I’ve discussed the endgame with a relative who has lived in the chain of command off and on since 2009 (the discussions, that is). He’s spent quite a bit of time in a five sided building.
I love your writing, but I think the Forces could suppress a rebellion pretty quickly IF the chain of command remained intact.
So, I’ve been interested in mentally wargaming how that could come apart. There are two major ways for that to happen, IMO.
The first would be a failed, or incompletely successful, coup. I mean, if McRaven and Mattis are openly seditious, it doesn’t take much to dream up Site Y and a pool on the Preakness happening right now. Just imagine what sort of man would get a third or fourth star from Obama, and go from there.
The second would be a failed impeachment. Secret charges guarded to “protect national security”, a rocket docket Senate trial under John Roberts with all defense motions ruled out of order, Romney leading the charge speaking for the “donor community”, charges in the morning vote by 5:00pm 67-33, and Trump announces it’s unconstitutional (barely) and he’s not going anywhere. Then we move to a successful coup.
Scenario #1 I call a General’s Coup. Scenario #2 would be a Colonels and Majors Coup.
In the history of the planet, the Generals often fail where the Colonels succeed.
Anyway, as a great American once said, I’m too old to go bushwhacking, so I hope this all works out somehow. Unfortunately, I don’t think that’s the way to bet.
Both of your scenarios are intriguing, and it’s very sad that we are even discussing them as plausible.