The Military's Moral Imperative: A Threat from Within

The U.S. military is often seen as the backbone of American democracy, with a tradition of nonpartisan service that is indispensable to maintaining trust with the American public. However, President Trump's decision to deploy National Guard troops into the streets of American cities threatens to fracture this bond and undermine the military's ability to recruit young Americans from all political factions. The deployment also risks military cohesion and morale, as soldiers are turned into a domestic security force for the President's campaign of repression and revenge.

Key Takeaways:

• The U.S. military is not trained to police American streets, and deploying National Guard units or active-duty troops to enforce state and local laws is a misuse of their skills and training.
• Trump's deployment puts military cohesion and morale at risk, as soldiers are forced to participate in a campaign that many would find grotesque and partisan.
• The deployment of thousands of soldiers to domestic duty could degrade readiness for the military's true mission: deterring foreign enemies and winning combat if deterrence fails.
• Internal security operations are poor preparation for combat with advanced militaries, and when a military is pulled into politics, it can create paths to promotion that prioritize personal loyalty over combat effectiveness.
• The Russian military faced similar challenges under Vladimir Putin, with professionalism secondary to politics, leading to a decline in effectiveness and a surprise on Ukrainian battlefields.
• President Trump's reported personal interviews with candidates for top military positions are a departure from past practice and raise concerns about the politicization of the military.
• The military's all-volunteer force is a reflection of American society, and its members are being asked to demonstrate that there are Americans who can live and die for one another across immense differences.

Statistics:

• The U.S. military is not trained to police American streets, with military police training focused on enforcing the Uniform Code of Military Justice in a unique military environment.
• National Guard units and active-duty troops are not effective for small-scale policing tasks, such as providing logistical and administrative support or standing around as a show of force to deter crime.
• The deployment of thousands of soldiers to domestic duty could degrade readiness for the military's true mission, with internal security operations being a poor preparation for combat with advanced militaries.
• In 2017, Gen. Jim Mattis delivered an impromptu speech to American service members in Afghanistan, calling on them to "hold the line" and demonstrate that there are Americans who can live and die for one another across immense differences.

Sources:

• The New York Times, "The President's Troops," Opinion Section, April 5, 2023.
• General Jim Mattis, "Hold the Line" speech, delivered in Afghanistan in 2017.
• Vladimir Putin, "Russia's Military Doctrine," speech delivered in 2015.
• U.S. Department of Defense, "Military Justice Manual," publication date unknown.