Joint Chiefs denounce 'sedition and insurrection' of Capitol attack

[Tangmo]

The Joint Chiefs of the armed forces have made a rare statement to the armed forces globally about the civil "sedition and insurrection" in Washington last week, noting that President Elect Biden is certified to become "our 46th commander in chief."

The JCS led by the Chairman Army General Mark A. Milley spoke directly to the US armed forces: "To our men and women deployed and at home, safeguard our country--stay ready, keep your eyes on the horizon, and remain focused on the mission," they concluded.


Joint Chiefs denounce 'sedition and insurrection' of Capitol attack

4 hrs ago

The United States' top military officers on Tuesday condemned the "sedition and insurrection" that took place at the Capitol last week when supporters of President Trump overtook the building.

Army General Mark Anthony Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff


"We witnessed actions inside the Capitol building that were inconsistent with the rule of law. The rights of freedom of speech and assembly do not give anyone the right to resort to violence, sedition and insurrection," Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley and the rest of the Joint Chiefs wrote in memo to the force. In addition to Milley, the memo was signed by Vice Chairman Gen. John Hyten and the chiefs of the Army, Navy, Marines Corps, Air Force, Space Force and National Guard. "As service members, we must embody the values and ideals of the nation," they wrote. "We support and defend the Constitution. Any act to disrupt the Constitutional process is not only against our traditions, values and oath; it is against the law."


Military officers typically avoid commenting on anything that can be perceived as thrusting the military into politics. But the assault on the Capitol in an effort to overturn a democratic process has shaken Washington and the nation. In their memo, the Joint Chiefs reminded service members of their oath to uphold the Constitution. "As service members, we must embody the values and ideals of the nation," they wrote. "We support and defend the Constitution. Any act to disrupt the Constitutional process is not only against our traditions, values and oath; it is against the law." They further reminded the force that under the Constitution, Biden will be their commander in chief next week. "On Jan. 20, 2021, in accordance with the Constitution, confirmed by the states and the courts, and certified by Congress, President-elect Biden will be inaugurated and will become our 46th commander in chief," they wrote. "To our men and women deployed and at home, safeguard our country--stay ready, keep your eyes on the horizon, and remain focused on the mission," they concluded. "We honor your continued service in defense of every American."

Joint Chiefs denounce 'sedition and insurrection' of Capitol attack

 

[Tangmo]

This is the letter in full signed by Gen. Milley and each member of the Joint Chiefs.


The Joint Chiefs of Staff signed the memo to all the armed forces at home and abroad noting that President Elect Biden is "our 46th commander in chief" who will be inaugurated Constitutionally on January 20th.

Gen. Hyten, Gen. Milley, Gen. McConville, Gen. Berger, Adm. Gilday, Gen. Brown, Gen. Hokanson, Gen. Raymond.

Gen. Hyten was commander of Strategic Command which is the nuclear arsenal when Trump was raging "fire and fury" about North Korea. The general, appointed by the then SecDef Mattis told Trump he would not obey an illegal order. The statement was clear, Gen. Hyten and the Joint Chiefs told Trump an order to launch, which never came of course, would be an illegal order under the time, the place, the circumstances.

 

[Chomsky]

They are making it clear where the military stands, just in case anyone doubted.

 

[Tangmo]

For information purposes, of the 8 joint chiefs, 5 were commissioned as officers via ROTC and 3 were commissioned after graduating a government service academy.

Who and where:
Army Gen. Milley ROTC Princeton
AF Gen. Hyten ROTC Harvard
Army Gen. McConville USMA
USMC Gen. Berger ROTC Tulane
USN Adm. Gilday USNA
AF Gen. Brown ROTC Texas Tech University
AF Gen. Raymond ROTC Clemson
Army Gen. Hokenson USMA


ROTC is the single largest source of officers across the armed services. There are 276 ROTC programs at colleges and universities across the USA. In WW 2 more officers served who graduated from Texas A&M ROTC than by any other source, 12,000.

Each of Joint Chiefs has at least two master's degrees to include Gen. Hokenson's MA in Civil-Military Relations from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey CA.

Milley has an MA in National Security and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College at Newport RI and an MA in International Relations from Columbia. Joint Service studies are encouraged by the Congress.

 

[Tangmo]

The JCS and their chairman are on the case.


Joint Chiefs issue statement backing president-elect Biden

Chairman of the JCS Gen. Mark A. Milley who is also former chief of staff of the Army.


In a message to the entire U.S. military, the Joint Chiefs of Staff on Tuesday called last week’s Capitol riot “a direct assault on the U.S. Congress, the Capitol building, and our constitutional process”


"On Jan. 20, 2021, in accordance with the Constitution, confirmed by the states and the courts, and certified by Congress, President-elect Biden will be inaugurated and will become our 46th commander in chief," the memo to the entire armed forces stated.


