Over three hundred retired General and Flag Officers of the US armed forces have jointly signed an open letter, calling on Americans to do something about the extraordinary situation in which this country finds itself. They describe themselves as follows:
We are retired military leaders who pledged to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic. Although retired from active service, each of us feels bound by that oath to do what we can, in our capacity today, to protect our nation from the threats to her freedom.
I can't argue with that motivation. Having sworn almost exactly the same oath as a prison chaplain (it's used by Federal law enforcement agencies as well as officers in our military services), I consider myself bound in the same way.
Here's the text of their open letter. I reproduce it in full in order to encourage open debate about it, and help us to understand the national security implications of current events.
Our Nation is in deep peril. We are in a fight for our survival as a Constitutional Republic like no other time since our founding in 1776. The conflict is between supporters of Socialism and Marxism vs. supporters of Constitutional freedom and liberty.
During the 2020 election an “Open Letter from Senior Military Leaders” was signed by 317 retired Generals and Admirals and, it said the 2020 election could be the most important election since our country was founded. “With the Democrat Party welcoming Socialists and Marxists, our historic way of life is at stake.” Unfortunately, that statement’s truth was quickly revealed, beginning with the election process itself.
Without fair and honest elections that accurately reflect the “will of the people” our Constitutional Republic is lost. Election integrity demands insuring there is one legal vote cast and counted per citizen. Legal votes are identified by State Legislature’s approved controls using government IDs, verified signatures, etc. Today, many are calling such commonsense controls “racist” in an attempt to avoid having fair and honest elections. Using racial terms to suppress proof of eligibility is itself a tyrannical intimidation tactic. Additionally, the “Rule of Law” must be enforced in our election processes to ensure integrity. The FBI and Supreme Court must act swiftly when election irregularities are surfaced and not ignore them as was done in 2020. Finally, H.R.1 & S.1, (if passed), would destroy election fairness and allow Democrats to forever remain in power violating our Constitution and ending our Representative Republic.
Aside from the election, the Current Administration has launched a full-blown assault on our Constitutional rights in a dictatorial manner, bypassing the Congress, with more than 50 Executive Orders quickly signed, many reversing the previous Administration’s effective policies and regulations. Moreover, population control actions such as excessive lockdowns, school and business closures, and most alarming, censorship of written and verbal expression are all direct assaults on our fundamental Rights. We must support and hold accountable politicians who will act to counter Socialism, Marxism and Progressivism, support our Constitutional Republic, and insist on fiscally responsible governing while focusing on all Americans, especially the middle class, not special interest or extremist groups which are used to divide us into warring factions.
Additional National Security Issues and Actions:
- Open borders jeopardize national security by increasing human trafficking, drug cartels, terrorists entry, health/CV19 dangers, and humanitarian crises. Illegals are flooding our Country bringing high economic costs, crime, lowering wages, and illegal voting in some states. We must reestablish border controls and continue building the wall while supporting our dedicated border control personnel. Sovereign nations must have controlled borders.
- China is the greatest external threat to America. Establishing cooperative relations with the Chinese Communist Party emboldens them to continue progress toward world domination, militarily, economically, politically and technologically. We must impose more sanctions and restrictions to impede their world domination goal and protect America’s interests.
- The free flow of information is critical to the security of our Republic, as illustrated by freedom of speech and the press being in the 1st Amendment of our Constitution. Censoring speech and expression, distorting speech, spreading disinformation by government officials, private entities, and the media is a method to suppress the free flow of information, a tyrannical technique used in closed societies. We must counter this on all fronts beginning with removing Section 230 protection from big tech.
- Re-engaging in the flawed Iran Nuclear Deal would result in Iran acquiring nuclear weapons along with the means to deliver them, thereby upsetting Mideast peace initiatives and aiding a terrorist nation whose slogans and goals include “death to America” and “death to Israel” . We must resist the new China/Iran agreement and not support the Iran Nuclear Deal. In addition, continue with the Mideast peace initiatives, the “Abraham Accords,” and support for Israel.
- Stopping the Keystone Pipeline eliminates our recently established energy independence and causes us to be energy dependent on nations not friendly to us, while eliminating valuable US jobs. We must open the Keystone Pipeline and regain our energy independence for national security and economic reasons.
