Leave military out of it, former defence secretaries tell Trump

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Guardian


Unprecedented letter calls on voted-out president to accept Joe Biden’s election victory amid growing fears over his behaviour

Julian Borger in Washington
Sun 3 Jan 2021 20.16 EST

All 10 former US defence secretaries still living, including two who worked for Donald Trump, have called for the president and his supporters to accept he lost the election and warned against attempts to involve the military in his increasingly desperate efforts to overturn the result.

In an unprecedented joint letter published in the Washington Post, the defence secretaries addressed the worst fears of what could happen in 17 days of Trump’s administration remaining before Joe Biden’s inauguration: an attempt by Trump to foment a crises with the aim of triggering a military intervention in his last-ditch struggle to hold on power.

“Efforts to involve the US armed forces in resolving election disputes would take us into dangerous, unlawful and unconstitutional territory,” the letter said.

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/jan/04/leave-military-out-of-it-former-defence-secretaries-tell-trump

[AlexSFCA]

1. this is exactly what trump wants to do, will military follow his orders??

[Thekaspervote]

4. NO...they have said many times they will not intervene

[regnaD kciN]

2. I'd feel better if it were the Joint Chiefs saying this...

...although they have also said that it's not the U.S. military's job to involve itself in an election dispute.

[Irish_Dem]

3. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Milley and others have stated a number of times

they will not get involved in the election or aftermath.

[bucolic_frolic]

6. Would they oppose a coalition of forces such as was dispatched to Portland last summer

I don't understand it well, but DC police have jurisdiction, and the military has opted out. Those are not the only potential assemblage of power.

[Irish_Dem]

7. Barr had his own DOJ gun toting goons, is that what you mean?

From what the US Joint Chiefs and retired generals (who speak for active duty officers) are saying,
they will refuse a presidential order to get involved in military action with American civilian groups in any form.

And yes the state governors could call out the national guard, etc.

[bucolic_frolic]

14. Yes the DHS crowd

which was said to include personnel from several agencies as I recall, plus some private security? Or did we never find out exactly.

[Irish_Dem]

19. I think there were also prison guards present.

But yes I think we never really found out who they were.
A motley looking group as I recall.

And then a sharp looking bunch "guarding" the federal monuments.

[HUAJIAO]

18. Am I correct that trump can call out the DC national guard, or whatever the

equivalent force is?


Or instigate a violent uprising and then declare martial law, something like that.....?

[Irish_Dem]

20. Yes he can do that, but at this point I do not think any large military group

will follow his orders to establish martial law. Is the national guard going to start
killing unarmed civilians like they did in the Kent State incident? In the last few days of a president's
term?

The Pentagon won't do it. And I have my doubts that the National Guard would do it.

That is why Trump is now just calling state officials and threatening them.
The martial law idea is dead in the water.

My .02.

[HUAJIAO]

21. Thanks. That is all good to hear....

[dware]

17. The JCoS have said it numerous times in the past few weeks. nt

[JohnnyRingo]

5. Wow! We aren't the only ones who are concerned.

All ten living former S of Ds? All ten!?

Unprecedented is an understatement.

The only ones who don't fear Trump's mental state are the drunken idiots who voted for him.

[Thekaspervote]

8. Correct they're too stupid to understand he would just as soon have them murdered as look at them

They are especially at risk now since they didn’t re-elect him

[Cinnamonspice]

9. I hope after Biden is inaugerated, they can change some rules.

Candidates for president have to show that they are physically fit to run. Okay.

They should also have to show that they're mentally fit. Two psychiatrists should observe them. If there are any mental illnesses, then it has to be made public for a candidate to run.

[atreides1]

15. I would like to see these implemented

1. Able to pass a security background check.
2. Able to pass a physical examination.
3. Able to pass a psychological examination.
4. All members of campaign staff must pass a security background check.
5. Adult children and their spouses must pass a security background check.

All of these would have to be done when the candidate announces they are running for the office.

[JohnnyRingo]

16. Well that should narrow it down.

A lot of the fringe candidates won't even try to run and we'll never have to hear the words "President Gohmert".

[electric_blue68]

11. I was kinda shocked -

death's head Rummy?! Heartless Cheney?

woah!

[keithbvadu2]

10. Donald can bring Flynn back on active duty and put him in command of whatever units are needed to ma

Might as well make another conspiracy theory...

Donald can bring Flynn back on active duty and put him in command of whatever units are needed to march on DC.

Pass it on to the loyal Trumpsters.

[Skeptical Thomas]

12. Election of 1864

In the midst of the Civil War. The process proceeded. Go fuck yourself, Donnie!

[bucolic_frolic]

13. Cheney's protecting the reputation of the 2000 coup

Coup bragging rights competition. Who knew?

[BlueWavePsych]

22. We need a list of generals Drumpf called!

David Frum: “That letter from 10 former SecDefs warning against Trump using the military to hold onto power causes me to wonder: Has Trump been making calls to US generals like that he made to Georgia secretary of state, demanding or threatening they help him overturn the 2020 election?”

Link to tweet

?s=20