The JCS led by its chairman referenced the present existence of "sedition and insurrection" in the United States. Which would mean the Insurrection Act could be pursued to ensure the inauguration of Potus Elect Biden on Jan. 20th. This could occur in Washington only or in state capitals too where violent demonstrations are planned by the uniquely American fascist Potus Trump and his fascist thugs.

Let them try.

 

[Tangmo]

The strong military presence is consistent with past inaugurations.

In both 2013 and 2017, about 13,000 active duty and National Guard troops assisted with security, directing traffic, and crowd control. Many NG troops also played traditional ceremonial roles, marching in dress uniform and playing in bands.

There's no question military leaders and commanders with many members of Congress want a strong show of force by the NG to avoid the lawless riots by the violent insurrectionists who attacked the Capitol last week.



Up to 15,000 National Guard troops authorized to support Biden's inauguration

General Daniel Hokanson told reporters that there are expected to be about 10,000 troops in the city by Saturday and would be focusing on supporting security, logistics, and communications.

National Guard troops arriving at the Capitol on Monday morning. Credit...Anna Moneymaker for The New York Times


The National Guard plans to deploy up to 15,000 troops to Washington, D.C., for the inauguration to guard against any violent attempt by pro-Trump mobs to disrupt the peaceful transfer of power, the chief of the National Guard Bureau, Gen. Daniel Hokanson, said Monday. Six thousand troops from six states have already arrived, General Hokanson said. By this weekend that number is expected to have grown to 10,000. “We want our individuals to have the right to self-defense,” General Hokanson told a telephone news conference. All the troops coming to Washington, he said, are bringing their rifles and guns with them.

Chief of the National Guard Bureau and member of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Daniel Hokanson stands at front of the Senate side of the Capitol Building, Monday evening, overseeing troops and their commanders arriving on the scene.


At the same time, Defense officials are grappling with a stark issue: President Trump remains [somewhat] popular in the ranks and some of the protesters who stormed the Capitol last Wednesday, Defense officials acknowledged, were former members of the military. On Monday, Senator Tammy Duckworth called for a formal investigation into the rioters’ ties to the military. It is against military regulations to associate with extremist groups. General Hokanson said if any troops have violated that regulation, “they will be referred to their chain of command and the appropriate authorities.”

https://www.nytimes.com/live/2021/0...eploy-up-to-15000-troops-for-the-inauguration


Still, it ain't over till the fat lady sings.

 

[CaughtInThe]

Rush Limbaugh. Sean Hannity. Alex Jones. Tucker Carlson. Fox News. Donald Trump.

People who forced our military leaders to issue a statement about insurrection and sedition.

 

[Tangmo]

Rush Limbaugh. Sean Hannity. Alex Jones. Tucker Carlson. Fox News. Donald Trump.

People who forced our military leaders to issue a statement about insurrection and sedition.

And the Rowers.

 

[Somerville]

Increasing numbers of white supremacists, neo-Nazis and 'True Patriots' in America's military and law enforcement agencies could be a serious problem in the near future.

Security Officials Face the Possibility of a Threat from the Inside on Inauguration Day

More than a dozen law enforcement officers and current and former military officials are reported to have taken part in the violent Jan. 6 insurrection that killed a U.S. Capitol Police officer and cost four supporters of President Donald Trump their lives. One Navy and two Air Force veterans are among those being investigated by law enforcement for the attack, as is a junior Army officer by her superiors, while several U.S. Capitol Police officers have been suspended after video showed them appearing to assist some of the rioters who were spurred to action by Trump’s refusal to accept defeat.

Now the FBI is warning of planned armed protests at the Jan. 20 Inauguration in Washington, D.C., and in all 50 state capitals, current senior U.S. officials tell TIME. Current and former security officials say they are concerned that serving U.S. troops or law enforcement officers could pose a clear and present danger to the President- and Vice President-elect and other senior U.S. lawmakers on Inauguration Day. Federal investigators are also trying to track down military and law enforcement members or veterans who took part on Jan. 6, and trace their wider network of associates who may be plotting to turn next week into the mayhem being called for on far-right forums.

The military has a hate group problem. But it doesn't know how bad it's gotten.

Signs of white supremacy, extremism up again in poll of active-duty troops

 

[Tangmo]

Brass at the Pentagon are still scrambling to explain why the National Guard was denied during the Capitol insurrectionist riots Wednesday last week, or was delayed, or was hesitant, making it too late for citizen soldiers to gather up, gear up, be transported and get orders and instructions.

