The Military Mind
by Frank Hilliard
Canadians tend to think that revolutions only happen in foreign countries like the Ukraine or Kyrgyzstan or Thailand. They forget that along with the French and Russian revolutions, our neighbours to the south had their Independence Day. They especially forget that America fought a war to become independent; a war that began as a civil war.
With that in mind, let me quote a brief passage from The US Military Profession into the Twenty First Century, War, Peace Politics
by Sam. C. Sarkesian and Robert E. Connor Jr.
by Sam. C. Sarkesian and Robert E. Connor Jr. As pointed out earlier, complicating the political-military equation is that in the not too distant future, a new generation of elected officials at every level of government will take over the reins of government. Few, if any, will have had military experience. While this may not necessarily lead to inappropriate political-military policies, it may create an environment in which strategies, political-military policies and decision making lack sensitivity to the realities of military life. If this is the case, military professional views of politics and elected leaders are likely to reflect the disdain and disenfranchisement of the Vietnam years.
The blurb for this $144 review at Amazon adds another relevant observation to the one I extracted:
This book also studies the notion of a US military stretched thin and relying more heavily on the US Federal Reserves and National Guard. These developments make the US military profession increasingly linked to public attitudes and political perspectives.
Let me put these two thoughts together with one other; the election of President Barack Hussein Obama. First we have a president who knows nothing about the military and, from his Marxist and socialist background, probably fears and despises it. Secondly, we have a military which has been fighting a difficult asymmetrical war in two middle eastern countries for a decade. And thirdly, to do so, we have a military that is composed of many actual civilians called up from the Reserves and National Guard; members who have been part of both worlds.
Let's call this the basic fuel for what I am about to suggest, either an explosion set off by protests similar to those today in Thailand followed by what happened in Romania; a declaration of independence by one or more states or a coup involving some elements of the military opposed by some elements of the police.
Before I start examining those three scenarios, let me make one observation about the division of power. The United States has one of the most complex military establishments in history. There is, of course, the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and the United States Coast Guard, but there is also the entire National Guard system in each state, with their own air elements as well as a host of para-military police, such as the Central Intelligence Agency, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; US Customs and Border Protection, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Secret Service. To this you can add state police and city police, each with SWAT teams that are also para-military.
I realize there are coordinating bodies for many of these agencies such as the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the National Guard Bureau and the Department of Homeland Security, but the plethora of self-contained armed military and police forces means that things must go on in various areas, divisions, departments and locations that are not known to others 'in the system'. The whole military and police structure is too large to be policed if it doesn't want to be. The only reason it works at the moment is that everyone still wants it to. If some elements of this system decided otherwise, they would be very difficult to control.
Just look at one aspect of one state; Texas. The Texas Military Forces include the Air National Guard, the Army National Guard and the Texas State Guard as well as the 36th Infantry Division.Texas has enough forces under its control to invade and conquer Mexico! It would be a very tough nut to crack if the state ever declared itself independent (again) and ran up the lone star flag in place of the stars and stripes, as is demanded by the Texas Nationalist Movement.
Might it want to do so? Well, just consider the lead editorial on the TNM website. Members are being encouraged to join the Texas National Guard!
Texas isn't unique in this respect. There are also independence parties in Alaska, Hawaii and other states, as well as cross-border movements such as the Republic of Cascadia. However ephemeral these groups may be, they reflect a mood in the public mind that is also reflected in the police and military forces where they reside. The difference between the public generally, and the military forces in each state, is that the latter have the means to act if they ever get the inclination.
I said earlier there were three likely scenarios, but really the most likely of all is that they will all be part of the same thing. Here's a breakdown:
Stage 1 (the cause)
In this stage, the US economy tanks when China and Saudi Arabia start moving out of dollar securities. Interest rates go up to the 15 then 20 percent range, the housing market collapses and unemployment hits 20 then 25 percent.
Stage 2 (the reaction)
The Tea Party Movement, the Second Amendment Rallies, and other protest groups march on Washington and shut down the government just as the Czechs did and the Thais are doing. After a week or so of massive disruptions; President Obama calls on Virginia to mobilize its National Guard and restore order.
Stage 3 (the refusal)
The governor of Virginia, Bob McDonnell, a Republican, and former Lt. Col. in the United States Army refuses due to the fact many of his constituents are in Washington and or in the Guard. He says 'I will not order my men to fire on their own wives and children.' Obama then 'federalizes' the Virginia National Guard. The Guard refuses. Other State National Guards also refuse. New York refuses because, as its commander says, 'We fought the Virginians once before and we are not going to do so again.'
