Ashton Carter, Dick Cheney, William Cohen, Mark Esper, Robert Gates, Chuck Hagel, James Mattis, Leon Panetta, William Perry and Donald Rumsfeld are the 10 living former U.S. secretaries of defense.
As former secretaries of defense, we hold a common view of the solemn obligations of the U.S. armed forces and the Defense Department. Each of us swore an oath to support and defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic. We did not swear it to an individual or a party.
American elections and the peaceful transfers of power that result are hallmarks of our democracy. With one singular and tragic exception that cost the lives of more Americans than all of our other wars combined, the United States has had an unbroken record of such transitions since 1789, including in times of partisan strife, war, epidemics and economic depression. This year should be no exception.
Our elections have occurred. Recounts and audits have been conducted. Appropriate challenges have been addressed by the courts. Governors have certified the results. And the electoral college has voted. The time for questioning the results has passed; the time for the formal counting of the electoral college votes, as prescribed in the Constitution and statute, has arrived.
As senior Defense Department leaders have noted, “there’s no role for the U.S. military in determining the outcome of a U.S. election.” Efforts to involve the U.S. armed forces in resolving election disputes would take us into dangerous, unlawful and unconstitutional territory. Civilian and military officials who direct or carry out such measures would be accountable, including potentially facing criminal penalties, for the grave consequences of their actions on our republic.
Transitions, which all of us have experienced, are a crucial part of the successful transfer of power. They often occur at times of international uncertainty about U.S. national security policy and posture. They can be a moment when the nation is vulnerable to actions by adversaries seeking to take advantage of the situation.
I recall swearing to obey the orders of the president of the United States and defend the constitution from enemies foreign and domestic. Trump might ought to be ordering us who took that oath if he cares about the country or even his own family these globalists will make an example out him and his kids .
NOT ONE HAS WON A WAR
If Biden takes office, he and his administration will begin, and most likely, complete the destruction of our nation and Constitution. Is that what you want the military to defend? I say President Trump has every right to invoke the Insurrection Act before the demise of America can even begin.
I get their point, but I would counter that it is equally dangerous territory to allow a fraudulent election to stand unchallenged.
Editorial in the Wash. Post. What else would we expect.
Trump is the Commander in Chief and the rightful winner of this election.
He did not create this situation.
He has not lowered himself to the level of his enemies but he will fight with EVERY weapon available. If Army intelligence is one of those, then so be it. If military justice is the proper remedy, so be it. There are precedents. This is war.
Trump’s adversaries are wicked individuals whose utter disregard for the law, and disrespect for the rights of their fellow citizens, is incomprehensible to those of us who value the rights and liberty of all men, the opinions of armchair generals not withstanding.
Seems like DHS is trying to organize their own army against the citizens:
DHS=Does Hitler Smile