- Using the U.S. military as political pawns with thousands of troops deployed around the U.S. Capitol Building, patrolling fences guarding against a non-existent threat, along with forcing Politically Correct policies like the divisive critical race theory into the military at the expense of the War Fighting Mission, seriously degrades readiness to fight and win our Nation’s wars, creating a major national security issue. We must support our Military and Vets; focus on war fighting, eliminate the corrosive infusion of Political Correctness into our military which damages morale and war fighting cohesion.
- The “Rule of Law” is fundamental to our Republic and security. Anarchy as seen in certain cities cannot be tolerated. We must support our law enforcement personnel and insist that DAs, our courts, and the DOJ enforce the law equally, fairly, and consistently toward all.
- The mental and physical condition of the Commander in Chief cannot be ignored. He must be able to quickly make accurate national security decisions involving life and limb anywhere, day or night. Recent Democrat leadership’s inquiries about nuclear code procedures sends a dangerous national security signal to nuclear armed adversaries, raising the question about who is in charge. We must always have an unquestionable chain of command.
Under a Democrat Congress and the Current Administration, our Country has taken a hard left turn toward Socialism and a Marxist form of tyrannical government which must be countered now by electing congressional and presidential candidates who will always act to defend our Constitutional Republic. The survival of our Nation and its cherished freedoms, liberty, and historic values are at stake.
We urge all citizens to get involved now at the local, state and/or national level to elect political representatives who will act to Save America, our Constitutional Republic, and hold those currently in office accountable. The “will of the people” must be heard and followed.
Signed by:
RADM Ernest B. Acklin, USCG, ret.
MG Joseph T. Anderson, USMC, ret.
RADM Philip Anselmo, USN, ret.
MG Joseph Arbuckle, USA, ret.
BG John Arick, USMC, ret.
RADM Jon W. Bayless, Jr. USN, ret.
RDML James Best, USN, ret.
BG Charles Bishop, USAF, ret.
BG William A. Bloomer, USMC, ret.
BG Donald Bolduc, USA, ret.
LTG William G. Boykin, USA, ret.
MG Edward R. Bracken, USAF, ret.
MG Patrick H. Brady, MOH, USA, ret.
VADM Edward S. Briggs, USN, ret.
LTG Richard “Tex’ Brown III USAF, ret.
BG Frank Bruno, USAF, ret.
VADM Toney M. Bucchi, USN, ret.
RADM John T. Byrd, USN, ret.
BG Jimmy Cash, USAF, ret.
LTG Dennis D. Cavin, USA, ret.
LTG James E. Chambers, USAF, ret.
MG Carroll D. Childers, USA, ret.
BG Clifton C. “Tip” Clark, USAF, ret.
VADM Ed Clexton, USN, ret.
MG Jay Closner, USAF, ret
VADM John G. Cotton, USN (ret)
MG Tommy F. Crawford, USAF, ret.
MG Robert E. Dempsey, USAF, ret.
BG Phillip Drew, USAF, ret.
MG Neil L. Eddins, USAF, ret.
RADM Ernest Elliot, USN, ret.
BG Jerome V. Foust, USA, ret.
BG Jimmy E. Fowler, USA, ret.
RADM J. Cameron Fraser, USN, ret.
MG John T. Furlow, USA, ret.
MG Timothy F. Ghormley, USMC, ret.
MG Francis C. Gideon, USAF, ret.
MG William A. Gorton, USAF, ret.
MG Lee V. Greer, USAF, ret.
RDML Michael R. Groothousen, Sr., USN, ret.
BG John Grueser, USAF, ret.
MG Kent H. Hillhouse, USA (ret)
MG Ken Hagemann, USAF, ret.
BG Norman Ham, USAF, ret.
VADM William Hancock, USN, ret.
LTG Henry J. Hatch, USA, ret.
MG Harald G. Hermes, USAF (ret)
BG James M. Hesson, USA, ret.
MG Bill Hobgood, USA, ret.
BG Stanislaus J. Hoey, USA, ret.
MG Bob Hollingsworth, USMC, ret.
MG Jerry D. Holmes, USAF, ret.
MG Clinton V. Horn, USAF, ret.
MG James P. Hunt, USAF, (ret)
LTG Joseph E. Hurd, USAF, ret.
VADM Paul Ilg, USN, ret.
MG T. Irby, USA, ret.
