The last time around, Trump’s efforts to pack the Defense Department with cranks and flunkies came too late to bring the military under his full political control. The president and his advisers were slow-footed and disorganized, and lacked familiarity with Washington politics. They were hindered as well by the courage and professionalism of the military officers and civilian appointees who, side by side, serve in the Defense Department.
… In a second term, Trump would combine his instincts for revenge and self-protection. He would seek not only to get even with an officer corps that he thinks betrayed him, but also to break the military as one of the few institutions able to constrain his attempts to act against the Constitution and the rule of law.
They follow the orders of a civilian government, nothing more, nothing less.
That’s what apolitical means for the military, which is what our military is doing.
What it means for a military to be political is if the soldiers and officers start publicly supporting or denouncing various politicians on political bases. Trying to intrude on civilian government kind of stuff.
Hate to say this but military unit cultures can shift incredibly quickly. All it takes is for a few pirate Eddie Gallagher types to get put in charge and the tide shifts instantaneously.
Let’s say pirate Trump neofascist loyalists get selected to lead 15-20% of units. There will be a tidal shift in the willingness to disobey or ignore illegal orders or simply turn a blind eye to illegal and immoral conduct. It’s quite depressing and terrifying how quickly loyalty to moral behavior falls apart especially with military populations that already attract many of the most susceptible to extremist ideologies.
That’s why I hope things won’t go that way since there’s a real possibility of that happening…
Oh well.