Situational Awareness

Situational Awareness, a mantra preached by The Art of War and the OODA loop applies when it pertains to 2024 and the possibilities of a coup actually succeeding as America's splintering and all bets are off thanks to a succession of inept presidents beginning with W and ending with Agent Orange, the worst of the worst in the land of the brave and home of the free.

Coups usually take place in countries with an "underdeveloped democracy," or in "authoritarian" states. But the scenario is now being seriously discussed among Americans as a possible scene in the once "shining city upon a hill," the "beacon of hope." 

On Friday, three retired US Army generals published an article in the Washington Post entitled "The military must prepare now for a 2024 insurrection." 

"We are chilled to our bones at the thought of a coup succeeding next time," the article said. As the first anniversary of the deadly riots at the US Capitol approaches, the two retired major generals and a retired brigadier general voiced their concerns about a divided American military. 

"On January 6, a disturbing number of veterans and active-duty members of the military took part in the attack on the Capitol," they said. And they are suggesting history will repeat again, noting, "In a contested election, with loyalties split, some might follow orders from the rightful commander in chief," while others might follow the loser.

They even proposed a solution: "The Defense Department should war-game the next potential post-election insurrection or coup attempt." In other words, this is equivalent to calling the Pentagon to be prepared to crack down on a possible uprising, which is unimaginable in any democratic country worldwide, Shen Yi, a professor at the School of International Relations and Public Affairs of Fudan University, told Global Times. 

The three retired generals are not the only ones worrying. "Trump's next coup has already begun," The Atlantic analyzed earlier December, stressing "January 6 was practice. Donald Trump's GOP is much better positioned to subvert the next election."  

To ignore the implications of 2024 is folly.

The Art of War and the OODA loop apply.