LTG Ronald Iverson, USAF, ret.
RADM (L) Grady L. Jackson
MG William K. James, USAF, ret.
LTG James H. Johnson, Jr. USA, ret.
ADM. Jerome L. Johnson, USN, ret.
BG Charles Jones, USAF, ret.
BG Robert R. Jordan, USA, ret.
RADML Herbert C. Kaler, USN, ret
BG Jack H. Kotter, USA, ret.
MG Anthony R. Kropp, USA, ret
BG Charles Kruse, ARNG, ret..
RADM Chuck Kubic, USN, ret.
BG Jerry L. Laws, USA, ret.
BG Douglas E. Lee, USA, ret.
MG Vernon B. Lewis, USA, ret.
MG Thomas G. Lightner, USA, ret.
MG James E. Livingston, USMC, ret. MOH
MG John D. Logeman, USAF, ret.
MG Jarvis Lynch, USMC, ret.
LTG Fred McCorkle, USMC, ret.
MG Don McGregor, USAF, ret.
LTG Thomas McInerney, USAF, ret.
RADM John H. McKinley, USN, ret.
BG Michael P. McRaney, USAF, ret.
BG Ronald S. Mangum, USA, ret.
BG James M. Mead, USMC, ret.
BG Joe Mensching, USAF, ret.
RADM W. F. Merlin, USCG, ret.
RADM (L) Mark Milliken, USN, ret.
MG John F. Miller, USAF, ret.
RADM Ralph M. Mitchell, Jr. USN, ret.
MG Paul Mock, USA. ret.
BG Daniel I. Montgomery, USA, ret.,
RADM John A. Moriarty, USN, ret.,
RADM David R. Morris, USN, ret.
MG James H. Mukoyama, Jr. USA, ret
RADM Bill Newman, USN, ret.
BG Joe Oder, USA, ret.
MG O’Mara, USAF, ret.
MG Joe S. Owens, USA, ret.
VADM Jimmy Pappas, USN, ret.
LTG Garry L. Parks, USMC, ret.
RADM Russ Penniman, RADM, USN, ret.
RADM Leonard F. Picotte, ret.
VADM John Poindexter, USN, ret.
RADM Ronald Polant, USCG, ret.
MG Greg Power, USAF, ret.
RDM Brian Prindle, USN, ret.
RADM J.J. Quinn, USN, ret.
LTG Clifford H. Rees, Jr. USAF, ret.
RADM William J. Ryan, USN (ret)
RADM Norman T. Saunders, USCG, ret.
MG Richard V. Secord, USAF, ret.
RADM William R. Schmidt, USN, ret.
LTG Hubert Smith, USA, ret.
MG James N. Stewart, USAF, ret.
RADM Thomas Stone, USN., ret.
BG Joseph S. Stringham, USA, ret.
MG Michael Sullivan, USMC, ret.
RADM (U) Jeremy Taylor, USN, ret.
LTG David Teal, USAF, ret.
VADM Howard B. Thorsen, USCG, ret.
RADM Robert P. Tiernan, USN, ret.
LTG Garry Trexler, USAF, ret.
BG James T. Turlington, M.D., USAF, ret.
BG Richard J. Valente, USA ret.
MG Paul Vallely, USA, ret.
MG Russell L. Violett, USAF, ret.
BG George H. Walker, Jr. USAR Corp of Engineers, ret.
MG Kenneth Weir, USMCR, ret.
BG William O. Welch, USAF, ret.
MG John M. White, USAF, ret.
MG Geoffrey P. Wiedeman, JR. USAF, ret.
MG Richard O. Wightman, Jr., USA, ret.
RADM Denny Wisely, USN, ret.
RADM Ray Cowden Witter, USN, ret.
LTG John Woodward, ret
I note that our retired military leaders are not alone in speaking out when they believe that our nation is in peril. Numerous retired French generals and admirals recently did likewise - in fact, they warned their government against what they saw as the real possibility of civil war in France. I'm not sure that the danger there is any greater than that we're experiencing on this side of the Atlantic Ocean.
I have no real expectation that the Biden administration will do anything but ignore this open letter (and perhaps seek to retaliate against all those who signed it). That doesn't alter the fact that these retired officers were concerned enough about our country to stick their necks out and say so publicly. Some of their comments might be interpreted as partisan political views, but I think the overall emphasis is clearly on our national security rather than any single political party's interests.
