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The Secretary of Defense is a civilian position intended to be independent of the active-duty leadership so as to prevent coups. In practice, many prior SecDef’
by isubkhankulov 2y ago
The Secretary of Defense is a civilian position intended to be independent of the active-duty leadership so as to prevent coups. In practice, many prior SecDef’s had to get waivers to serve.
- fuzzfactor 2y agoOk, that's what I always must have thought there was no match for. I've been more wrong before . . .
- pfannkuchen 2y agoHow does that prevent coups? Like the reason a military coup works is because the military has a shitload of weapons. How does having the secretary of defense not able to be in on a military coup prevent a military coup? At that point they’re bringing an org chart to a gun fight.
- meigwilym 2y agoProbably to stop the personality. Coups are often driven by "soldiers loyal to...". Having a civilian in the role would pre-empt that. OTOH a waiver undoes all of that. It shows how much of democracy depends on people following conventions and traditions.