by a white Christian nationalist on a pseudo religious crusade. The rules of engagement and the Geneva Conventions are minor inconveniences to egotistical, psychopathic dullards like Trump and Hegseth. So much so that they’ve gutted the Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response program. They’ve even fired the top Judge Advocate Generals (JAGs) to try and dodge accountability for violating the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ).

Speaking of which, Article 92 of the UCMJ requires personnel to obey lawful orders. If the order violates the Constitution, U.S. federal law, or applicable international law it is not a lawful order.

Remember, “I was just following orders” was not accepted defense at the Nuremberg trials. Nor should it have been.

If you are active duty military, you have an oath to follow and that oath is to the United States Constitution. It is not to an individual and it is certainly not to Donald Trump or Pete Hegseth. If you need assistance, call the GI Rights Hotline at 1-877-447-4487 or visit their website.

If you are a veteran that’s rightfully outraged by this administration’s politicization of the military, you are not alone. There are many great organizations out there that would love to have you involved. One of which is Common Defense, who have been fighting the good fight for 10 years now.

Whether by design or by gross negligence, bombing Venezuelan fishing boats and Iranian schools, is unconscionable. It’s tragic.

It’s also totally unnecessary.

What is necessary is to stand up for democracy. For the U.S. constitution. For the rule of law. For human rights. For basic human dignity. That is a battle worth fighting for.

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Far-right influencer and US Senate candidate arrested for damaging anti-ICE sculpture

Jake Lang, a pardoned January 6 rioter, posted a video of himself kicking down the sculpture at Minnesota’s capitol

Sara Braun at The Guardian:

The far-right influencer and US Senate candidate Jake Lang has been arrested after recording himself damaging an anti-ICE sculpture at Minnesota’s capitol amid the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency’s crackdown there. On 5 February, Lang, who received a presidential pardon from Donald Trump over his role in the 6 January 2021 attack on the US Capitol, posted a video on X of himself kicking down the sculpture, which was made from ice – as in, frozen water. His efforts changed it from reading “Prosecute ICE” to “Pro ICE”, referring to the federal agency. Local authorities arrested Lang that same day and jailed the Florida resident on suspicion of criminal damage to property, which is classified as a felony. A veterans organization, Common Defense, had commissioned the ice sculpture and installed it on the steps of Minnesota’s state capitol in St Paul. The group had obtained permits for the display. “I gave eight years of my life in service to this country in the military,” Common Defense’s communications director, Jacob Thomas, said in a statement, as reported by the local news station Fox 9. Referring to the constitutional right to free speech, Thomas’s statement continued: “For a [January 6] insurrectionist to destroy our display is an attack on the First Amendment veterans like me fought to defend.” Lang’s arrest came after he tried to organize an anti-Islam, anti-Somali and pro-ICE demonstration in Minneapolis back in January, saying on social media that he intended to “burn a Qur’an” on the steps of city hall.

Far-right hack, J6 insurrectionist scumbag, and Florida US Senate candidate Jake Lang FAFO’d when he got arrested for damaging an anti-ICE sculpture in St. Paul, MN entitled “Prosecute ICE” to change it to “Pro ICE".

[thesociologicalcinema]

Just an observation about the media: We've gotten dozens of request from political reporters asking to be connected with veterans who became right-wing extremists. But we've gotten zero interest in the perspective of POC troops who had to cope with extremists in their units. Right-wing white nationalists do not always have to be the Main Character! ~ @AlexanderMcCoy4, Political Director of Common Defense, a grassroots organization of U.S. military veterans fighting for progressive priorities like Medicare for All and a Green New Deal.

[arthropooda]

[progressivemillennial]

Sanders, Ocasio-Cortez back 'end the forever war' pledge

A group of Democratic and progressive lawmakers, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), are sponsoring a pledge from a veterans group to "end the forever war."

Here’s a copy of the pledge:

February 25, 2019

To my elected representatives,

Our country’s military has been in a permanent state of conflict for over seventeen years. Veterans call it the “Forever War.” The cost of this global, destabilizing, ever-expanding, endless war has been devastating, and regular Americans like us continue to pay in blood, lives, dollars, and the opportunity cost of investments which are desperately needed here at home.

I am standing with veterans and military families in my community and asking you, my elected representatives, to make a commitment to us that you will affirmatively act to bring a clear end to these military interventions. We also demand that Congress reassert its Constitutional authority over matters of war and military force, and bring back democratic checks and balances over the Presidency in these matters which have such enormous importance for our military community, our country, and the world. You can join with your colleagues in Congress in demonstrating your commitment by signing the Common Defense “End The Forever War” pledge found below.

END THE FOREVER WAR PLEDGE

The United States has been in a state of continuous, global, open-ended military conflict since 2001. Over 2.5 million troops have fought in this “Forever War” in over a dozen countries – including Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Jordan, Niger, Somalia, and Thailand. I pledge to the people of the United States of America, and to our military community in particular, that I will (1) fight to reclaim Congress’s constitutional authority to conduct oversight of U.S. foreign policy and independently debate whether to authorize each new use of military force, and (2) act to bring the Forever War to a responsible and expedient conclusion.

Sincerely,

You can become a citizen signer at the Common Defense website.

[keystonewarrior]

I hope this doesn't become a habit. In fifteen years I've never posted my face here, now two in a week.

Got a thank you and a handshake for my shirt today.

[intelligentchristianlady]

Protest Safety Guide

Required reading before you PEACEFULLY protest.