Ex-VP (and more importantly ex-DefSec) Dick Cheney is apparently the one who originated a joint-letter of “all living former Defense Secretaries” to stress the importance of a peaceful transition of power in an open democracy.
It appears that the former “Worst Leaders of All-time” are having to step up against the current “Worst Leaders of All-time,” to save our democracy.
This is where we are right now.
I’m not saying that this forgives any of Bush/Cheney’s war-crimes. In the annals of history, they must still take responsibility for lying us into a war, where thousands of U.S. troops, and tens of thousands of Iraqi troops/citizens died unnecessarily. And their negligence on Katrina. Etc.
And I’m not a Chicken Little. At least no more than Josh Marshall of TPM is:
“I don’t think that letter gets written unless there is real concern in the highest military (uniformed and civilian) circles that there is either something afoot or a very real worry that President Trump will try to use the military to advance his increasingly desperate effort to stay in office. It simply isn’t written in the ‘wise men saying obvious things’ vein. It seems more focused and specific, reminding people they could face prosecution for following or giving illegal orders.” — Josh at TPM
But, apparently, living with an actual tyrant must be a bridge too far for the old cranker.
SMDH.
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.
And the growing number of R-Senators who are pledging their support for democracy, continues to grow, with even Lindsey Graham making a weak statement of caution.
This is heartening…………………...but…………..
Former Vice President Dick Cheney came up with the idea for nearly a dozen former Pentagon chiefs to write an opinion piece urging current Defense Department officials to stay out of President Trump's bid to overturn the results of the presidential election, according to one signatory.
"The idea for this statement actually originated from Vice President Cheney," said William J. Perry, who served as former President Clinton's Defense secretary.
"Each of us swore an oath to support and defend the Constitution; that oath does not change according to party designation," he added.
In the op-ed published Sunday, 10 former Defense secretaries warned Trump's efforts to contest the election takes the country "into dangerous, unlawful and unconstitutional territory."
[...]
Two of President Trump's former Defense secretaries, Mark Esper and James Mattis, signed the op-ed.
Here are some excerpts from the editorial:
Opinion by Ashton Carter, Dick Cheney, William Cohen, Mark Esper, Robert Gates, Chuck Hagel, James Mattis, Leon Panetta, William Perry and Donald RumsfeldJan. 3, 2021 at 5:00 p.m. GMT-5As 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.
[...]
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.
Given these factors, particularly at a time when U.S. forces are engaged in active operations around the world, it is all the more imperative that the transition at the Defense Department be carried out fully, cooperatively and transparently. Acting defense secretary Christopher C. Miller and his subordinates — political appointees, officers and civil servants — are each bound by oath, law and precedent to facilitate the entry into office of the incoming administration, and to do so wholeheartedly. They must also refrain from any political actions that undermine the results of the election or hinder the success of the new team.
We call upon them, in the strongest terms, to do as so many generations of Americans have done before them. This final action is in keeping with the highest traditions and professionalism of the U.S. armed forces, and the history of democratic transition in our great country.
Most of these ex-SecDef’s are Republican
This is where we are, right now. During a pandemic. During an economic near-collapse.
When future historians find that ALL the living former Defense Secretaries felt it necessary to GO ON RECORD to warn against a martial law coup d'état by Donald Trump, they will know that all the other accusations made during his tenure against him, were not hyperbole.
And in case you think me of the Chicken-Little variety, at least I’m in good company:
Chicken Little, and josh Marshall at TPM:
[...]
Second, you may have noticed there’s an editorial today in the Post in which all living former Defense Secretaries reiterate the importance of a peaceful transfer of power and that any effort to use the military to interfere with or change the results of an election is wrong, illegal and unconstitutional. Former Sec Def Bill Perry (Clinton) said a short time ago that the idea for the joint letter originated with Dick Cheney of all people (Sec Def under George H.W. Bush.)
That additional fact confirmed my initial reaction to the letter. I don’t think that letter gets written unless there is real concern in the highest military (uniformed and civilian) circles that there is either something afoot or a very real worry that President Trump will try to use the military to advance his increasingly desperate effort to stay in office. It simply isn’t written in the ‘wise men saying obvious things’ vein. It seems more focused and specific, reminding people they could face prosecution for following or giving illegal orders.