This writer is so caught up with his association with the American Republic to the Roman Empire that he must use esoteric descriptions to prove his point. We are portrayed as utilizing "garrisons" as if we were like some imperialistic empire that occupies countries like a modern day Roman Empire. The image of one "lionizing the imperial grunts" is a scornful portrait of our men and women sacrificing themselves for the good of freedom. When one begins making comparisons with the Roman Empire one thinks of our government under the rule of the Democrats. Whenever there is corruption on the level of the Roman State, we find the Democrats in power. As far as the process of "lionizing" people for purposes of propaganda, the Hollywood cult star system is one that the Democrats play to the hilt.
The author's bio is something to behold!
It begs the question of "how the Schell does one become The Nation's peace and disarmament correspondent and the Harold Willens Peace Fellow at the Nation Institute?"
Bad analogies and wacko reasoning must be part of the criteria for both positions...