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Old 01-26-2021, 05:35 AM
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Question Like Any Invasion, the Pentagon Should Have Seen This Coming .

Like Any Invasion, the Pentagon Should Have Seen This Coming
By: Bryon Greenwald - Real Clear Defense - 01-26-21
Re: https://www.realcleardefense.com/art...ng_657876.html

What Role did the Military have in the Assault on our Democracy and How Do We Fix It?
The assault on the U.S. Capitol shocked our national psyche and tarnished America’s role as an exemplar to the world. But no one should have been surprised. It was not a sneak attack à la Pearl Harbor or 9/11, nor was the assault even a spontaneous event gone bad. It was an invasion built on years of preparatory action that culminated in an overt attack, much like Operation Overlord that in 1944 initiated the ultimate defeat of Germany in World War II.

This is not to argue at all that Nazi Germany’s conquering of Europe, its subjugation of peoples, and its organized killing of European Jewry is anything like American democracy in form or substance. They are not even remotely morally equivalent. It is merely an analogy to highlight (and surely Steve Bannon, the Sun Tzu of politics, would agree) that political campaigns are like military campaigns. Both have political and strategic goals and operational actions that apply resources to achieve those goals via direct and indirect means. One just needs to see the forest for the trees and acknowledge these similarities.

Like the Germans, who knew the day they marched into Paris in 1940 that the Allies were likely to launch an invasion of Western Europe in the future, we could see this coming. In fact, just as the Germans could predict an eventual Allied assault, we could anticipate a multi-year, multi-phased, multi-dimensional attack on our democracy as early as 2015/2016. All the signs were there, whether we chose to heed them or not: psychological operations large and small to discredit existing norms and set the stage; the creation of insurgent groups to attack our democracy and the rule of law from the inside; and the building of political, legal, and bureaucratic formations to assault it from the outside. Like the German people who suffered under the strategic air attacks that preceded the Allied invasion of Normandy, we have felt the effects of the constant bombardment on our democratic experiment for the duration. Maybe we became inured to the pain, but anyone with foresight could see that we were changing from the apple of the world’s eye to an outsized banana republic. And just like the Germans, we made choices that advantaged the adversary. Like German Generals Rommel and Rundstedt, some of our concerned leaders argued over how best to defend our democracy. Some German leaders, military and civilian, missed the warning signs, others ignored them. Still, others collaborated with the Allies to facilitate their campaign. At least in hindsight, it is easy to see that some of our political leaders did the same. And recent reports of investigations into the 6 January Capitol assault indicate some military personnel may have as well. What neither could pinpoint, however, was where and when the final assault might occur. Where would the Allies land? When would the last straw break the back of our democracy? When would America hit rock bottom?

If political and military campaigns are indeed similar, then it begs the question: what role did military leaders have in facilitating this assault on our democracy, and how can they help to defend against efforts to undermine it? Everyone will recall the mid-summer Black Lives Matter demonstrations in Washington, the unwitting involvement of then Secretary of Defense Esper and the JCS Chairman, General Mark Milley in the Presidential photo-op, and their subsequent retreat, and Milley’s apology for allowing themselves to be used as props. It appears, perhaps belatedly, that the active-duty brass understands that flying too close to the political flame casts a dark shadow over the military’s apolitical ethic and might get you burned. The bigger threat, however, involves the rest of us—active-duty, retired, and veteran military personnel.

By law, active-duty personnel are permitted to contribute to political campaigns and vote in elections. They are not allowed to take part in political activities on duty time, use their rank or position in political advertisements, or wear their uniforms at political rallies. The same goes for reservists or guardsmen, whether on active-duty or not. Moreover, they should act in ways that support the Constitution, even if they disagree politically with the direction or decision of national leaders. And they should behave in ways that bolster, not undermine, the public’s trust in the U.S. military as an apolitical institution.

This week, all eight of the Joint Chiefs of Staff signed a memo to the Joint Force reiterating that the U.S. military has been and must remain an apolitical force, that servicemembers must “support and defend the Constitution” against all enemies “foreign and domestic.” The Chiefs reminded all servicemembers to embody the “values and ideals of the Nation” and noted that any “act to disrupt the Constitutional process is not only against our traditions, values, and oath; it is against the law.”

With the Internet-of-things and social media, those admonishments include online behavior. The U.S. military does not want to police the thoughts of service men and women or infringe on their freedom of speech, but when the exercise of that freedom crosses the ambiguous line between self-expression and undermining the apolitical military ethos, then one should expect to receive some counseling or worse, depending on the content and extent of their postings. Remember, what one says and does online speaks volumes about their personal ethos and judgment, which may influence their promotion potential and security clearance. We are seeing this fallout now with civilians (and retirees and veterans) who invaded the Capitol. Expect it to go further. Polite, constructive political disagreements are part of the fabric of our society and democracy—destructive actions and speech stain that fabric and tarnish the military’s professional reputation. There is no stain remover for actions on the Internet.

The threshold is a bit blurry regarding military retirees and veterans. Although it may not be a great fashion statement, there is no legal prohibition against wearing a uniform, an old flight jacket with all its unit patches, or even military gear at political events. You can even be like the West Point graduate who wore Academy swag to the Capitol. It might embarrass some graduates and prove that the Long Gray Line zigs and zags at times, but it is not illegal. It also helps law enforcement officials and employers identify you afterward. Like rock and roll, the Internet never forgets.

