Basic rules for generals who
just have to play politics
by
Victor Davis Hanson
Original Article
Posted By: Imright,
6/9/2020 5:18:18 AM
The Uniform Code of Military Justice prohibits active generals from disparaging their commander in chief. Article 88 of the UCMJ makes it a crime to voice “contemptuous words against the president” and other senior civilian officials. But no one quite knows whether such codified prohibitions on free expression apply to retired generals receiving military pensions.And lately, there has been a spate of “contemptuous words” against President Trump, leveled by retired generals, including some who under other presidents condemned just such conduct among their brethren.Given the lack of legal clarity, a confused public could at least expect four rules of general decorum and courtesy when
Reply 1 - Posted by:
Mushroom 6/9/2020 5:39:52 AM (No. 437964)
IIRC if you are accepting retirement pay, you are subject to the UCMJ.
15 people like this.
Reply 2 - Posted by:
mathman 6/9/2020 6:41:49 AM (No. 437985)
Generals can be unfrocked.
They can lose all benefits.
Make it so.
25 people like this.
Reply 3 - Posted by:
Evocatus 6/9/2020 7:13:41 AM (No. 438004)
Admirals and Generals don't retire: The are "Advanced to the Retired List." They may be recalled to active duty at any time, at any age, and often are.
16 people like this.
Reply 4 - Posted by:
coyote 6/9/2020 7:26:14 AM (No. 438013)
What a disappointment these guys are. Hypocrisy and cowardice in response to violent and destructive acts against our country, who would have expected this.
15 people like this.
I'm retired and I know full well that I could be called back to active duty. Many retired soldiers still have pressed uniforms hanging in their closets and shined boots ready to wear. It's a Duty, Honor, Country thing.
16 people like this.
Reply 6 - Posted by:
fhancock 6/9/2020 7:48:23 AM (No. 438043)
Perhaps these WOKE 4 stars ought to read up on Oliver Cromwell and the 1783 Newburgh Conspiracy lead by Horatio Gates...MAYBE USEJUST A LITTLE MORE COMMONSENSE ...or even think for a minute who they are standing with...ANTIFA, a Marxist BLM, anarchists, communists, looters, China, Iran, Venezuela and those people who decimated the military during Obama's reign...a nefarious assortment of thugs to be hanging out with...MATTIS, POWELL, MCCRAVEN, MULLENS, DEMPSEY, KELLEY, ETC.
16 people like this.
Reply 7 - Posted by:
MickTurn 6/9/2020 7:57:25 AM (No. 438060)
They can be recalled to active duty at any time and court marshaled...a fitting punishment for these slugs!
11 people like this.
Reply 8 - Posted by:
Rumblehog 6/9/2020 7:57:58 AM (No. 438061)
Flag Rank Officers can be called back to duty out of retirement at any time. For example the fine SpecOps Officer, Gen. Peter Schoomaker, was asked by President G.W. Bush to return to duty as the 35th Chief of Staff, coming out or retirement and serving the full 4-year term. Because of this, retired Generals are every bit as responsible to follow the UCMJ as any active duty officer.
Court Martial the b@stards!
13 people like this.
Reply 9 - Posted by:
jinx 6/9/2020 8:20:34 AM (No. 438099)
I have yet to hear one general or person who trashes our President give a specific example of how he has divided us. It is the MSM and the Communists who have divided us. They started by making fun of his hair and moving up to the way he held the Bible in front of a church. In between, they criticize every decision he makes no matter what it is. Generals seem to lose their patriotism once they retire.
14 people like this.
Reply 10 - Posted by:
earlybird 6/9/2020 9:40:55 AM (No. 438245)
Generals like Mullen and Kelly and Dempsey were publicly critical of Flynn’s and Allen’s advocacy for candidate Donald J. Trump. There is nothing in the UCMJ to support this, but they believe former officers should not be involved in politics as they represent the military as a whole. But it’s just fine with them when they and others are critical of CIC President Donald J. Trump.
7 people like this.
Reply 11 - Posted by:
HotRod 6/9/2020 10:00:31 AM (No. 438275)
I'm beginning to think that the moniker ''Mad Dog'' has a different connotation for Mattis, and not a good one. The troops who came up with that were trying to tell the brass something negative?
Mattis has dishonored the officer corps. He should know better, and probably does, but chooses dishonor anyway.
8 people like this.
Reply 12 - Posted by:
MDConservative 6/9/2020 10:56:22 AM (No. 438352)
And to think these men were ensconced as heroes not long ago. They were extolled as patriots and all that. "Mad Dog" was the man for the moment to lead America's military. Funny how things change...and so quickly.
4 people like this.
Reply 13 - Posted by:
radrelic 6/9/2020 3:54:13 PM (No. 438779)
They demean themselves.
3 people like this.
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