Stay out of Politics Troops!!
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Stay out of Politics Troops!!
| Tue, 05-27-2008 - 9:13pm |
The highest-ranking U.S. military officer has written an unusual open letter to all those in uniform, warning them to stay out of politics as the country approaches a presidential election in which the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan will be a central, and certainly divisive, issue.

""The U.S. military must remain apolitical at all times," wrote Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. "It is and must always be a neutral instrument of the state, no matter which party holds sway.""
True.
""As the nation prepares to elect a new president," Mullen wrote, "we would all do well to remember the promises we made: to obey civilian authority, to support and defend the Constitution and to do our duty at all times.""
True again.
""Keeping our politics private is a good first step," he added. "The only things we should be wearing on our sleeves are our military insignia. I am not suggesting that military professionals abandon all personal opinions about modern social or political issues," Mullen wrote. "What I am suggesting - indeed, what the nation expects - is that military personnel will, in the execution of the mission assigned to them, put aside their partisan leanings. Political opinions have no place in cockpit or camp or conference room."
He noted that "part of the deal we made when we joined up was to willingly subordinate our individual interests to the greater good of protecting vital national interests."
I'm not seeing what is so atrocious about what he is suggesting. It makes perfect sense to me. He says very clearly that military personnel will still have personal opinions but they are not to allow those personal opinions to alter their completion of a mission.
It is and must always be a neutral instrument of the state, no matter which party holds sway.
Is it really possible to remain neutral when most American's don't think we should be in Iraq BUT we continue our "mission" there. If most of socitey is aganist something then aren't the troops following the will of those currently in office (Republicans)??
There are plenty of professions in which ones personal political opinion should remain left at home while one is at work.
"But off duty? The solider should have the same right I do to hold and hold forth on their personal political stance."
I agree. OFF DUTY. Of course...when you are deployed you really NEVER are off duty ;)
On this board it is difficult for people to maintain control and things get heated.