The issue grows more complex when retirees or veterans use their service affiliation or retired rank either in print, online, on the radio, or on television to advocate for a political candidate. Do the Joint Chiefs’ admonitions apply legally to veterans and retirees? No. Should they? Perhaps. At least intellectually and psychologically. If there is merit in the Marine Corps adage that “once a Marine, always a Marine,” then one can logically argue that the same expectations apply across the other services. Don’t embarrass the Corps, or the Fleet, or the Armed Forces. It is a free country with free speech, but the Internet, your employers, and your buddies don’t forget.

While it is mildly ironic when a former sergeant or lieutenant blogs that “in his experience” the political direction of the country or the President is (fill in the blank), it is a more serious matter when a retired lieutenant general screams, "Lock her up" at a presidential campaign rally. Yes, I am describing the recently pardoned Lt Gen (Retired) Michael Flynn, the former (albeit briefly) National Security Advisor, consultant to foreign powers, and a previous director of the Defense Intelligence Agency. The same Mike Flynn who recently pledged bayat (à la that required by Osama bin Laden) or loyalty to QAnon. The same Mike Flynn whose camouflage or olive drab patrol cap, “enzyme washed and distressed to perfection,” you can buy online for $32, along with t-shirts and hoodies. The same Mike Flynn who lied to government officials about his discussions with Russian leaders prior to the 2017 Presidential Inauguration. Perhaps in place of #justiceforall and #fightlikeaflynn, his swag ought to say #dinewithputinformoney or #lielikeaflynn. One wonders how much revenue those hashtags would generate for his defense fund. It is also fair and appropriate to wonder how he was selected for promotion to senior rank in the first place.

Sadly, Flynn isn’t the only senior retiree to step out of bounds; he just triple-jumped where others tiptoed over the line. In the last two elections, hundreds of retired generals and admirals have signed up to support one of the presidential campaigns. To the average voter, this action subconsciously screams, "I am a general, I am trustworthy, listen to me, follow my lead," as it attempts to hijack the public’s respect for the apolitical Armed Forces for partisan purposes. Think of the sacrifice of millions of servicemembers and the enduring apolitical nature of the military as a bank account, the funds from which purchase respect from the American people (and those in other nations as well). Only active-duty members (and reservists/guardsmen on active duty) can contribute to that account. All everyone else can do, including retired generals and admirals, is make withdrawals, not deposits. Retired generals and admirals who decide to “go political” are simply writing checks on an account to which they no longer contribute. Despite their absolute right to offer their opinion publicly, they are freeloading on the work, reputation, and sacrifice of others. One might ask, how much attention would their actions draw, and how would their television ratings fare if their bylines simply showed their name and not their retired rank?

So, what should we do about this?

First, military and political leaders at all levels should reinforce the Joint Chiefs’ statement about the importance and responsibility of military members to remain apolitical. Election year or not, this means commanders must get out in front of their troops and politicians their constituents and explain the difference between constructive and destructive dialog and actions, whether online or in person. As they do with the prevention of sexual harassment and other perennial readiness issues, commanders must reinvigorate the apolitical ethos and constantly reinforce it. Moreover, the professional military education enterprise needs to reinvigorate at all levels its discussion of civil-military relations, the appropriateness of informed apolitical debate, and how to parse fact from fiction.

Second, servicemembers, veterans, and retirees ought to remember that the Internet, your employer, and your mother, never forget. Don’t embarrass yourself, your organization, or your family through your behavior. If you operate in your own echo chamber, have the courage to change the channel and listen to a different perspective. Disagreement does not mean disrespect, and it ought to offer the opportunity for dialog. Seek first to understand. And remember, there is only one set of facts in life, the rest are merely opinions and lies.

Third, senior military officers, especially after they retire, must set the example. Those retired senior officers who allow themselves to become politicized should be denied consulting or senior mentor gigs with the military. Perhaps they should lose their security clearance, which would make their worth to defense corporations much less. As civilians, the general public should ignore them. Nothing stops you from talking faster than when you realize that no one is listening anymore.

Fourth, like the Allied invasion of Normandy or the German defense against it, we need a campaign plan—a multi-year, multi-phased, multi-dimensional synchronized effort to inoculate ourselves not just against COVID-19 and the next virus but to restore our identity and ethos collectively as Americans. Not only is our democracy under assault from inside and out, but we no longer lead the world in a host of areas that really matter, be it a strategic economy, K-12 education, military readiness, quality employment, affordable and accessible health care, climate support, stable infrastructure, or a living wage.

Finally, as current and former public servants, we need to pull together as Americans. Our adversaries (China, Russia, Iran, North Korea) take comfort in our national dysfunction, while the rest of the planet cries because Superman has lost his power, specifically the power of his example. Restoring the Nation’s reputation, filling in the potholes of political partisanship, and binding up our physical and psychological wounds will take all of us working together. Regardless of your political preference, no American should like being on a losing team. And make no mistake, we are losing. We should use our passions to argue for a better America, not yours or mine, but our America.

About this writer: Bryon Greenwald is a retired Army officer and a Professor of History at the Joint Advanced Warfighting School. He holds a Ph.D. in History from The Ohio State University. The opinions stated in this article are his alone and do not reflect any position by the Department of Defense.

Relarted topics: U.S. military, Insurrection, Apolitical Military, Department of Defense (DoD), Military Education And Training, military, Mike Flynn, America, Political campaign
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O Almighty Lord God, who neither slumberest nor sleepest; Protect and assist, we beseech thee, all those who at home or abroad, by land, by sea, or in the air, are serving this country, that they, being armed with thy defence, may be preserved evermore in all perils; and being filled with wisdom and girded with strength, may do their duty to thy honour and glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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