> I think incompetence comes when personal loyalty to Trump is the most important requirement.

It is the only requirement. Loyalty to the party and not a hint of anything suggesting shared views with any of its opponents.

The "defense of the West" narrative has become entirely laughable. The only places left to defend are parts of Europe, Taiwan and Japan, and maybe Korea at a stretch. And those now need to defend against the US, which has become a bigger threat than Russia.