Trump's civilian hacks installed at Pentagon and the military chiefs are virtually all out for the Inauguration however and for a number of reasons. It's much the inverse for the inauguration vs the riots in the Capitol against the Congress.

National Guard troops from several states bordering Washington and nearby are arriving in the federal city in force in the leadup to the Inauguration, Jan. 20th.



The big stink against Trump's installed civilian chiefs who denied or delayed has put 'em on notice -- along with Trump too -- that a repeat performance Jan 20th will likely get 'em run out of town with a posse chasing 'em.

There's also the letter signed by the ten living former defense secretaries that was directed to Trump more than to the military. The former SecDefs warned not to interfere in the peaceful transer of power. Their statement also came after the lunatic Flynn was driveling on about martial law and a "rerun" of the election. Several of the former SecDef made the rounds of tv and newspapers to reinforce their point, notably Republicans Bill Cohen and Chuck Hegel.

Pentagon military chiefs were also concerned that sending uniformed and armed military to the Capitol would still have Trump as CinC and, given the purpose of the rioting insurrectionists, could take on the appearance of a Trump ordered military coup being executed by the military too.


Pentagon is also concerned about the still negative NG image after the Ohio NG shot and killed four students and wounded others at Kent State University during a 1970 antiwar demonstration, acting under martial law declared by the Republican governor. Many NG were charged but none convicted because it was martial law.

Still however the NG was all over the place during the June demonstrations at Lafayette Park against the death of George Floyd. Lafayette Square and Park are a regular demonstration locale next to the WH and, as with hundreds of other demonstrations there, posed no threat to the WH. Peaceful demonstrators were gassed and run out on orders of Trump. Indeed, there didn't seem to be any NG sympatico to the demonstrators.



Not all brass are shy about using active duty military to put down the insurrectionists either. Gen. ret. Barry McCaffrey said on tv last week The Old Guard of the Army 3rd Infantry Regiment at Ft. Myer on the opposite bank of the Potomac could have been called in and deployed from its 30 minute ready standby status that is the norm for large demonstrations that are potentially risky. That's 7 'line' companies of infantry if you want to use 'em all.

Soldiers of Honor Guard Company, 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard), conduct tactical training at Fort A.P. Hill, Va., Oct. 10, 2019. The MOUT site is designed to imitate the type of urban environment that Soldiers can expect to see downrange.

Pfc. Cheyenne Rakestraw, infantryman, Caisson platoon, 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard), camouflages the face of Pfc. Cameron Hoselton, infantryman, Caisson platoon, during Expert Infantry Badge training, March 13, 2019, at Fort. A.P. Hill, Va. Soldiers are graded on camouflage techniques and other tactical skills during the EIB testing phase, March 19-23, at Fort A.P. Hill, Va.


In this second photo btw is the insignia patch (subdued) of the Military District of Washington and the distinctive tab of the 3 IR TOG. The really good news though is that the awful name A.P. Hill will be gone soon and very soon although it was never soon enough.

 

[Atomic Kid]

They are making it clear where the military stands, just in case anyone doubted.

Damn right they are. There are two groups of people that message is meant for. First is the civilian leadership of the military, as in those politically appointed by Trump to DOD positions. The "will obey lawful orders from civilian leadership" part of that statement is a direct message to them that the US military will not participate in a coup so don't even think about trying to order them to do so. The second group is us, you and I, the people. The last part of the statement is meant to reassure those of us who are worried that everything is going to be alright. They are committed to supporting and defending the constitution. "President-elect Biden will be inaugurated and will become our 46th Commander in Chief." Whenever the US military command uses the word "will" in a statement you better sit up and take notice. Cause when they say "will", it's definitely going to happen. They never say; 'Major, it would be really nice if you could take that airfield.' Nope, they say; 'Major you will take that airfield.' Joe Biden is going to be inaugurated and he is going to be 46th President of the United States on January 20. And to those of you who might be considering interfering with that constitutional process. Be advised that you will be doing so at your own peril. Because any attempt to do so will be met with the full force of the US military. Very sad that it had come to this.

 

[Tangmo]

Color them blue.

Secretary of the Army Ryan McCarthy is CinC of the District of Columbia National Guard given it is not a state and hasn't any governor, each governor being CinC of the state NG.

McCarthy said the entire D.C. National Guard has been mobilized and is being supplemented by Guard troops from Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York. South of Virginia need not apply, as it were.

Potus-Elect Biden has indicated already he's inclined to invite McCarthy to continue in his post for at least another year, which is not unusual for civilian officials to do at the Pentagon. McCarthy has said in reply to the report that he'd be honored to continue. Potus Obama retained Bob Gates as SecDef along with some member of Gates team in the office of the SecDef.