TROOPS WORRY: "What if a Democrat wins?" Mullen warns military: stay out of politics (REPOST)

International Herald Tribune ^ | May 25, 2008 | Thom Shanker

[Lancey Howard]

WASHINGTON: The highest-ranking U.S. military officer has written an unusual open letter to all those in uniform, warning them to stay out of politics as the United States approaches a presidential election in which the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan will be a central, and certainly divisive, issue.

"The U.S. military must remain apolitical at all times," wrote Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. "It is and must always be a neutral instrument of the state, no matter which party holds sway."

(snip)

Mullen said he was inspired to write the essay after receiving a constant stream of legitimate, if troubling, questions while visiting U.S. military personnel around the world, including, "What if a Democrat wins?" and, "What will that do to the mission in Iraq?"

[DGHoodini]

Maybe not in the upper ranks, and those close to retirement, but there is already an outflow among the mid and lower ranks, that will turn into a flood IMO.

[DGHoodini]

I think, regardless of party, retention depends on the trust that the ranks have in their leadership, not to screw them over, and get them killed for nothing. These are not trusts and faiths anyone who feel that *any* present day Democrat has shown themselves to b e worthy of, or even have the potential for.

[Lancey Howard]

We play the game by the rules set in the Constitution.

And the Constitution includes the Second Amendment, specifically enumerated, for a reason:

"....that whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive to these Ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government...." - Thomas Jefferson

Don't argue with me, argue with TJ.

[Antoninus]

Re-enlistments will dramaticaly drop, and resignations of commissions will spike. No one will want to serve leaders that despise them, will send them on “peacekeeper: missions, under fund and poorly supply them and will willingly consider them expendable, in the face of “expedient” surrenders.

I was on the verge of joining the Navy in 1992 upon graduating from college in May of 1993. Then, Bill Clinton got elected and I just couldn't bring myself to do it, particularly after the whole "those are our fighter planes now" nonsense from the Hollyweird crowd.

[allmendream]

Do you think Thomas Jefferson would support armed insurrection against the present administration, or only a hypothetical Democrat administration?

[4woodenboats]

So it’s safe to say that military retention is more closely related to military operations tempo, than it is to the political affiliation of the CINC

And if the BOINC redeploys our military as unarmed observers to demonstrate our new non aggressive tempo?

Don't laugh, we are tip toeing to the edge of that crevasse as we speak, with instructors suggesting hesitation in a firefight to attempt to win hearts and minds.

[Lancey Howard]

Do you think Thomas Jefferson would support armed insurrection

I think he would have supported "armed insurrection" long, long ago.

[Lancey Howard]

particularly after the whole "those are our fighter planes now" nonsense from the Hollyweird crowd.

Ironically, that was said by Ron Silver who, last I heard, has been sounding a whole lot less liberal recently.

[Fraxinus]

We play the game by the rules set in the Constitution. When and if they try to change the rules of the game without amending the Constitution, THEN we restore the Constitution. Until then our foes (and our “friends”) have walked on, but not attempted to throw out, the Constitution.

The present administration has been one of the worst as far as adherence to Constitutional principles, yet how many of us yearn for a military coup? How many military coups in history have instituted anything other than a military dictatorship?

I will make a comparison to Rome. The Republic was ended after they attempted to bring Julius Caesar up on charges. Caesar brought his army with him from Gaul. After the Senate assassinated him, his nephew Octavian secured the backing of the army, then purged his political opponents from power.

I can easily see our current republic ending in a similar scenario. I once spoke of this to some one who was rather liberal and a history buff, his response was "Petraous as Caesar?".

[allmendream]

Americans don't want a military coup or a military dictatorship of the Roman style. Neither do I think that the troops under any American General would obey any order to attack the civilian power structure.

I know that as a former USAF Sgt. that if I received orders to direct an air strike on the U.S. Capitol Building that those would be orders neither I nor any of my contemporaries would obey.

Those looking for a military “solution” to our electoral dilemma are rather short sighted and foolish IMHO.

[Crystal Cove]

I had always read that most military contributions in this election cycle went to Obama and Ron Paul. Why are they sending their money to Obama?

[4woodenboats]

I had always read that most military contributions in this election cycle went to Obama and Ron Paul

Could you cite a few of your sources?

[dforest]

If a Democrat wins the troops will get sent home. After that who knows?

No need to change the title. Truth is, the troops are not in it because they love war. They are in it to protect freedoms all Americans enjoy for a country they love.

If many thought the only reason they were sent to war was to protect the monetary future for globalist elites instead of the American people......

[Lancey Howard]

If many thought the only reason they were sent to war was to protect the monetary future for globalist elites instead of the American people......

Is that what you think, troll?

[Fraxinus]

Americans don't want a military coup or a military dictatorship of the Roman style. Neither do I think that the troops under any American General would obey any order to attack the civilian power structure.

I actually agree with all of your points. My prior post over looked the 30+ years of on again off again civil war between various factions within the Roman elite (marians, Crassus, Marc Antony, et al)that had greatly diminished their "mandate to rule" in the eyes of both the Roman people and the Roman military. We have not reached that point yet (hope we never do, yet fear we will). To me a key point is that while some historians believe that Julius was trying to restore the Republic, yet never got the chance, Octavian used his murder to remove all obstacle to his consolidating power as emperor. Thus it is not the first military dictator (who may actually believe that he is trying to restore democratic rule) but his successor (who sees little need for the appearance, much less the reality of democratic rule) who is to be feared. I do not believe Julius was worshiped as a god in his own lifetime. Octavian (Augustus) took on much of those trappings in his own lifetime.

[dforest]

Quit calling me a troll. I worked the polls for Reagan, you fool.

[allmendream]

From Rome to....

Battlestar Galactica.

A very good show that explores the idea of what it means to be human. Good literature is adept at describing context for our everyday lives. Captain Apollo is held captive by the terrorist Zerik, who releases him on the promise of elections to happen in a few months. When chastised by the President and the Admiral for negotiating with terrorists and exceeding his authority Captain Apollo replied.

‘I didn't agree to anything not called for in the Articles of Colonization. The President is serving out the term of her predecessor, and unless Ive lost my calender, elections happen in a few months. Because either we are going by the Articles of Colonization or I'm not a Captain, your not the President, you are not the Admiral and I don't have to listen to a damn thing either of you say.’

[Lancey Howard]

I worked the polls for Reagan

Whatever you say, pal.
I notice you didn't answer my question.

[RFEngineer]

“Don’t laugh, we are tip toeing to the edge of that crevasse as we speak, with instructors suggesting hesitation in a firefight to attempt to win hearts and minds.”

I’m not laughing. A generation of soldiers will have honed their leadership and combat skills coddling the Iraqis and subordinating themselves to an unworthy, unreliable (and short-lived) ally.

They have learned not to do the things they ought to have done to protect themselves - which I assume is exactly your point.

[4woodenboats]

Let's just hope they sleep through that part of class, and the REMF’s that are sending special ops, Marines, & SEALS on covert missions, behind enemy lines w/o the option of shooting their way out should they be discovered, be run out of the service - IF they survive spending the rest of THEIR OWN tours on similar missions, and with the same orders should they be discovered - “Just surrender to the mercy of the insurgents. And see if you can win their hearts and minds while you're at it”.