Douglas MacArthur drove tanks on 15000 unarmed unemployed hungry WWI veterans during the Bonus March protest. The 101st lined up against the "will of the people of Arkansas" at the direction of Ike for civil rights.
During 9/11, F-16's were armed and prepped to take out a commercial airliner.
Especially if it appears to be an existential crisis, the military will follow orders.
So you could be right, but there's a plenty of examples of the US military favoring their command structure first and "turning on" whoever the President says is the bad guy.
The opposition to a standing army by the founders was exactly because they knew we could find ourselves wondering who's side they'll be on.
whose side they’d be on... I meant.
Actually rottdog, you beg an interesting question.... Is there ANY example in modern history of the US Military turning on their commanders in deference to citizens?
I think we all agree that the local police forces are loading up on GI Joe accouterments, we can guess which side the union cops will take.
Have we any examples of the US Military standing down rogue policing operations to protect citizens? In New Orleans? In Waco? Anywhere? Or do they just provide assistance in the form of advisors or just watch with observers?