Not quite a Civil War yet... but in the military we have a name for this, Low Intensity Conflict.
Let's deal with this reality, even if the DNC and other movements won't
TAT readers,
Let’s start this week off with the proverbial, “bang.” It’s high time that we fully understood where we are and begin treating it like the civil war it is becoming. Mind you, we’re not yet at a full civil war, but experiencing is what our military, especially US Special Operations troops know as, low intensity conflict. I cannot emphasize enough, that we must stop meandering through this coup, previously established in earlier essays, as if it will pass, like a violent summer storm. It will not no matter how much we hide in the house or barn until it passes. It will not pass and will only become more draconian and likely violent in the process.
The diverse, human fabric in opposition to this coup, are still stuck in their, “deer-in-the-headlights” mode. We may be currently leaderless, but that doesn’t mean that we cannot act in accordance with our real national values. Should this continue, our republic will simply become, “roadkill.” I am being blunt intentionally so as to wake folks from their hesitancy to act in accordance with reality.
My former professional community, those associated with influence, in support of national security are one of the entities responsible for the brainwashing of American citizens that are now, MAGA Republicans. They failed at their mission for at least the past four decades. Then there’s the GOP voters. Anyone who voted Republican in the 2024 election voted for MAGA. If they still voted Republican after a decade plus of conspiracy theory governance, they should have known better. After all, they’re adults. These MAGA Republicans voted like sheep and my community failed to protect them from professional influencers. Now it is up to us, the Minutemen and Women of America, 2025 version, to restore our republic. Yes, that means you and me.
Now, let’s talk about LIC/ Low Intensity Conflict, and why we’re already “at war” with our own government.
Low Intensity Conflict "Low intensity conflict is a political-military confrontation between contending states or groups, below the threshold of conventional war and above the routine, peaceful competition among states. It frequently involves protracted struggles of competing principles and ideologies. Low intensity conflict ranges from subversion to the use of armed force. It is waged by a combination of means, employing political, economic, informational and military instruments. Low intensity conflicts are often localized, generally in the Third World, but contain regional and global security implications." - FM 100-20 - HQ Department of the Army - 1990
To be clear, and right from the beginning of this essay, I am not calling for war, “prepping” or any other drastic measures. I am simply explaining in the most basic terms that we are under attack from an increasingly violent, ideological and unconstitutional administration. I call this, The four horsemen of the MAGA Apocalypse: Autocracy, Oligarchy, Christian Nationalism and Political Violence. For this we must act promptly and prudently. Preparation f
or war is often as important as fighting in that war.
Serfdom "An unfree medieval peasant under the control of the lord whose lands he worked. As villeins or servants of a lord they represented the bottom tier of society. They were attached to the land and denied freedom of movement, freedom to marry without permission of their lord, and were obliged to work on their lord's fields, to contribute a proportion of their own produce, to surrender part of their land at death, and to submit to the justice and penalties administered by their lord in the manorial court in the case of wrongdoing. The lord had obligations to his serfs (unlike slaves), most notably to provide military protection and justice. Serfdom originated in the 8th and 9th centuries in western Europe and subsequently became hereditary. In much of western Europe the system was undermined in the 14th century by the Black Death and starvation resulting from war, which led to acute labour shortages. Commutation of their labour for cash meant that the lord became a rentier and the serf a tenant; in the Peasants' Revolt in England (1381) the main demand was for the abolition of serfdom and the substitution of rent at 4 pence an acre for services. However, in the eastern regions of Germany and Muscovy, the increased power of the nobility led to consolidation of serfdom. It was formally abolished in France in 1789, but lingered in Austria and Hungary till 1848, and was abolished in Russia only in 1861." - Oxford Reference.com
This war began in earnest in the runup to the 2016 election. It has continued ever since. The object of this war, yes supported by other global despots and a small herd of oligarchs, is to create a world that serves the privileged and maintains power for autocrats. Picture a world served by serfdom, devoid of rights and safety. Modern Russia is a very good example and Putin is “dear leader” Trump’s model for such a US government. Truly, no one with a modicum of intelligence believes that Trump has the intelligence to orchestrate all that has and continues to transpire. His GOP politicians, terrified of him, have become his very first serfs, along with their base.
