Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

BumRushDaShow

(143,118 posts)
Fri Nov 8, 2024, 08:13 AM Nov 8

Pentagon anticipates major upheaval with Trump's return to White House

Source: Washington Post

Updated November 7, 2024 at 8:28 p.m. EST | Published November 7, 2024 at 6:31 p.m. EST


The Pentagon anticipates major upheaval once President-elect Donald Trump returns to the White House, amid fears that the once and future commander in chief will follow through on vows to deploy the military domestically against American citizens, demand fealty from key leaders and attempt to remake the nonpartisan institution into one explicitly loyal to him.

The trepidation harks back to Trump’s first term, when he smashed norms and frequently clashed with senior Pentagon leaders — including several of his own political appointees. He has shown no signs of altering course this time around, stating throughout his campaign an intent to use military force against the “enemy from within,” to fire any military officer associated with the chaotic evacuation from Afghanistan after he left office in 2021, and to reverse what he and his supporters have denounced as “woke” decisions by the Biden administration that include renaming several Army bases that had honored Confederates.

“The greatest danger the military faces” under a second Trump presidency is a “rapid erosion of its professionalism, which would undermine its status and respect from the American people,” said Richard Kohn, a professor and military historian at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. “Mr. Trump does not have a real understanding of civil-military relations, or the importance of a nonpartisan, nonpolitical military.”

A spokeswoman for Trump, Karoline Leavitt, said that with Tuesday’s vote, the American public had given him “a mandate to implement the promises he made on the campaign trail. He will deliver.”

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2024/11/07/trump-military-pentagon/



No paywall (gift)
8 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies

BoRaGard

(2,955 posts)
1. G.O.P. draft-dodger-in-chief loves to piss on our Armed Forces
Fri Nov 8, 2024, 08:19 AM
Nov 8

Calls our wounded and war dead "suckers and losers." Then likes to pretend he's a patriot.

keithbvadu2

(40,265 posts)
2. Oath of Allegiance - Pre and post 1934
Fri Nov 8, 2024, 08:23 AM
Nov 8

Oath of Allegiance - Pre and post 1934
http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/the-fuehrer-oath

(before August 2, 1934)
"I swear by almighty God this sacred oath:
I will at all times loyally and honestly
serve my people and country
and, as a brave soldier,
I will be ready at any time
to stake my life for this oath."

The Fuehrer Oath
(effective August 2, 1934)
"I swear by almighty God this sacred oath:
I will render unconditional obedience
to the Fuehrer of the German Reich and people, Adolf Hitler,
Supreme Commander of the Wehrmacht,
and, as a brave soldier,
I will be ready at any time
to stake my life for this oath."

Lonestarblue

(11,875 posts)
4. Trump will try to turn them into his personal Gestapo and use them to maintain a dictatorship.
Fri Nov 8, 2024, 08:28 AM
Nov 8

In addition, gay people will be forced out of the military and probably women also because they need to be having babies. I fear that Trump will put Mike Flynn in charge of the military, and he will also cozy up to Russia.

Autumn

(46,420 posts)
6. They have had 4 years to work on a plan to make sure he can't do what he
Fri Nov 8, 2024, 09:31 AM
Nov 8

did the last time. He's been running since 2020.

BumRushDaShow

(143,118 posts)
7. There were some things passed during the first 2 years of the administration
Fri Nov 8, 2024, 09:50 AM
Nov 8

when Democrats had control (albeit, limited in the Senate) of both chambers of Congress, some of it slid in the Infrastructure & Inflation Reduction reconciliation bills, and Omnibus funding bills.

Latest Discussions»Latest Breaking News»Pentagon anticipates majo...