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Title: Trump Is Deploying Troops Against Americans, and Military Leaders Are Abetting Him
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Published: Jun 5, 2020
Author: Andrew J. Bacevich
Post Date: 2020-06-05 09:17:16 by Ada
Keywords: None
Views: 2370
Comments: 35
I imagine that these are difficult days to be a professional soldier serving in the armed forces of the United States. As a long-ago soldier myself, I hope they are. That is, for the sake of our republic and for the military professional ethic, I hope that members of the officer corps are deeply troubled by the apparent willingness of the Trump administration and Trump’s acolytes in Congress to insert US military regulars into situations where they don’t belong. President Trump has put our troops in a terrible bind. Their highest obligation is to support and defend the Constitution of the United States. Yet they are also sworn to obey the orders of their commander in chief. Trump appears intent on forcing our men and women in uniform to choose one or the other: Do as I say, or honor the Constitution. This is both deeply unfair and profoundly dangerous. More disturbing still, neither the defense secretary nor chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff appears to grasp the predicament in which the troops are being placed. Or, if they understand it, they have chosen to become complicit in the problem. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper and Gen. Mark Milley, the JCS chairman, show every sign of indulging President Trump’s apparent enthusiasm for employing regulars to impose order in American cities, even if that means, in effect, waging war against American citizens. Sounding more like a field marshal than the civilian charged with presiding over the Pentagon, Esper has opined that “the sooner that you mass and dominate the battlespace, the quicker this dissipates.” The “battlespace” in which Esper proposes to “mass” US forces consists of neighborhoods where Americans live. Why the defense secretary feels himself called upon to make such pronouncements remains a mystery. Commanding troops in the field does not fall within his statutory mandate. Yet, truth to tell, Esper’s inflammatory and more than slightly idiosyncratic views on this matter are not of any particular interest. Defense secretaries come and go, and few of them leave a lasting mark. The memorable ones, like Robert McNamara and Donald Rumsfeld, are remembered chiefly as architects of disaster. Whether Esper is a knave or a fool remains a matter of dispute. Already by June 3, he was sounding a less belligerent note, arguing for the commitment of US troops only as a “last resort.” Whatever Esper’s actual views, it’s a safe bet that when he leaves office, no doubt returning to the upper echelons of the military-industrial complex from whence he came, he will be instantly forgotten. As defense secretary, Esper does at least have this excuse: He is a political appointee. In that sense, his supine attitude toward the president, something of a signature in the Age of Trump, is hardly surprising. In contrast, senior military officers are not political appointees. They are expected to be above politics. For this reason, the outrageously unprofessional misconduct of General Milley is far more troubling. Now, permit me to stipulate that anyone with a functioning moral compass will find working for Trump to be a challenge. The president appears to consider himself a sort of omnipotent god-emperor unbound by law or precedent or even human decency. That said, no one forced Milley to accept the appointment as JCS chairman. He had to have had at least some inkling of what he was signing on to. So when Milley learned that Trump had “put him in charge” of suppressing dissent in American streets, he should have heard alarm bells going off. During that subsequently leaked June 1 phone call with state governors, Trump had touted Milley as “a fighter, a warrior, and a lot of victories and no losses.” Neither germane nor accurate (what victories?), Trump’s characterization of Milley further signaled that something was fundamentally amiss: No longer a senior military adviser to the president, Milley was becoming, at least in Trump’s eyes, an instrument of presidentially ordered coercion targeting US citizens. Not only was Trump engaged in traducing the American tradition of a studiously apolitical officer corps, he was also recruiting the US military’s top-ranking officer as a co-conspirator. Wittingly or not, Milley had become an accomplice in subverting the profession that was his life’s calling. Did he understand the dangerous waters into which he was being lured? Giving him the benefit of the doubt, perhaps not. Yet, later that same day, Milley’s conscious complicity became evident to all. Outfitted in battle dress, the rotund general accompanied the equally rotund commander in chief on Trump’s infamous Bible-toting photo op in front of St. John’s Episcopal Church across from the White House. By participating in this blasphemous stunt, Milley not only disgraced his XL-sized uniform but also crossed an important line: Faced with the choice of adhering to professional standards or of publicly joining the bulging ranks of presidential lackeys, he chose the latter. Together, Trump and Milley have brought the nation precariously close to a Bonus March moment, which ought to give pause to anyone who cares about the integrity of the armed forces. The Bonus Marchers were destitute veterans of World War I who in 1932 descended in droves on the capital, hoping to persuade Congress to advance the payment date on bonuses