[March 13, 2026] As a U.S. Army Flag officer, with duty in the States and overseas, I had the assigned extra duty to deal publicly with civilians who would say they “hated” the military because our military was based on the “oppression” of other countries. What I discovered was that their hatred was fundamentally built upon a lie about power.
These folks deeply believed that power is inherently exploitative, with the strong oppressing the weak to serve selfish ends. They would tell me that our military treated other nations as if they were “slaves,” a common, and frankly odd, complaint. Their view was that we tell other nations what to do, or else, and essentially that’s all we do.
This oppression narrative, very common in academia, frames foreign policy decisions as zero-sum battles for dominance. In my view, this is a corrosive ideology that undermines the foundations of our military and Western nations, reducing complex relationships to cynical power struggles. These same people were full of resentment and attempted to sow division between our nation and military, and other countries.
What they ignore is the potential for power to uplift rather than crush.
The lie supposes that power is a tool for hedonistic national gratification, where might makes right and exploitation is inevitable. The source of this ideology stems from postmodern thought, teaching people to see history solely through the lens of oppression.
This worldview can lead to violence and moral decay, as it justifies force over cooperation. I believe this is dangerously oversimplistic since it dismisses genuine progress and mutual benefit, painting our nation, through its military, as predatory, as opposed to cooperative.
I believe a better understanding of power is rooted in reciprocity and self-discipline. True power involves sharing resources, and building up our military through voluntary interactions with other nations, rather than coercion. Power wielded responsibly fosters stable militaries and social growth, transforming potential tyrannical behavior into benevolent leaders.
Voluntary responsibility empowers people to see power as a force for good, not inevitable evil.
Dr. Jordan Peterson’s writes about this as well at the psychological level. His perspective on power is a vital corrective to nihilistic teachings. By emphasizing maturity and reciprocity, he offers hope in an era of cynicism. I believe adopting this outlook is essential for personal fulfillment and societal harmony.
It reveals power’s redemptive potential, proving the lie not just wrong, but highly limiting.
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Satterfield’s article dismissively rejects valid critiques of military power as mere “lies” rooted in postmodern thought, ignoring how U.S. interventions have often perpetuated oppression and exploitation in the name of dominance rather than upliftment. By praising reciprocity and self-discipline while downplaying systemic inequalities, he overlooks the historical realities of imperialism and the ways power structures favor the strong at the expense of marginalized nations and peoples. Referencing Jordan Peterson, a figure often aligned with conservative ideologies, further undermines the piece by promoting individualistic solutions that fail to address collective social justice needs.
INTERESTING …..
True!
Gen. Satterfield’s article challenges the narrative of power as inherently oppressive, drawing from his military experience to highlight its potential for upliftment and reciprocity. Satterfield’s critique of postmodern ideology is insightful, exposing how it fosters resentment and division while ignoring mutual benefits in international relations. By referencing Jordan Peterson, the piece adds psychological depth, emphasizing self-discipline and maturity as antidotes to cynicism. Overall, it offers a refreshing, hopeful perspective on power that promotes personal and societal growth.
Nailed it, Winston. This old old old narrative that so many Leftists think, in their mind-controlled way, that the world is all about power and the exercise of power, should be put to bed quickly, but their minds cannot comprehend because their beliefs make them “feel” moral and better than everybody else.
Agreed, and I’d like to read more. Any suggestions on other references?
This is an inherently Marxist idea put into a modern progressive/leftist view of the world.