These Four Jerks Shape the Future of War

The term “killer robots” has long been associated with negative implications. Yet, under President Donald Trump, the U.S. military is shifting its focus in that direction.

During a recent address to troops at Quantico, Virginia, CNN reported that Secretary of War (formerly Defense) Pete Hegseth unveiled plans for a new command called the Autonomous Warfare Command. This organization operates at the same level as STRATCOM and Cyber Command and will be led by a four-star general. Concurrently, the Pentagon announced the formation of Project Meridian, which has a 120-day mandate to explore the future of warfare, extending “from subterranean depths to the cislunar frontier.”

It’s worth noting that the military does not currently engage in combat in these areas, nor is it likely to do so soon unless significant changes occur on Earth’s surface. The Project Meridian co-directors appointed by Hegseth include prominent figures such as Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, Anduril Industries co-founder Palmer Luckey, and former GOP Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich.

To clarify, the Pentagon seems to believe that the future of warfare should be envisioned by the following individuals:

1. Hegseth: The leader with a history of prioritizing controversial policies, including efforts to remove female and Black officers, advocating for mandatory testosterone testing, and dismissing allegations of war crimes.
2. Gingrich: An 83-year-old former Speaker of the House and Trump supporter, chosen for his long-standing interest in speculative technology. His suggestions have included concepts like orbital lasers and using “space mirrors” to reduce crime. Recently, he retweeted a proposal advocating for a swift resolution to the U.S. conflict with Iran through extreme measures such as nuclear strikes.
3. Luckey: The founder of defense contractor Anduril, whose contracts with the military have raised concerns about faulty hardware and significant security issues within the Army’s next-generation communication systems.
4. Musk: The creator of DOGE, whose actions have negatively impacted funding for scientific research and raised security concerns due to his foreign ties. Defense officials had to cancel a planned briefing with him on strategies for a potential conflict with China just last year. Many would find it disheartening to be in a Pentagon meeting with him.

Aside from Hegseth, none of these individuals have military experience or have commanded troops—Hegseth’s highest rank was as a major in an infantry platoon before he left the National Guard.

This is the team they have gathered to brainstorm over the next few months, likely producing a plan no more intellectually sound than the concept presented in The Simpsons back in 1997: “The wars of the future will not be fought on the battlefield or at sea. They will be fought in space, or possibly on top of a very tall mountain. In either case, most of the actual fighting will be done by small robots, and as you go forth today, remember always, your duty is clear: to build and maintain those robots.”

“The autonomous and robotic revolution is set to transform equipment, doctrine, organization, and the foundational principles that have guided warfare for decades,” Hegseth stated to the troops, as reported by CNN. “Enduring change must be integrated into military command structures.”

The establishment of an autonomous warfare command under Hegseth raises alarms, particularly given his previous use of drones for questionable bombings targeting suspected drug traffickers in the Caribbean. This includes at least one reported incident in which he allegedly ordered military action against shipwrecked survivors. Drones are enabling Hegseth to intensify military engagement in the War on Drugs throughout Latin America.

During his speech, Hegseth mentioned that his analysis indicates he has dismissed about 10% of generals and admirals within the U.S. military thus far and plans to further reduce general officer positions by an additional 10%. He rationalized this overall 20% cut by claiming that those removed were “woke” or not sufficiently loyal to “civilian control,” which he interprets as loyalty to himself and Trump.

The officers who were let go “clung to the woke department or seem to think civilian control of the military is simply a suggestion,” Hegseth informed the troops.

While Hegseth is facing challenges in the ongoing conflict with Iran on multiple fronts, he emphasized that language and culture will also shape the future of war.

“We are no longer the woke department or the weak department,” he asserted. “To put it simply: No fatties, no trannies, no beardos, no weirdos, no wimps, no radicals—just warriors, just tough, dedicated troops.”