scheduled for disbursement in 1945. The Great Depression persuaded veterans that they ought to receive the money now, not later. When President Herbert Hoover and the Congress disagreed, some 10,000 Bonus Marchers and family members stayed on, establishing an encampment alongside the Anacostia River. While peaceful, they were not peaceful enough for the president. Persuaded that a Bolshevik-inspired insurrection was brewing, a panicked Hoover ordered regular army units stationed near Washington to suppress the uprising before it could materialize. Under the personal direction of Gen. Douglas MacArthur, the army did just that, employing tanks and tear gas and putting the torch to the “Hooverville” that the Bonus Marchers had erected. The “Battle of Anacostia Flats” thereby ended in a decisive victory. It also badly sullied the reputation of the United States Army. The Nation With General Milley playing a less svelte version of MacArthur, the “Battle of Lafayette Square”—the use of force to clear the way for Trump to visit St. John’s Episcopal—replayed that supposed victory from 1932. Thus has Marx’s dictum of history repeating itself first as tragedy and then as farce received further affirmation. Yet the preposterously farcical nature of this episode—Trump striding across Lafayette Square to display sacred scriptures with which he is demonstrably unfamiliar—should not detract attention from the seriousness of the context in which this event unfolded. Trump and his latest favorite general have collaborated in instigating a crisis in civil-military relations, now piled on top of several other ongoing crises. The origins of the others, involving race relations, the economy, and public health, are complex. The civil-military crisis differs in that Milley himself could easily have averted it. Granted, doing so would have required demonstrating some backbone. “No, Mr. President, we don’t do that. With all due respect, sir, I won’t do that.” Uttering those words might have cost Milley his job. But he would have preserved his professional reputation, which has now been obliterated. To their credit, some retired senior officers have spoken up to denounce the way that Trump, with Milley as his uniformed sycophant, is dragging the US military into matters where it has no place. Among those registering their dissent is former JCS chairman Gen. Martin Dempsey, a most honorable officer. In words that Milley ought to have directed to Trump, Dempsey has written, “America is not a battleground. Our fellow citizens are not the enemy.” As befits a distinguished former Marine, Gen. James Mattis, Trump’s first defense secretary, was notably blunt, charging the sitting president with making a “mockery of our Constitution.” Yet inside the Beltway, retired senior officers—too many of them preoccupied with monetizing their military careers—retain minimal influence. My guess is that General Milley doesn’t much care what General Dempsey or Mattis have to say. It’s certain that their views carry no weight whatsoever with Trump. Trump and His Military The problem Milley has created by allowing himself to become a presidential stooge is one that Milley himself and his fellow four-stars can resolve. Taking responsibility for his mistakes, Milley could—and should—resign from his office and retire. Granted, little in Milley’s prior conduct suggests that he possesses the moral fiber needed to take that self-sacrificing step. Alternatively, Milley’s colleagues on the Joint Chiefs can render his continued service as JCS chairman untenable. They can do this making it clear—first privately and then, if need be, publicly—that they have lost confidence in his leadership. Again, sadly, this is unlikely to happen. The stewards of the military profession are not known for policing their own ranks. One day, in the not so distant future, military students attending staff colleges may well read about Milley as a case study of a senior officer failing in his responsibilities, at best through cravenness and at worst through sheer cowardice. That would at least be something. Yet, as a practical matter, the best we can hope for in the near term is that when Milley’s two-year appointment expires in September 2021, the Senate will choose not to renew his contract. While this would constitute no more than a minor rebuke, it would be better than ignoring his failings altogether. The message to the officer corps would be salutary. For the moment, however, let us concede that Milley will likely retain his place within Trump’s retinue of loyal apparatchiks. Of course, for Trump, loyalty only goes one way. General Milley would do well to keep his bags packed.
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#1. To: Ada (#0)
Deploying troops against rioters/looters is NOT deploying them against 'Americans'. That filth cut off all of their rights and deserve to be snuffed out.
“With the exception of Whites, the rule among the peoples of the world, whether residing in their homelands or settled in Western democracies, is ethnocentrism and moral particularism: they stick together and good means what is good for their ethnic group." So in your opinion, Trump is a bad man for trying to prevent Antifa and similar groups from burning down the country? Is that it in a nutshell? Horseshit...
Every politician and corporate CEO in the country seems to be supporting Antifa which must be heavily infiltrated by Fibee agents and could be shut down in a week.
If the police can't handle rioters and looters, then call in the National Guard. Sending in the US Army who no doubt will shoot all the wrong people will just lose the military the good will they now enjoy with the public.
