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It's a bedrock of our system that the US military remain firmly under civil control and politically neutral. The article elides but deep-links through to Ben-Gh

by themgt 2y ago

It's a bedrock of our system that the US military remain firmly under civil control and politically neutral. The article elides but deep-links through to Ben-Ghiat's Substack announcing the lecture, which is what set off the firestorm: - The Real Reason Donald Trump Insults the U.S. Military - I am pleased to announce that I will be giving the Bancroft Lecture at the U.S. Naval Academy on Oct. 10. This lecture is not open to the public. I will be speaking about what happens to militaries under authoritarian rule, touching on Fascist Italy, Pinochet's Chile and the Russian military during the war on Ukraine. _______________ That brings us to today's post, on why Donald Trump insults the military. ... Why does he do it? His authoritarian character, desire to destroy democratic values and ideals, and loyalty to autocrats who see the powerful U.S. military as an obstacle to their geopolitical aims. I can see both sides of the argument on cancellation, but it's frankly idiotic to announce your lecture to the Naval Academy in an essay you directly title and then expound on your criticism of a leading presidential candidate vis-a-vis the military, weaving that criticism into the very topic of the lecture you are to give to the military. The same would be true if the politician was Biden, Harris or anyone else. The military needs to stay a 10 foot pole away from politics. The alternative is incredibly dangerous. https://lucid.substack.com/p/the-real-reason-donald-trump-insults https://lucid.substack.com/p/the-real-reason-donald-trump-in...

AlotOfReading 2y ago
The military can't stay away from politics. They're deeply embedded in the heart of American politics and to paraphrase clausewitz, war itself is politics by other means. Do you think Vietnam and the Iraqi war can be divorced from the political discussions that surrounded them? The military needs to be acutely aware the delicate politicsl balance their role requires. I don't see how you can do that without open discussions of politics.
- throwawaymaths 2y ago
  You are talking past each other. GP is using politics in the "what is happening right now with specific players sense". You are talking about politics in "everything since Cicero with generality" sense. Both of you are correct. Military needs needs to stay out of the former and be aware of the latter.
- leereeves 2y ago
  > Do you think Vietnam and the Iraqi war can be divorced from the political discussions that surrounded them? Of course not, and that's not what they meant. The point is, those very important political discussions are left to civilians, and the military does what civilians decide. That is fundamental to democracy; without it, you have military dictatorship.

by themgt 2y ago

AlotOfReading 2y ago

The military can't stay away from politics. They're deeply embedded in the heart of American politics and to paraphrase clausewitz, war itself is politics by other means. Do you think Vietnam and the Iraqi war can be divorced from the political discussions that surrounded them? The military needs to be acutely aware the delicate politicsl balance their role requires. I don't see how you can do that without open discussions of politics.

throwawaymaths 2y ago
You are talking past each other. GP is using politics in the "what is happening right now with specific players sense". You are talking about politics in "everything since Cicero with generality" sense. Both of you are correct. Military needs needs to stay out of the former and be aware of the latter.
leereeves 2y ago
> Do you think Vietnam and the Iraqi war can be divorced from the political discussions that surrounded them? Of course not, and that's not what they meant. The point is, those very important political discussions are left to civilians, and the military does what civilians decide. That is fundamental to democracy; without it, you have military dictatorship.