Ashton Carter, Dick Cheney, William Cohen, Mark Esper, Robert Gates, Chuck Hagel, James Mattis, Leon Panetta, William Perry and Donald Rumsfeld. What do these people have in common? Well, they are the living former defense secretaries, including two serving under Trump (Mattis and Esper). Republicans and Democrats who have served as defense secretaries under presidents GHW Bush, Bill Clinton, GW Bush, Barrack Obama and Donald Trump, all united in their fear that Trump will try and involve the military in his quest to remain in power. INVOLVE THE MILITARY as in military coup, coup d'état or putsch. In the United States of America, God's own country. What is the scenario which makes these people so worried that they have written a common piece in the Washington post? I suppose what they are doing is sending a strong message to all military personnel not to forget their oath to the country, whatever the acting secretary of defense or the president may ask of them. Involving the military in election disputes would cross into dangerous territory As former secretaries of defense, we hold a common view of the solemn obligations of the U.S. armed forces and the Defense Department. Each of us swore an oath to support and defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic. We did not swear it to an individual or a party. American elections and the peaceful transfers of power that result are hallmarks of our democracy. With one singular and tragic exception that cost the lives of more Americans than all of our other wars combined, the United States has had an unbroken record of such transitions since 1789, including in times of partisan strife, war, epidemics and economic depression. This year should be no exception. Our elections have occurred. Recounts and audits have been conducted. Appropriate challenges have been addressed by the courts. Governors have certified the results. And the electoral college has voted. The time for questioning the results has passed; the time for the formal counting of the electoral college votes, as prescribed in the Constitution and statute, has arrived. As senior Defense Department leaders have noted, “there’s no role for the U.S. military in determining the outcome of a U.S. election.” Efforts to involve the U.S. armed forces in resolving election disputes would take us into dangerous, unlawful and unconstitutional territory. Civilian and military officials who direct or carry out such measures would be accountable, including potentially facing criminal penalties, for the grave consequences of their actions on our republic. Transitions, which all of us have experienced, are a crucial part of the successful transfer of power. They often occur at times of international uncertainty about U.S. national security policy and posture. They can be a moment when the nation is vulnerable to actions by adversaries seeking to take advantage of the situation. Given these factors, particularly at a time when U.S. forces are engaged in active operations around the world, it is all the more imperative that the transition at the Defense Department be carried out fully, cooperatively and transparently. Acting defense secretary Christopher C. Miller and his subordinates — political appointees, officers and civil servants — are each bound by oath, law and precedent to facilitate the entry into office of the incoming administration, and to do so wholeheartedly. They must also refrain from any political actions that undermine the results of the election or hinder the success of the new team. We call upon them, in the strongest terms, to do as so many generations of Americans have done before them. This final action is in keeping with the highest traditions and professionalism of the U.S. armed forces, and the history of democratic transition in our great country. WaPo
I’d address that comment to the ten former defence secretaries who penned the article in the Washington Post. Mind you, they’re all fairly rational people from what I can tell.
In the same way that I can openly state that I will not lead my granddaughter's primary school class on a rampage through Kidderminster town centre tomorrow. It's all utter bollocks and typical of the MSM bullshit that has caused the covid panic. FFS grow up.
Rationality and integrity are not the same thing. Naive is as naive thinks. That cannot be levelled at Tallpaul whose rather more cynical take shines through.
Interesting that this is the first time I can recall you bringing up the issue of personal integrity by way of an (albeit veiled) accusation. Can you think of anyone else involved in the US election and its immediate aftermath whose integrity you'd question, @Callumity? Asking for a friend...
Rationality and integrity are not the same thing. Naive is as naive thinks. That cannot be levelled at Tallpaul whose rather more cynical take shines through. The lot of them. Naive not to! Give my regards to your friend.
Senator Ted Cruz on Donald Trump: Then and now https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-us-canada-55540215
Pathetic reflection on BBC analysis really. American politics is bare knuckle but Cruz has really made the calculation that Trump’s base is not going away. Consequently he sees the future of the GOP (& his part in it!) as being less Beltway and more Swamp Draining. That puts him at odds with Bush, Clinton, Biden dynasties where political ideology gets buried in the kick backs.
@Callumity in my experience the easiest way to “drain the swamp” is to fill it with lots of fresh dirt.