Why you bother to post this bullshit is beyond me. You and this author must underestimate the communist threat to America when the commies running blue shitties refuse to address the obvious theft and violence being used to crash businesses and cities, while at the same time people are being murdered by thugs that mayors and police chiefs are acting like the rioters have a right to rape, rob. and pillage without police intervention. When that's the case, send in the troops and let these miserable freedom looters get a dose of Afghani justice ! The President shouldn't give a rat's ass what the mealy-mouthed media has to say nor what his political opposition blathers about. I am not for military on the streets of America and they shouldn't have to be there except the slimy communists in major cities, elected by their welfare recipient voter base, are ordering stand downs despite the burnings and lootings. Usually, I can read a couple of sentences to be convinced of another of your bullshit posts and I feel obligated to ask, how did you contract TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME ? You sure didn't catch it here ! "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. " The best thing about old age is that it doesn't last forever. DON'T VAXX ME BRO
Amen and Amen brother...
I would have beaten you to the most deserved punch in the face about this article except I got distracted and left my response to the article sitting idle for awhile. You got there first and with exceptional brevity and clarity called HORSESHIT. Thanks ! "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. " The best thing about old age is that it doesn't last forever. DON'T VAXX ME BRO
Blame "police" for everything??? Shoot on sight looters, arsonists etc, the Floyd horseshit would end in ten minutes. The human scum that survived would slink back to their holes.
The last thing that this country (and the thugs too)needs is for the civilian population of heavily armed (and pissed off for years now) men to take law into their own hands and start roaming the neighborhoods where these thugs reside and using 50 caliber machine guns to reduce the criminal population. "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. " The best thing about old age is that it doesn't last forever. DON'T VAXX ME BRO
Appears this horseshit was written by a "junior officer". A junior officer in Army for instance is any idiot that holds rank of Colonel and below. They spend at least twenty years wearing knee pads and their shorts on backward. They were what we called "trained ass kissers". That constitutes "junior officers"...
"It does not take a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority, keen on setting brush fires of freedom in the minds of men." -- Samuel Adams (1722-1803)‡ "Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God." -- Thomas Jefferson
I knew a Bird Colonel in the Pentagon when Jerry Ford was President. After the 2nd attempt on the life of Ford, Ford said, "It is getting so the President can no longer walk among the people." The Colonel was vying to be the world's leading arms merchant. The Colonel then retired to his farm in Virginia and started to look into what was going on in his country. His first book on the subject was Barbarians Inside the Gates. (Out of print) which can still be found online. The Colonel passed away a few years ago. I talked with his wife several years ago. She told me, "I remember a young man stopping by to visit who was driving a truck." That would have been me. She sent me several of his books for the cost of postage. It was well worth the cost. ;) "When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall, one by one." Edmund Burke
Or the Militia of Montana for that matter. National Guard can shoot to kill and are not in violation of posse comitatus.
These days the police are thoroughly militarized and have all the equipment the regular Army has except nukes. I agree looters should be shot on sight but you don't need the 101st Airborne to do that.
So you post this nonesense in order to get communication? Trump threaten the use of Military intervention after the Commie Bastard Terrorists almost succeeded in storming the White House and if that was to happen , America as we know it would be officially gone , hell it's just about ready to stick the fork in
Commie Bastard Terrorists Where's Obama, Bush, and Clinton in your meme? Hell, where's LBJ? Keep up the good work, Ada. Don't let those who would destroy the Constitution to save it deter you.
I dare say maybe Trump just evacuates all of his supporters to battleground States and let the Liberals & Commies decide if they want to deal with the Domestic Terrorists that are burning their property, communities and lives to the geound? I would begin that process today. Heck they already lost everything; bail them out in a More Free State.
Solution plausible? With Trump, anything is possible. Someone posit this over at rimjob's freepervile marathon. I actually like the idea, a lot.
https://thediplomat.com/2020/06/uk-offers-hong-kongers-a-potential-exit- strategy/
From the link: "If necessary, Johnsons said, the U.K. would “willingly” undertake one of the largest changes to its immigration policies and visa system to accommodate Hong Kongers." The Brits have already allowed the Muzzies entry and they have come to regret it. Where would they hope to house these Hong Kongers and find them work? Perhaps in the old steel town of Birmingham? ;) "When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall, one by one." Edmund Burke
Inviting the military into the streets is inviting tyranny.
AMEN! Sheffield you dolt. Guard members are for the most part local kids - they will be more hesitant to shoot a neighbor. Sending in the US Army who no doubt will shoot all the wrong people will just lose the military the good will they now enjoy with the public. The Army is trained to kill - they would have no ties to the local community. Bad idea using the army against American citizens. During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act. Look at what it has come to?!? "Please Martial Law me with Active Duty Mercs!" Dear Lord...
Dear Lord... Never expected the 4um members here to be begging for troops on the streets. During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act. You have heard the latest, I'm sure. Liberal cities want to abolish police departments and come up with a kinder, gentler way of dealing with crime. That's one worth getting the popcorn ready for.
It may be a tough choice between rioters & looters vs troops. Though as pointed out, NG troops are only part time troops and most time civilians themselves. In the end, keeping order is in the best interests of all residents. Or at least land owners.