What say you, dear readers? Should they have remained silent, or were they correct to speak out in their former military capacities?
Peter
14 comments:
The fact that they think the voters can vote their way out of this is the part that makes me think they are deluding themselves.
If they honestly believe that the election was not fair and honest, and believe that the 2020 election was not representative of the people's wishes, then why would they believe that the next one would be any different?
Hey Peter;
A day late and a dollar short....Where were they when the donks were trotting out their pet officers to a fawning media and savaging President Trump and his administration? Now they bitch? They could have counteracted all the B.S that the democrats pulled as far as the military went, but they stayed silent while their pet officers went on all the talk shows and pontificated on how great Biden was and how "unstable and dangerous President Trump is'. I'm kinda disgusted right now....
They were correct to speak out.
As are we all.
Anyone who thinks they will be voting their way out of ClownWorld in this lifetime is delusional.
They have correctly defined the tyranny that exists.
But like every general and flag grade officer for the last 70 years, they refuse to acknowledge the awful truth of what's required to end it.
There's only one road out of tyranny, and it generally runs hip-deep in the blood and gore of your enemies and allies.
So the fundamental question remains: Will the American people do what is necessary to have liberty? Or will they roll over in servitude?
Everything else is mere corollary discussion.
And the retired old fart brassholes, secure in their lifelong pensions and medical benefits, have carefully constructed a non-answer answer that cleverly won't upset the applecart, nor break their own ricebowl sinecures, at least in their own lifetimes.
Color me shocked.
This is the O-7-and-up equivalent of "Let's you and him fight."
If that's all the skin they're willing to invest in the game (and it manifestly is at this point), f**k them, and the horses they rode into town.
We need scouts, coaches, and quarterbacks, not more cheerleaders shaking their pom-poms in their shriveled old hands.
If the republic is restored, their pensions and benefits should be ended on the same day. If any of them are willing to take a more active role, well and good, and we can discuss what happens to those few afterwards. But at this point, they're nothing but a fart in a hurricane, which is all most of them ever were.
Purely due to custom and courtesy, I give a pass to the two listed MoH winners on that list, but only for that, and to no others, absent something no more significant than weasling words on a sheet of paper.
Deeds, not words.
@ Aesop
TNX much
@Aesop--what he said.
The startling point about this is that to ascend to that level in the military requires one to be a politician, especially in the previous 50 years. For the most part, they would have to be cognizant of how dangerous it would be to take such a public stance. Then again, they should be aware that those at that level, in or out of service, would be a prime target for attention by the junta at some point. (It's the colonels they really should be worried about.)
Makes me wonder if they have talked to the French military who did the same thing?
I retired in '87. Don't know any of them.
Ramon Colon-Lopez of Task Force White recently praised BLM as a social justice organization. Then there's that recent Woke CIA ad.
It must be frustrating for the gatekeepers who honor their oaths to see the country headed in the direction that it is.
My question; Has anyone or source verified that these folk did indeed sign this letter or that the names on the list are really USA retired O-7 and aboves?
Me doth not trust the internet.
William Shakespeare
Gerry
I don't have Aesop's eloquence, but I'll sum their message up rhetorically:
voooot harder!!!
Although my gut is with Aesop, I'll throw out this possibility: this is part of a planned op to signal active military who cannot by law speak out that they are supported. Iow, we know you guys feel this way but can't say it so we'll say it for you and with you. This kind of letter seeeems weasely and weak but it's a necessary step to justifying the imposition of martial law when enough states reach the same conclusion as AZ that Biden is not the legitimate civilian authority and CIC.
Only the military can root out the gangster government now. They know that too and will take action sooner or later.
@ Tschifty: That is wishful and delusional thinking. No one is coming to save you.
Sadly, I dont see us voting our way out of this mess... the Left is too close to the ultimate goal of total control to be stopped so easily. There will be much more blood spilled, and we have no guarantee of the outcome...the Republic of the Founders may be gone, forever. (sigh)
The idea that the Woke Military will save anyone but themselves is more delusional than MOAR VOTING!
The military has about a 50% chance of becoming the next tyranny, and a 40% chance of being the resupply point for the revolution. The other 10% is all other possibilities.
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