Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General. Mark Mill made his commitment to the Constitution clear at an event on Wednesday while standing next to newly appointed acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller.
“We are unique in armies. We do not swear by a king or a queen, a tyrant or a dictator. We do not swear by any person. No, we do not swear by any country, any race.” We swear by the constitution. And whatever soldier is represented in this museum, every sailor, air minister, marine, coast guardman, regardless of each of our personal documents, will protect and defend that document, “Mille said, commenting on the opening of the US Army Museum.
While Mille regularly refers to the military’s pledge to uphold the constitution, he chose to reinforce the message during his first public comment after a big bang from the Pentagon’s senior civilian leadership.
Following Trump’s dramatic cleansing of some senior Pentagon officials who have been replaced with political loyalists and conspiratorial ideologues, all eyes are now on whether Trump will take action against the uniformed military leadership, including Mili. ? .
The military prides itself on being non-ideological, while senior uniformed officers will have to deal with new administrative appointments that are fiercely committed to Trump’s agenda.
Unlike politically appointed civilian leadership positions, many of which have been pushed or resigned in the last 48 hours, military leadership historically continues into the next administration.
All this has happened because Trump refused to accept the election of President-elect Joe Biden and the administration will still continue the process of transition formal transition.
Millie is concerned about politicization
Mili, who was appointed in October 2019, will officially complete her term in 2023.
President Barack Obama appointed General Joseph Dunford as chairman in 2015, and in the first years of the Trump administration, Dunford served until his term ended in 2019.
But Trump may choose to fire his top general before Miley’s term expires in 2023.
Many of Trump’s loyalists, who have been installed at most senior posts at the Pentagon, come from White House National Security Council staff and are expected to advance the NSC’s priorities in the Department of Defense.
While many officials have praised Miller’s reputation and ability, some see him as relatively inexperienced for a senior incumbent, with one senior defense official calling him a “tool” and a “vassal of the NSC” to put in place. White House agenda.
Informed sources told CNN’s Jack Tapper on Tuesday that the Department of Defense may have a Puge-directed White House because now ousted Defense Secretary Mark Asper and his team were pushing for a premature withdrawal from Afghanistan that would be carried out before the necessary conditions. Grounds were found, and other outstanding security issues.
Mile stressed that the withdrawal from Afghanistan should be conditional
Mile also stressed that any withdrawal from Afghanistan should be subject to conditions and should be done in a way that does not endanger US security.
That attitude was formed in a war of words with senior General White House National Security Adviser Robert O’Brien, who advocated a faster wage withdrawal from Afghanistan regardless of land conditions.
U.S. Military officials have long insisted that the US withdrawal from Afghanistan is conditional on the Taliban severing ties with al Qaeda and making progress in peace talks with the Afghan government.
Millie also backed the renaming of the base after Confederate officials and apologized for appearing in a photo-in with Trump after forcibly dispersing peaceful protesters outside the White House, calling the move a “mistake” and saying his presence created a sense Of the military involved in local politics. “
Trump has defended the photo-defend pages and has spoken out against attempts to rename the base after Confederate officials.
But while Trump may fire Miley in principle, it will be technically limited to who they can tap to replace him.
By law, Vice Chairman Staff will automatically serve as acting chairman after the departure of Air Force Vice Chairman General John Highten Milena.
If Trump also fired Highten, the president would have to appoint a member of the joint chiefs as acting chairman.
As part of that, Miley seems to be doing business as usual.
After Asper was fired on Monday, Mili held a secure video teleconference with other members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and leaders of the Combatant Commands in a safe meeting room known as “Tank”, a senior U.S. official said.
Senior officials then visited the U.S. He called on his adversaries abroad to ensure that the military mission continues and that the Pentagon maintains its military stability around the world.
The official said Executive Secretary Miller has met with Mille and other senior staff and will give them “initial guidance” not to expect significant changes at this time.
Mille is also doing normal business by meeting with Chief of Staff of the Qatari Armed Forces Lt. Gen. Ghanim bin Shaheen Al Ghanim at the Pentagon on Tuesday.
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