The tools they employed to achieve this level of their coup, are influence operations. Those operations were largely unopposed due to our very own decades-long failure in our own influence community. They have done nothing that either protected us from a combination of Russian and GOP cooperative influence operations, or built cognitive resilience into the American public. To this very day, they are still acquiring massive contracts capable of nothing and hosting large expensive, taxpayer-paid conferences while pontificating about how brilliant they are, without ever attempting to seriously operate against the influence threat. That community is the very definition of, “waste, fraud and abuse.” Yes, some are brilliant but without operations, who cares? We do not operate and haven’t in any notable manner since the Berlin Wall fell.
What does influence have to do with being at war with this version of the GOP, you may ask? The answer is, everything! Everything that a government or organization does or does not do, is influence. Those who professionally know how to manage such operations, then capitalize on or “exploit” those actions and inactions to influence their audiences. For example, the ICE thugs or whoever they are behind their masks, absence of badges, warrants and due process, are a message to everyone to be afraid… very afraid. The bullying of media combined with the cowardice of media owners makes it possible to control what the masses see, read, hear and watch. Writing euphemistic legislation that makes their audiences believe the opposite of what they are doing are all influence tactics. There are more… a lot more.
Low Intensity Conflict wields influence to win without having to ever enter open conflict with their adversaries. Yes, we are seen as adversaries by this MAGA version of the GOP. Like Trump, they use their base to achieve power, then they toss them under the proverbial bus. Look no further than Trump’s cruel words directed at his base when he created his current Epstein Files fiasco.
"Trump blasts 'stupid' and 'foolish' Republicans" "And then … Trump and Co. tried to drop the Epstein matter. They said it was a nothingburger. Trump called it boring. Old news. He told his loyalists they were “weaklings” for not letting it go." "Their new SCAM is what we will forever call the Jeffrey Epstein Hoax, and my PAST supporters have bought into this 'b--------,' hook, line, and sinker," he wrote." - Quotes from: Trump blasts 'stupid' and 'foolish' Republicans amid calls to reveal more Epstein files The president made baseless claims that Democrats created a "hoax." - ABC News - By Ivan Pereira and Kelsey Walsh July 16, 2025, 12:27 PM
These are the actions of a man itching to become the first American dictator. In addition to his commandeering most media or at least hobbling it, he perpetually threatens any and everyone who believes will challenge his personal authority. Even though every single elected Republican in Congress is subservient to him, he’s not seeking power for Republicans. In his petty mind, power is his and his alone. He will discard any GOP congressman that does not show sufficient loyalty and bring him tribute as if he were Nero or Caligula. The true craziness of elected GOP politicians is that they are as much under assault as we are. They are simply further down the autocratic target list.
Economics are a particularly powerful weapon of those seeking power via LIC. Prices are in fact higher now for everyone than when during the election, Republicans were lying about inflation. The Big Ugly Bill will be devastating for much of his base but so long as they remain brainwashed, they will accept his nonsense for a while longer. Again using Russian serfdom as an example, serfs, officially or unofficially, had only the rarest opportunities to rise above their serf existence. They were conditioned by Tsar authoritarians to accept a meager existence of toil and abuse of their rights, in exchange for ensuring their titled landowners profited. The devastating effects of Medicare cuts, far fewer government services and local law enforcement expected to keep working Americans in line, will whittle away what’s left of our middle class. We will still pay the taxes of elite wealth families for the simple reason that, the rich won’t.
Our military is one of the few places in government receiving economic attention. It’s is not the military that we all grew up with either. Boozy Pete Hegseth is molding our new military into one focused exclusively on lethality, but against who? All soft power advocates and intelligent military focuses are being diminished and especially in support of our allies. In many ways, Trump is Hitleresque in this vision.
