Thursday, June 4, 2020

On our own?

Kurt Schlichter says: "If you think today's military will defend your freedom here at home instead of participating in its suppression, you are making a very risky bet. After this week, I do not know whether it would or not, which itself is terrifying."

He may have a point: "Retired Military Generals, Who Served Under Obama, Speak Out Against Trump". Yes, they're retired, but I imagine that their sentiments are spread pretty widely among the active politicized brass.

5 comments:

ck said...

They're desperate and calling in all their markers. Retired Generals, the Chief Justice etc. They exposed Roberts just to keep churches closed. That's a valuable asset, if they thought they had any future would the use Roberts for something that unpopular?

Gregoryno6 said...

When James Mattis came out against PDJT in the Atlantic - the magazine, and not the ocean, more's the pity - I saw a comment from an ex-military that implied the more brass you wear in the armed forces the more likely you are to be liberal/lefty/anything but conservative.
That surprised me, although there was that Hackworth fellow who quit the Marines and parked himself in Queensland somewhere.
I wonder where the cut off point is for being rightwing and losing serious hope of further promotion.

Jonah said...

I think Schlichter also said nothing in the military happens without NCOs approval.

Also, based on my very short Army experience, nobody above captain, or at the most in some cases major, should be trusted.

JeffS said...

The real problem with Mattis is that while he was an effective infantry commander, he was promoted above his comfort zone. Intelligent, but not flexible. Mattis is an example of why generals should not become politicians. I was hopeful when he was appointed SecDef, but not surprised when Trump fired him.

I wonder where the cut off point is for being rightwing and losing serious hope of further promotion.

The connected officers are often promoted to flag rank; not always, but consistently. "It's not what you know, it's who you know." These clowns will kiss the arse of any politician for a good budget, and will put their personal agendas ahead of the good of the service. These tend to be liberal, but, really, they're just self-centered fools.

The smart ones get out early -- they are generally tired of the bulls**t from senior leaders. They tend to be conservative. The very best are promoted into flag rank, but it's rare they get choice assignments.

RebeccaH said...

Remember how Obama conducted a purge against the senior leadership in the Pentagon when he became president? Guess who was left.