Stupid idiot headlines just in via PJWatson: #GoBaldForBLM Trends on Twitter After 4Chan Tro ISIS Celebrates BLM Protests in Hope They Will “Weaken” the West Rasmussen: Black Approval For Trump Surges to Over 40% _____________________________________________________________ USA! USA! USA! Bringing you democracy, or else! there were strains of VD that were incurable, and they were first found in the Philippines and then transmitted to the Korean working girls via US military. The 'incurables' we were told were first taken back to a military hospital in the Philippines to quietly die. – 4um
Hitler finds out Go Bald For BLM was a troll #GoBaldForBLM During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act.
-Alex Kurtagic 
#2. To: Ada (#0)
"After tomorrow those SOB's will never embarrass me again. That’s not a threat. That’s a promise.” – LBJ to his mistress Madeleine Brown on the eve of JFK assassination 
#3. To: Ada (#0)
That is, for the sake of our republic and for the military professional ethic, I hope that members of the officer corps are deeply troubled by the apparent willingness of the Trump administration and Trump’s acolytes in Congress to insert US military regulars into situations where they don’t belong.
#4. To: FormerLurker (#2)
So in your opinion, Trump is a bad man for trying to prevent Antifa and similar groups from burning down the country?
#5. To: X-15 (#1)
#6. To: Ada (#0)
(Edited)
That is, for the sake of our republic and for the military professional ethic, I hope that members of the officer corps are deeply troubled by the apparent willingness of the Trump administration and Trump’s acolytes in Congress to insert US military regulars into situations where they don’t belong.
#7. To: noone222 (#6)
Why you bother to post this bullshit is beyond me.
#8. To: Cynicom (#7)
Amen and Amen brother...
#9. To: Ada (#5)
If the police can't handle rioters and looters,
#10. To: Cynicom (#9)
Shoot on sight looters, arsonists etc, the Floyd horseshit would end in ten minutes. The human scum that survived would slink back to their holes.
#11. To: noone222 (#10)
#12. To: Ada (#0)
#13. To: Cynicom (#11)
(Edited)
any idiot that holds rank of Colonel
#14. To: Cynicom (#11)
Appears this horseshit was written by a "junior officer".
#15. To: ghostdogtxn (#12)
I bet the woman who was grabbed from the street, raped and murdered during a ‘protest’ would have appreciated the presence of a soldier.
#16. To: Cynicom (#9)
#17. To: Ada (#0)
Ron Paul - Lake Jackson Texas Values
#18. To: Ada (#0)
#19. To: sonny (#18)
Ron Paul - Lake Jackson Texas Values
#20. To: hondo68 (#19)
(Edited)
"After tomorrow those SOB's will never embarrass me again. That’s not a threat. That’s a promise.” – LBJ to his mistress Madeleine Brown on the eve of JFK assassination
#21. To: Ada (#0)
Freedom is a social skill.
#22. To: Anthem, Esso, Pinguinite, 4 (#21)
#23. To: All, Ada, FormerLurker, Hondo (#22)
#24. To: BTP Holdings (#23)
#25. To: Screen Name (#24)
https://thediplomat.com/2020/06/uk-offers-hong-kongers-a-potential-exit- strategy/
#26. To: Anthem (#21)
Keep up the good work, Ada. Don't let those who would destroy the Constitution to save it deter you.
#27. To: Anthem, Ada (#21)
Keep up the good work, Ada. Don't let those who would destroy the Constitution to save it deter you.
I used to be in a hurry, then I figured out I was just getting nowhere fast.
#28. To: BTP Holdings (#25)
Where would they hope to house these Hong Kongers and find them work? Perhaps in the old steel town of Birmingham? ;)
I used to be in a hurry, then I figured out I was just getting nowhere fast.
#29. To: Ada (#5)
If the police can't handle rioters and looters, then call in the National Guard.
Those who most loudly denounce Fake News are typically those most aggressively disseminating it.
#30. To: Bill D Berger (#29)
#31. To: Screen Name (#30)
Look at what it has come to?!? "Please Martial Law me with Active Duty Mercs!"
Those who most loudly denounce Fake News are typically those most aggressively disseminating it.
#32. To: Screen Name (#22)
I dare say maybe Trump just evacuates all of his supporters to battleground States and let the Liberals & Commies decide if they want to deal with the Domestic Terrorists that are burning their property,
#33. To: Bill D Berger (#31)
Never expected the 4um members here to be begging for troops on the streets.
#34. To: Ada (#0)
#35. To: NeoconsNailed, Ada, Pinguinite, Screen Name, Anthem, BTP Holdings, IRTorqued, FormerLurker, hondo68 (#34)
#GoBaldForBLM Trends on Twitter After 4Chan Tro
Those who most loudly denounce Fake News are typically those most aggressively disseminating it.
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