Military Showing Resistance to Turning on American Citizens
Servicemen and women push back on firing on their neighbors
The last few days have seen wannabe American fuhrer, President Donald Trump threaten to turn the power of the American military on his own citizens. As I mentioned in a previous article, I had long predicted this. I also said that I questioned if American servicemen and women would carry out that order.
From several media reports, it seems the answer might be no. Members of the American military have to swear a solemn oath to protect the country from enemies, both foreign and domestic, when they join up, and they take that oath very seriously.
Trump is trying to convince them that their fellow citizens are enemies. But who is Trump trying to paint as insurgents? Young people in backpacks, old people, white, black and brown people, people who look like the very soldiers standing across from them.
Fighting Their Neighbors
Most servicemen and women expected they might see combat overseas when they joined up, but they didn’t think they were going to fight their neighbors. According to Malcolm Nance, a retired Navy non-commissioned officer and intelligence expert, the racial demographic of the military might also play a role in this. On “The Stephanie Miller Show,” he pointed out that almost half of the military consists of people of color.
And since the military is notorious for recruiting from poor neighborhoods, I’m sure many servicemen and women are familiar with police brutality and the issues Black Lives Matter and other protesters are fighting for. This point was made by Chief Master Sergeant of the Airforce Kaleth Wright, the top-ranking non-commissioned officer, who said he identified with George Floyd.
“I am George Floyd…I am Philando Castile, I am Michael Brown, I am Alton Sterling, I am Tamir Rice,” said Wright in a tweet.
He added that dying fighting for his country wasn’t his biggest fear. He feared learning about a black serviceman executed during yet another extra-judicial police killing.
“This, my friends, is my greatest fear, not that I will be killed by a white police officer (believe me my heart starts racing like most other Black men in America when I see those blue lights behind me) … But that I will wake up to a report that one (of) our Black Airmen has died at the hands of a white police officer,” said Wright.
Retired Brass Fight Back
And the rebellion is not just coming from the lower ranks, some high-ranking officers have also expressed their displeasure with Trump’s use of the military. Several retired officers have recently spoken out against Trump in the media.
And since the military is notorious for recruiting from poor neighborhoods, I’m sure many servicemen and women are familiar with police brutality and the issues Black Lives Matter and other protesters are fighting for. This point was made by Chief Master Sergeant of the Airforce Kaleth Wright, the top-ranking non-commissioned officer, who said he identified with George Floyd. “I am George Floyd…I am Philando Castile, I am Michael Brown, I am Alton Sterling, I am Tamir Rice,” said Wright in a tweet.
Gen (rtd.) James Mattis, who briefly served as Trump’s defense secretary, lashed out at the president in an Atlantic column that was picked up by several media outlets. As defense secretary, Mattis frequently countermanded Trump’s orders, like when he ordered the military to kill all of Syria’s leadership team.
He accused Trump of actively trying to divide the American people.
“Donald Trump is the first president in my lifetime who does not try to unite the American people — does not even pretend to try. Instead, he tries to divide us,” said Mattis in a June 4 Atlantic article. “We are witnessing the consequences of three years of this deliberate effort. We are witnessing the consequences of three years without mature leadership. We can unite without him, drawing on the strengths inherent in our civil society. “
Mattis also accused Trump’s ideology of being similar to the Nazis, who also focused on division.
However, Admiral (rtd.) Mike Mullen, former chair of the joint chiefs, also shared Mattis’ views.
Mullen questioned Trump’s judgment in a June 2 Atlantic column, “I remain confident in the professionalism of our men and women in uniform. … But I am less confident in the soundness of the orders they will be given by this commander in chief, and I am not convinced that the conditions on our streets, as bad as they are, have risen to the level that justifies a heavy reliance on military troops,” said Mullen.
He also condemned the politicization of the military.
Unfortunately, both Mattis and Mullen are retired. The current leadership seems to be in total disarray. Current Joint Chiefs Chair Gen. Mark Milley appeared in battle uniform alongside Trump during his church photo op.
However, yesterday Sec. of Defense Mark Espers expressed misgivings about using the army on American streets. That was after he called for “dominating the battlespace” — on American soil. Espers also participated in the photo op, but claimed he was misled about the event.
Some National Guard units have shown their solidarity with the protesters by laying down their shields. Hopefully, it looks like some active-duty military will also follow in their footsteps.
