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A military perspective on things

 
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swchandler



Joined: 08 Nov 1993
Posts: 10588

PostPosted: Fri Dec 17, 2021 8:01 pm    Post subject: A military perspective on things Reply with quote

I read the following opinion in the Washington Post today, and I thought that it offered an insightful perspective on our next presidential election that was definitely worthy of some consideration. Moreover, I thought that would be something that isobars could reflect on, particularly given the opinion being offered is by retired military officers.

I have to be honest in that I hadn't really considered how much of the political unrest right now could be mirrored in the military, and how that might negatively impact America into the future. It's a bit chilling to think about.



"Opinion: 3 retired generals: The military must prepare now for a 2024 insurrection.

Paul D. Eaton is a retired U.S. Army major general and a senior adviser to VoteVets. Antonio M. Taguba is a retired Army major general, with 34 years of active duty service. Steven M. Anderson is a retired brigadier general who served in the U.S. Army for 31 years.


As we approach the first anniversary of the deadly insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, we — all of us former senior military officials — are increasingly concerned about the aftermath of the 2024 presidential election and the potential for lethal chaos inside our military, which would put all Americans at severe risk.

In short: We are chilled to our bones at the thought of a coup succeeding next time.

One of our military’s strengths is that it draws from our diverse population. It is a collection of individuals, all with different beliefs and backgrounds. But without constant maintenance, the potential for a military breakdown mirroring societal or political breakdown is very real.

The signs of potential turmoil in our armed forces are there. On Jan. 6, a disturbing number of veterans and active-duty members of the military took part in the attack on the Capitol. More than 1 in 10 of those charged in the attacks had a service record. A group of 124 retired military officials, under the name “Flag Officers 4 America,” released a letter echoing Donald Trump’s false attacks on the legitimacy of our elections.

Recently, and perhaps more worrying, Brig. Gen. Thomas Mancino, the commanding general of the Oklahoma National Guard, refused an order from President Biden mandating that all National Guard members be vaccinated against the coronavirus. Mancino claimed that while the Oklahoma Guard is not federally mobilized, his commander in chief is the Republican governor of the state, not the president.

The potential for a total breakdown of the chain of command along partisan lines — from the top of the chain to squad level — is significant should another insurrection occur. The idea of rogue units organizing among themselves to support the “rightful” commander in chief cannot be dismissed.


Imagine competing commanders in chief — a newly reelected Biden giving orders, versus Trump (or another Trumpian figure) issuing orders as the head of a shadow government. Worse, imagine politicians at the state and federal levels illegally installing a losing candidate as president.

All service members take an oath to protect the U.S. Constitution. But in a contested election, with loyalties split, some might follow orders from the rightful commander in chief, while others might follow the Trumpian loser. Arms might not be secured depending on who was overseeing them. Under such a scenario, it is not outlandish to say a military breakdown could lead to civil war.

In this context, with our military hobbled and divided, U.S. security would be crippled. Any one of our enemies could take advantage by launching an all-out assault on our assets or our allies.


The lack of military preparedness for the aftermath of the 2020 election was striking and worrying. Trump’s acting defense secretary, Christopher C. Miller, testified that he deliberately withheld military protection of the Capitol before Jan. 6. Army Gen. Mark A. Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, reportedly scrambled to ensure the nation’s nuclear defense chains were secure from illegal orders. It is evident the whole of our military was caught off-guard.

With the country still as divided as ever, we must take steps to prepare for the worst.

First, everything must be done to prevent another insurrection. Not a single leader who inspired it has been held to account. Our elected officials and those who enforce the law — including the Justice Department, the House select committee and the whole of Congress — must show more urgency.


But the military cannot wait for elected officials to act. The Pentagon should immediately order a civics review for all members — uniformed and civilian — on the Constitution and electoral integrity. There must also be a review of the laws of war and how to identify and deal with illegal orders. And it must reinforce “unity of command” to make perfectly clear to every member of the Defense Department whom they answer to. No service member should say they didn’t understand whom to take orders from during a worst-case scenario.

In addition, all military branches must undertake more intensive intelligence work at all installations. The goal should be to identify, isolate and remove potential mutineers; guard against efforts by propagandists who use misinformation to subvert the chain of command; and understand how that and other misinformation spreads across the ranks after it is introduced by propagandists.

Finally, the Defense Department should war-game the next potential post-election insurrection or coup attempt to identify weak spots. It must then conduct a top-down debrief of its findings and begin putting in place safeguards to prevent breakdowns not just in the military, but also in any agency that works hand in hand with the military.

The military and lawmakers have been gifted hindsight to prevent another insurrection from happening in 2024 — but they will succeed only if they take decisive action now."


https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/12/17/eaton-taguba-anderson-generals-military/
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isobars



Joined: 12 Dec 1999
Posts: 20935

PostPosted: Fri Dec 17, 2021 10:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

You made me look. Besides the BS -- "insurrection", "coup", "Trump instigated the invasion", "a POTUS has the authority to tell governors what to do with THEIR state NG forces" (see, for example, https://www.domesticpreparedness.com/preparedness/the-history-reality-of-the-national-guard/ ) -- all this proves is that there are many idiots in the military and even more in the media. I could have told you that, as I knew many such idiots, helped squash or even end the careers of several of them, and personally denied the LAT further current information on USAF advanced weapons programs after their military reporter outright lied in print about what I had officially told him. Milley's long-standing hatred of Trump has driven him to endlessly bash Trump without basis. Milley was immediately responsible for our inexcusable, historic blunder in the Afghan withdrawal, which at last tally left >60,000 Afghan and American people who risked their lives to help our war efforts. Biden has publicly abandoned hope for them and has reportedly -- I've seen no proof -- taken steps to block the private rescue efforts that freed so many of them.

