Gen. Mark Milley Warns of Fealty to Dictators, in Exit Speech Aimed at Trump

[peppertree]

Source: Wall Street Journal

Army Gen. Mark Milley, the Pentagon's top officer, warned in his retirement speech on Friday that military officers must adhere to the Constitution and not bow to political pressures, in what appeared to be thinly-veiled comments about former President Donald Trump.

"We don't take an oath to a country, we don't take an oath to a tribe, we don't take an oath to a religion, we don't take an oath to a king, or a queen, to a tyrant or dictator or wannabe dictator," Gen. Milley bellowed across a military parade field, without mentioning his former boss by name.

"We do not take an oath to an individual, we take an oath to the Constitution, to the idea that is America and we're willing to die to protect it."

Friday's speech was Milley's last official ceremony as the Joint Chiefs chairman after years of positioning himself as a defender of democracy -- and drawing the ire of critics who have accused him of overstepping the authority of the commander in chief and pursuing what they perceive as a progressive agenda.

Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/gen-mark-milley-warns-of-fealty-to-dictators-in-exit-speech-aimed-at-trump/ar-AA1hsA6h

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Trump and others on the political hard right have repeatedly attacked Gen. Mark Milley, pushing up against norms for public behavior for politicians and elected officials in the process.

[RKP5637]

1. K&R!!! n/t

[Captain Zero]

3. I'm sure he gave remarks in private too

To some selected groups.
Sad that he needed to do so, but good that he did.


Theoretically speaking, if a president repeatedly gave illegal orders, could a top officer warn him about illegal orders and then arrest him if he continues giving illegal orders?

I guess he could always refer the illegal orders to the judiciary committee and see if they wanted to take it up with the house.

[malthaussen]

12. No, because the President is not subject to the UCMJ. n/t

[electric_blue68]

14. Because he is a Civilian Authority (?).

[ffr]

2. Under the previous administration, I had my doubts about our military leaders

But General Milley has completely restored that faith. These are people of honor, of duty, of integrity and of sacrifice.

I see why republicans would hate such a person.

[Captain Zero]

4. It's why they want to leave openings vacant.

See if they can later fill the spots with Maga Lemmings

[Harker]

8. +33.

Tuberville is fulfilling his role as a member of the insurrection..

They're treading water until the next wave.

[mopinko]

7. they did run a lot of good ppl out.

not enough, thankfully. but they’ll never forget it.

[Harker]

5. It's all about timing. And character. n/t

[Oneironaut]

6. Unlike Michael Flynn, who disgraced himself by pledging fealty to one man.

[peppertree]

9. I'd almost bet Cheeto regrets not installing him as Joint Chiefs Chairman

And that, should he get the chance, he would gladly do so on day one.

[SouthernDem4ever]

10. So adhering to the US Constitution is now a "Progressive Agenda"

If I were working at the WSJ I would be embarrassed that one of my colleagues put something that stupid in our paper.

[malthaussen]

13. The author is paraphrasing others, he's not using the term himself.

It is a fact, and a sad one, that some people do see adhering to the Constitution as part of a "Progressive Agenda."

Which actually says something. If they think the Constitution is a "progressive" document, then they must think society should regress to before the Constitution was ratified. Not the 1950s, more like the 1750s.

-- Mal

[malthaussen]

11. I have some sympathy for Gen. Milley.

Poor guy was just hoping to have a nice, honorable and cush gig as chairman of the JCS, and he had to deal with the nightmare of Donald Trump as his boss. I'd guess that at first he hoped he could work with the fool, and that it took him some time to realize just how much of a fool he was working with. He had to lower his expectations daily, if not more often, and I wonder if he was haunted by the question of how low those expectations would have to go.

At any rate, I'm more inclined to sympathize with him and respect what he has to say now that he is free to speak, than with the weasels who willingly worked with DJT until he fired them, and then whined about sour grapes. They had a choice, the general had a duty, and therein lies the difference.

-- Mal