Respect for the Military
As a man of peace, I celebrate the cessation of hostilities wherever they happen around the globe. The United States has been a war-like nation since its inception, and I certainly wish this were not the case. Making matters completely intractable is the fact that Dwight D. Eisenhower’s prediction happened exactly as he warned, i.e., an entrenched military-industrial complex would lead to a condition of permanent fighting around the globe.
Having said that, I have a deep respect for most of the people in the military, not because I admire their values, but rather their integrity. Most of them are people of profound honor; they tell the truth, they do what’s right, and they refuse to follow orders that violate their basic codes of honesty.
It is for that reason that the interface between the military and Donald Trump is so strained. The president of the United States, who stands as the commander-in-chief of the entire military, is a thoroughgoing liar. He lies even when it serves no purpose and the truth is readily available for everyone to see. I’m not alone in my belief that this is a part of some larger mental illness; in fact, there are people at the top of the mental health field who are quite certain that the president is suffering from some sort of disease.
Be this as it may, let me conclude with a link to an article from which I copied the photo below, featuring a brief discussion of each of the six top generals who have left the Trump administration. As I wrote recently, countries that descend into autocracy generally do so with the assistance of the military. If Trump thinks the armed forces will protect him against the rule of law, he’s out of his mind. Of course, we already addressed that, didn’t we?
Craig,
Unfortunately you seem to have a very romanticized concept of military officers and principles of “honour” and integrity.
The military are not stereotypes as found in Walt Disney movies, but made up of a wide range of personalities. They’re no more”people of profound honor ” as the rest of the population.
The military suffer from exactly the same personality defects and flaws as the rest of the population. They certainly don’t a”tell the truth’, or “do what’s right” and as history will testify, most will follow even very bad orders and commit horrific acts. The same degrees of egotism and greatness is to be found.
President Trump is not suffering from any form of “mental illness’! The President has also shown none of the usual signs of being an autocrat ! Indeed, to the contrary, his desire to reduce the involvement of US forces in foreign adventures is proof of his desire to reduce US “imperialistic” activity in favour of a revival in US commercial competitiveness.
His refusal to use “Presidential decrees” instead of legislation, is a unique trend back to constitutional administration.
It’s only natural for professional soldiers to feel unhappy about being withdrawn from places where they and their comrades fought and died to secure by a civilian politician.
Many of of those soldiers have form strong bonds and attachments with what they thought of as their “mission”. The idea that all that sacrifice should be wasted, and promises to local allies abandoned, is very hard to take, especially since the military is well aware of the horrible consequences for those whom those locals who sided or collaborated with the American forces.
Career military officers do expect a life dominated by a long slow rise to senior ranks, with security of tenure and consistency of policy. Such a mindset will always be disconcerted by a President accustomed to the more mercurial atmosphere of modern commerce with rapid and profound changes occurring constantly and unexpectedly.
President Trump is unconventional for high political office in that he has no doctrine, no particular ideology. His strategies and objectives are not accomplished by a team of long experienced players or experts with future political ambition or deep party loyalties. Instead, a Trump Presidency is largely about the President and his vision.
Not being an ideologue, the President has no long term loyalties to supporters or functionaries. Once a particular expert, or player has served his purpose and has nothing more to contribute, or the President realizes that particular policy or program is working, he moves on quickly, replacing those whom he sees as no longer useful of relevant.
President Trump doesn’t regard cabinet members or advisors as loyal followers, but more as “consultants” hired for a specific purpose and dispensable once that task has been completed.
The President is typical of a certain type of businessman, usually found among developers,promoters and high risk/high return enterprises. This sort of businessman is usually very family orientated, with his family being the only constant.
The Presidents strategies are working and producing results, because he’s highly flexible and keeps his objectives simple.
His longer term objectives are not hindered by rigid ideology or iron-clad guarantees and commitments. He keeps both his enemies, rivals and allies guessing by not signalling his next move.
President Trump hides his real intent behind a combination of bluff, bluster, bombastic mood changes, sudden conciliation and extravagant displays of friendship. His is a carrot and stick approach to international and domestic politics.
Disconcerting it maybe for those working for him, even more so for those negotiating with the President, but underneath all the spectacle and antics,is a President determined to get the best deal for America.
The President also knows he holds the best cards. The US military and economic might must prevail in any conflict, yet President Trump also understand the cost in US domestic prosperity of foreign US military adventures, and disadvantageous acquiescence to “globalization”.
President Trump is a very different sort of President, with strengths and weaknesses never seen before in the sort of Presidents produced through the US political system. Simplistic assessments based on fantastic hatred or rabid emotive reactions, just aren’t helpful.
President Trump may just be a forerunner of a new type of Presidential candidate. Following Trump the old style 20th century, ideologue, professional establishment political figures may become increasingly obsolete.
There will be more “Trumps”, probably smoother, and more disguised, but as long as a huge section of people in society feel ignored or neglected, there will be fertile grounds for populist public figures to take up the cause.