But, really .. WAPO? Opinion? What kind of "opinions" would one expect in the WAPO?

Why are a bunch of loons who walked into the Capitol -- which we the people own, BTW -- STILL in prison, often solitary confinement -- when our government not only allows but encourages and usually PAYS (with benefits even you and I don't get) hundreds of thousands of ILLEGAL and unvetted aliens from over 100 countries to storm our borders? Why is the "Viking" who put his feet in Pelosi's desk (or whatever heinous crime he's charged with) still in prison while tens of thousands -- according to the Border Patrol and many comparable sources including governors -- of terrorists, rapists, MS-13 members, human smugglers, active Covid patients, murderers, drug dealers, cartel ninja squads, and countless other violent criminals are spreading, largely unimpeded and often even being secretively flown by the U.S. government into Smalltown, USA? Why do even the peaceful Capitol "walkers" rot in prison while thousands of border crashers are being put up in luxury hotels across the country at YOUR expense?

Why do so many of you ignore those facts, choose to remain ignorant of them, and/or tolerate YOUR media's censorship of them?

That's all the time this deserves. The other few dozen assumptions in that op ed are too stupid to even comment on. Just one example: this "wide-spread military turmoil" is a fabrication of left wing news media. The most egregious, dangerous, and back-stabbing behavior in the military is in traitors like those generals. "Social justice (or some such shit) is the main objective of the U.S. military", one such fool just said in his SUCCESSFUL confirmation hearing.

Bet THAT strikes fear into the heart of Xi Jinping!

Did you even know how specifically and clearly Trump told the Capitol marchers to be peaceful (it's on the public record), or did you believe the fabrications of traitorous POS like Behar, Reid (probably the wildest racist on television since Archie Bunker), Lemon, Schiff, etc.?

Thanks for the exercise; it was fun, and I CHOSE to not only unlock your post but respond to it. Just don't expect a debate, as I have a life.
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coachg



Joined: 10 Sep 2000
Posts: 3549

PostPosted: Sat Dec 18, 2021 12:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

isobars wrote:
Why are a bunch of loons who walked into the Capitol -- which we the people own, BTW -- STILL in prison, often solitary confinement

Since we the people also own the military and according to Isobar's I should be able to walk onto any military base & wander around as I see fit.
Rolling Eyes Rolling Eyes Rolling Eyes Rolling Eyes

Such a Fox news clone.

Coachg
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isobars



Joined: 12 Dec 1999
Posts: 20935

PostPosted: Sat Dec 18, 2021 1:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

At least you wouldn't be shot or imprisoned for it. I had the last such intruder I saw escorted peacefully off base by the base police ... after I had some fun jerking his chain.
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wsurfer



Joined: 17 Aug 2000
Posts: 1634

PostPosted: Sun Dec 19, 2021 12:17 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

isobars wrote:
You made me look. Besides the BS -- "insurrection", "coup", "Trump instigated the invasion", "a POTUS has the authority to tell governors what to do with THEIR state NG forces" (see, for example, https://www.domesticpreparedness.com/preparedness/the-history-reality-of-the-national-guard/ ) -- all this proves is that there are many idiots in the military and even more in the media. I could have told you that, as I knew many such idiots, helped squash or even end the careers of several of them, and personally denied the LAT further current information on USAF advanced weapons programs after their military reporter outright lied in print about what I had officially told him. Milley's long-standing hatred of Trump has driven him to endlessly bash Trump without basis. Milley was immediately responsible for our inexcusable, historic blunder in the Afghan withdrawal, which at last tally left >60,000 Afghan and American people who risked their lives to help our war efforts. Biden has publicly abandoned hope for them and has reportedly -- I've seen no proof -- taken steps to block the private rescue efforts that freed so many of them.

But, really .. WAPO? Opinion? What kind of "opinions" would one expect in the WAPO?

Why are a bunch of loons who walked into the Capitol -- which we the people own, BTW -- STILL in prison, often solitary confinement -- when our government not only allows but encourages and usually PAYS (with benefits even you and I don't get) hundreds of thousands of ILLEGAL and unvetted aliens from over 100 countries to storm our borders? Why is the "Viking" who put his feet in Pelosi's desk (or whatever heinous crime he's charged with) still in prison while tens of thousands -- according to the Border Patrol and many comparable sources including governors -- of terrorists, rapists, MS-13 members, human smugglers, active Covid patients, murderers, drug dealers, cartel ninja squads, and countless other violent criminals are spreading, largely unimpeded and often even being secretively flown by the U.S. government into Smalltown, USA? Why do even the peaceful Capitol "walkers" rot in prison while thousands of border crashers are being put up in luxury hotels across the country at YOUR expense?

Why do so many of you ignore those facts, choose to remain ignorant of them, and/or tolerate YOUR media's censorship of them?

That's all the time this deserves. The other few dozen assumptions in that op ed are too stupid to even comment on. Just one example: this "wide-spread military turmoil" is a fabrication of left wing news media. The most egregious, dangerous, and back-stabbing behavior in the military is in traitors like those generals. "Social justice (or some such shit) is the main objective of the U.S. military", one such fool just said in his SUCCESSFUL confirmation hearing.

Bet THAT strikes fear into the heart of Xi Jinping!

Did you even know how specifically and clearly Trump told the Capitol marchers to be peaceful (it's on the public record), or did you believe the fabrications of traitorous POS like Behar, Reid (probably the wildest racist on television since Archie Bunker), Lemon, Schiff, etc.?

Thanks for the exercise; it was fun, and I CHOSE to not only unlock your post but respond to it. Just don't expect a debate, as I have a life.


I So Forgetful

Did Lying Loser 45 not also say "You need to fight like hell"?

Losers attract losers!
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