Milley says the military doesn’t swear oath to a ‘wannabe dictator’ in apparent swipe at Trump

politics @lemmy.world – 670 points – 10 months ago

Milley says the military doesn't swear oath to a 'wannabe dictator' in apparent swipe at Trump | CNN Politics

In an impassioned and at times furious speech, departing Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Mark Milley defiantly proclaimed that the US military does not swear an oath to a “wannabe dictator.”

It was a bitter and pointed swipe that appeared unmistakably targeted at former President Donald Trump, who has in recent days accused Milley of “treason” and suggested that he should be put to death for his conduct surrounding Trump’s bid in 2021 to remain in office despite losing the presidential election.

“We are unique among the world’s militaries,” Milley said. “We don’t take an oath to a country, we don’t take an oath to a tribe, we don’t take an oath to a religion. We don’t take an oath to a king, or a queen, or a tyrant or a dictator.”

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I couldn't agree more. I'll just add:

"Well, as soon as he realized what was going on, he should have left"

He did.

Milley realized too late that Trump, who continued across the street to pose for a now-infamous photo while standing in front of a vandalized church, was manipulating him into a visual endorsement of his martial approach to the demonstrations. Though Milley left the entourage before it reached the church, the damage was significant. “We’re getting the fuck out of here,” Milley said to his security chief. “I’m fucking done with this shit.” Esper would later say that he and Milley had been duped.

"He should have made these kinds of strong statements against his being dragged into that photo op much earlier."

He said this within a week, if that counts:

The week afterward, in a commencement address to the National Defense University, he apologized to the armed forces and the country. “I should not have been there,” he said.

As far as I'm aware, any comment he has ever made regarding the incident he has said it was a mistake.

Source: https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2023/11/general-mark-milley-trump-coup/675375/

Excellent. There is nothing wrong with Milley in the context of that event; in fact, there is everything right about his actions. Thank you for fact checking me.

In no way intended to be a check, just more context. You nailed it.

Well, I wasn't aware of the facts you brought, and my earlier comment was written on the false assumption that Milley had stayed on through the whole photo op, and that he hadn't really said anything about it until what I have heard very recently.

Whether you intended to check or not, I am checked, and I like it that way. You have made me better now than I was seven hours ago.

This is incredible. How do you have all this knowledge at the ready?

"reading"

I read the Atlantic article when it first came out. Was a really good read and stuck with me.