Writer and literary critic Walter Kirn, during a recent discussion with journalist Matt Taibbi, delivered a scathing critique of Senator Mark Kelly’s recent video concerning alleged “illegal orders.” Kirn didn’t mince words, suggesting the Senator’s statements bordered on dangerous rhetoric.
Kirn directly challenged Kelly to detail the specific orders he deemed unlawful, demanding concrete examples and historical context. He pressed for clarification, questioning whether Kelly was referencing American precedents or invoking comparisons to regimes like Nazi Germany.
The intensity of Kirn’s response escalated, culminating in a stark assertion: if Kelly failed to provide substantiation, he “belongs in the brig.” He characterized the Senator’s rhetoric not as a harmless debate, but as “civil war talk,” a dangerous incitement with potentially devastating consequences.
Kirn expressed particular concern that this messaging was being directed towards young people, those aged 19 and 20, who might lack the historical understanding to fully grasp the gravity of the situation. He accused those involved of deliberately “fomenting something” insidious and destabilizing.
This condemnation was fueled, in part, by a recent NPR report detailing concerns within the National Guard. The report revealed encrypted conversations among Ohio National Guard members expressing alarm over potential deployments to cities like Los Angeles, Washington D.C., and Chicago.
One anonymous guard member, identified as “J,” confessed to feeling deeply disturbed by these deployments, stating they were “not what any of us signed up for” and far outside the bounds of normal operations. The situation sparked a quiet rebellion within the ranks, a questioning of their role in what they perceived as a troubling turn of events.
Kirn’s analysis points to a deliberate strategy, a calculated attempt to sow discord within the U.S. military. He alleges a willingness to fracture the nation, to risk catastrophic division, solely for the purpose of regaining political control.
The core of the argument suggests a dangerous game is being played, one where the foundations of national unity are being deliberately undermined. The implications, according to Kirn, are profoundly unsettling and demand immediate scrutiny.