Speaking of Hitler, a couple of days ago, while talking with an influence operator and peer, he reminded me of the German word for what the GOP is doing, Gleichschaltung or the Nazification of Germany leading up to WW II.
"Gleichschaltung was the process of the Nazi Party taking control over all aspects of Germany. It is otherwise known as coordination or Nazification. The process primarily took place between 1933-1934. The Nazi’s started with the Civil Service , issuing the Act for the Restoration of the Professional Civil Service on the 7 April 1933. This act legalised removing anyone of non-Ayran descent from the civil service. In the judicial system specifically, this act removed any judges that were deemed non-compliant with Nazi laws or principles. This act was reinforced by the German Civil Service code of 26 January 1937, which retired any judges or judicial official who would not intervene in cases and rule in favour of the Nazis. The People’s Court, a court created by the Nazis in April 1934 with judges chosen specifically for their Nazi beliefs, replaced the Supreme Court. With these measures in place, the Nazification of the judicial system was complete. Gleichschaltung was applied across every possible aspect of government policy. To take control of cultural policy, the Nazis appointed Joseph Goebbels as Minister for Public Engagement and Propaganda on the 13 March 1933. Goebbels became responsible for controlling the national media, film, theatre, arts, and other cultural aspects. Goebbels soon radicalised each of these areas, ensuring that they advocated Nazi ideas. Whilst Gleichschaltung aimed to reach every aspect of rule in Germany, this was not always possible. Local governments proved more difficult to infiltrate, and even at the end of 1945 only 60% of local mayors were Nazi Party members. Despite this, on the whole, Gleichschaltung was largely successful. By the end of 1934, the Nazis had managed to infiltrate and take control of every major aspect of German government." - How did the Nazi consolidate their power? - The Holocaust Explained
My friends, Gleichschaltung, was the use of Low Intensity Conflict tactics to achieve Hitler’s goal of a successful coup over the existing German government. Any person reading the long quote above would be able to easily recognize the Trump/ GOP strategy to do the same to our American republic. I and every single service-member and politician is sworn to stop such coups. I and most of those I know, will honor our oath to the nation.
Defunding education, paralyzing universities, denying assistance to those impacted by natural and human made disasters all are part of LIC. Then there’s the full frontal assault on our court system. Coercion of judges, courts and even the dubious behaviour of the Chief Justice John Roberts Supreme Court are undermining the very system of constitutionally based US law and our government, based on the rule of law. The courts can only do so much in the face of immoral and illegal Executive Branch attacks. We claim to be a nation of laws but if we do not enforce that pillar of our nation, it will simply be propaganda. The GOP is doing all possible to overthrow the rule of law, unless it supports them. Lawyers, most judges and even the ABA/ American Bar Association are at war with this criminal administration.
“This is the time to stand up, speak out and seek relief from our courts” said William R. Bay, president of the American Bar Association. “There has never been a more urgent time for the ABA to defend its members, our profession and the rule of law itself.” - American Bar Association files suit to halt government intimidation of lawyers and law firms - American Bar Association - June 16, 2025
Time to wrap this up in the summary that follows below.
The litany of immoral, illegal and unconstitutional charges against this version of the GOP is endless, but it is not important to this essay that we all review what we’ve already suffered through. It only matters that we remember what such tyranny feels like. What matters to this essay, is that we understand that we are now well into dangerous phases of Low Intensity Conflict. Our LIC will graduate into an ever-more dangerous civil war unless we act and with urgency. The first step is to acknowledge where we are and act accordingly.
Yes, as I have written ad nauseum for a while now, we are leaderless and unsupported by the DNC who should be deeply invested in the opposition but isn’t. This my friends, is not about partisan politics. It is about saving our republic from a party who long ago gave up on it, in favor of serving their oligarchical campaign donors, not even all American. Don’t forget the NRA/ National Rifle Association convicted of funneling Russian oligarchical dollars to GOP candidates in the 2016 election and providing access to politicians.
