Posted on 03/01/2025 9:31:06 AM PST by MtnClimber
An “Appeal to Congress” from five former secretaries of defense warns that Donald Trump is firing flag officers, which is unprecedented and an assault on American political norms. This letter is an appalling package of dangerous claims, and dumber than a box of rocks. But let’s take a helpful detour before we get into the details.
An essay yesterday from a professor at the US Naval War College makes a similar argument, and perfectly represents the moment:
Here’s the core of the argument, and if you read it carefully you’ll notice an interesting concession right at the center:
All evidence suggests that the new administration is removing top military officers for reasons other than competence or performance, aiming to replace them with people they see as more loyal to this specific administration.
The president does have the authority to remove these officers; three- and four-star officers hold that rank only while they possess the position of importance and responsibility to which they have been specifically nominated by the president, and they serve at the pleasure of the president. But just because something is legal does not make it wise.
Removing top military leaders either for faithfully implementing the policies of previous administrations or for their identity—rather than for incompetence or failing to perform their duties—is a move designed to consolidate and retain regime power. Removing the top uniformed lawyers simultaneously and without justification presages an intent to act in ways that truly independent lawyers might advise against. Together, these measures constitute a crisis.
So:
1. These measures constitute a crisis;
2. The president does have the authority to remove these officers…and they serve at the pleasure of the president.
It’s a crisis that the President of the United States is exercising authority that he has.
Now, the letter to Congress from the former SecDefs:
So firing generals and admirals is deeply disturbing, and it undermines the military — that kind of behavior can’t be tolerated. The President of the United States must be held to account for these reckless actions. In the comments to an earlier post, a reader reminded me of a book by Thomas Ricks, a history of American generals. Here’s how Chapter One starts:....SNIP
Didn’t Dear Leader Zer0 fire the top military brass that were not sufficiently woke?
Correct.
This is the first step to undoing the actions of the hafrican.
Yes, he did. The leftists are working overtime to stop Trump from dismantling the unelected parts of Washington that control US.
Everybody thinks they have special privileges.
The only way to convince them they do not is to fire them.
Having a hard time feeling sorry . O-7 and up are largely politicians imho
Flag officers who were promoted for political reliability more than for competence need to be removed for the good of the service, and the country.
“Removing top military leaders either for faithfully implementing the policies of previous administrations ...”
Would doing that still be wrong if the previous administration was at least incompetent and at worst criminal and traitorous? Oddly enough this question isn’t addressed.
American political norms is what has brought America to the brink of extinction.
The reinstating the Constitution as the Supreme Law of the Land to take down the 80%+, $3+ trillion illegal portion of the federal gov't with it's millions of employees MUST happen in order to recover America's Free Constitutional Republic.
As America's birth was a miracle, so her restoration will be a miracle from the Most High. Thank you Jesus.
Maybe hang a few, pour encourager les autres.
Gee, that’s funny.
Somehow under Joe Biden we ended up with a black Defense Secretary and amazingly, a black Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff!
Absolutely no political calculus there! Or even racial!
Don’t recall any huffing and puffing from former Democrat administration “Defense” secretaries about that!
Guess Charlie Brown with his Texas Tech CE degree really made ‘em swoon up on Capitol hill! Robin Olds, Chuck Yeager and Albert Einstein all rolled into one!
Yup Yessirree, no bias whatsoever. Jist the bes’ man fo’ dah job!
Brilliant.
Obama did it “better”. LOL.
"Killin' generals could get to be a habit with me."
They always cry when it’s not to their advantage.
They never cry when it benefits them, even if it screws over other folks.
Where were these “leaders” when the DoD was firing people because they didn’t want to take a Covid vaccine?
Where were these leaders when more qualified individuals were passed over for promotions because of DEI?
Screw them.
Booming recruitment numbers soon to come, and booming recruitment numbers alone (though many other excellent development will surely follow), will allow us to safely forget that this letter was ever written or signed.
My thought exactly. I wonder if some of them are willing and young enough to be called to active service?
Seeing Mattis on there is a reminder of how well Trump seems to have got over his general worship from his first term.
This reminds me of Obama passing out white lab coats to staffers to sit in front of the Whitehouse for photos showing us how physicians were all in on Obama care.
Panetta? I guess he didn’t learn from getting his security clearance taken away. Time to put more screws to him.
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