If nothing else, please remember a couple of key points from today’s work.
We are at war with a Republican coup, even if at the moment, it is LIC.
This will not change without committed and relentless opposition from all true patriots, Democratic, Republican or any other political belief system.
We must act now, not tomorrow or the next day. The enemy is dug in and has most of the usual tools of war at their command.
We cannot wait for the DNC or any other movement to show up and lead. First, the DNC has failed for years and no one else is prepared to handle the infrastructure of resistance.
There are amazing professionals that know the score and how to handle such conflict, especially here on Substack. Please heed their insights and of course, I have written several recommendations for how to advance our cause. They are free and available to any of you or your groups and movements.
We don’t have time to strategize and then act. We must plan while fighting back. Leaders will rise to the occasion. Just make sure that they share what we strive for, a restoration of a functioning and ethical republic. As I have said for decades, “do what’s right and the politics will sort themselves out.”
Finally, once in a while, read our history and you will find how extraordinary leaders presented themselves at the right times throughout. Lincoln, Washington, JFK, Eisenhower etc. All that I care about throughout our history is that our constitution is upheld, not twisted into pretzels that support whatever the petitioner wants. That constitution is our talisman. Wear it in your hearts as Americans. It won’t steer you wrong.
The reason I named my last book, Modern Minutemen and Women, is that when push comes to shove throughout our history, it was all of us that rallied to our nation’s needs. Today is no different.
Well my friends, this is already long but it was important to me, to be perfectly frank with all of you, about the depth of the threat we now face together, as an American Republic. I have faith in you and the tens of millions of furious citizens watching our GOP neighbors support the GOP dismantling of our republic. We will prevail but must plan, act and be relentless. Our foe is not just Trump, but his entire party, including their voters. We may save some of our family and friends before all of this is over, but research clearly shows, that once radicalized extremists cross a certain threshold in their ideological beliefs, they will not recover.
Godspeed our efforts to put this evil coup behind us, as Americans.
Cheers,
Paul
A call to “arms” as it were. In fighting a low intensity conflict it seems we have multiple courses of action. One is to defy quietly and surreptitiously as if we are using guerilla tactics. This may be preferred in some cases as the MAGAts want their reichstag moment. In other venues it must be head on confrontational such as in town hall fora, peaceful demonstration, writing and getting the word out.
Bring up uncomfortable truths to MAGAts…why is the Orange one trying to protect a know pedophile suddenly? Why is fat orange seen in so many pictures with said pedophiles? Did you note for agent Orange to take away your Medicare, Medicaid, and social security?
Create cognitive dissonance for MAGAts at every opportunity! Use their victimhood complex against them as a weapon to jar their minds?
See ICE, record them, tell them they are breaking the law, shame them for wearing masks and more kit than the 101st Airborne.
Cobaugh’s right about one thing: we are already in the fight, whether the brunch-and-Netflix crowd wants to face it or not. But here’s the blunt add-on he didn’t say: Low Intensity Conflict is designed to make you think you’re not in a war while every single institution is being gutted, bought, and rewired to serve oligarchs and zealots. That’s the point – you’ll wake up when it’s too late, when your rights are gone, the courts are packed, the press is cowed, and you’re a tenant in your own country.
The DNC isn’t going to save us. “Leaders” aren’t coming. We are it, the Minutemen, the field medics, the supply chain, and the resistance all rolled into one. The GOP has been running this influence campaign for decades, fine-tuned by authoritarians at home and abroad. If you still think voting every other November without organized, sustained action is enough, congratulations – you’re doing exactly what the autocrats are counting on.
We can’t meet LIC with “let’s wait and see.” We meet it with a disciplined, relentless, coordinated push in the streets, in courtrooms, in statehouses, in every contested cultural space. The clock isn’t ticking, it’s blaring.