Stage 4 (the Army)
Obama declares a national emergency and calls in the Army. The Army holds a council and agrees to a two point plan. First it says it will arrive in Washington in a couple of days. Secondly it sends in a helicopter to 'rescue the President and his cabinet' because of the possibility of chaos and bloodshed. The army helicopters take the President, his wife and Cabinet to an 'undisclosed destination' where they are held incommunicado. The Army Chief of Staff goes on National TV and says the President has been arrested for treason, the Congress has been dismissed and national elections are scheduled for three months hence.
Stage 5 (Texas)
The Great State of Texas lowers the American Flag and raises the flag of Texas and declares its independence (again). Fortuitously, it is Texas Independence day.
Far fetched? A hypothesis too far? Well, we'll all have to sit back and see how this plays out. I've said what I think from the outside.
It is up to American to do what they think inside their mind, militarily and politically.
I realize there are coordinating bodies for many of these agencies such as the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the National Guard Bureau and the Department of Homeland Security, but the plethora of self-contained armed military and police forces means that things must go on in various areas, divisions, departments and locations that are not known to others 'in the system'. The whole military and police structure is too large to be policed if it doesn't want to be. The only reason it works at the moment is that everyone still wants it to. If some elements of this system decided otherwise, they would be very difficult to control.
Texas has an army and air force larger than many countries
Just look at one aspect of one state; Texas. The Texas Military Forces include the Air National Guard, the Army National Guard and the Texas State Guard as well as the 36th Infantry Division.Texas has enough forces under its control to invade and conquer Mexico! It would be a very tough nut to crack if the state ever declared itself independent (again) and ran up the lone star flag in place of the stars and stripes, as is demanded by the Texas Nationalist Movement.
Might it want to do so? Well, just consider the lead editorial on the TNM website. Members are being encouraged to join the Texas National Guard!
While news of the raids on a radical militia group in Michigan have raised concerns that frustration with the unconstitutional actions of the federal government may lead to violence, the Texas Nationalist Movement is urging its members toward a more constructive approach toward serving Texas.The implication of this statement is clear;TNM members in the Guard would have the ability to radicalize other Guard members so that if the Governor declares independence, the Guard would support him or her in doing so. Don't fight the center of power, join it, take it over.
TNM members, especially veterans, are being encouraged to look at joining the Texas State Guard -- the state’s official non-federalizable militia, which is under the direct authority of the Governor.
“We know there are a lot of people out there who have grown frustrated and even angry with the federal power-grabbing and the apparent lack of action by state officials,” Texas Nationalist Movement President Daniel Miller said Tuesday. “But we have to remember that taking rash action isn’t going to accomplish anything except to bring discredit on the cause they’re fighting for.
“By joining the Texas State Guard, you have the chance to serve Texas in a constructive fashion.”
Texas isn't unique in this respect. There are also independence parties in Alaska, Hawaii and other states, as well as cross-border movements such as the Republic of Cascadia. However ephemeral these groups may be, they reflect a mood in the public mind that is also reflected in the police and military forces where they reside. The difference between the public generally, and the military forces in each state, is that the latter have the means to act if they ever get the inclination.
I said earlier there were three likely scenarios, but really the most likely of all is that they will all be part of the same thing. Here's a breakdown:
Stage 1 (the cause)
In this stage, the US economy tanks when China and Saudi Arabia start moving out of dollar securities. Interest rates go up to the 15 then 20 percent range, the housing market collapses and unemployment hits 20 then 25 percent.
Stage 2 (the reaction)
The Tea Party Movement, the Second Amendment Rallies, and other protest groups march on Washington and shut down the government just as the Czechs did and the Thais are doing. After a week or so of massive disruptions; President Obama calls on Virginia to mobilize its National Guard and restore order.
Stage 3 (the refusal)
The governor of Virginia, Bob McDonnell, a Republican, and former Lt. Col. in the United States Army refuses due to the fact many of his constituents are in Washington and or in the Guard. He says 'I will not order my men to fire on their own wives and children.' Obama then 'federalizes' the Virginia National Guard. The Guard refuses. Other State National Guards also refuse. New York refuses because, as its commander says, 'We fought the Virginians once before and we are not going to do so again.'
Stage 4 (the Army)
Obama declares a national emergency and calls in the Army. The Army holds a council and agrees to a two point plan. First it says it will arrive in Washington in a couple of days. Secondly it sends in a helicopter to 'rescue the President and his cabinet' because of the possibility of chaos and bloodshed. The army helicopters take the President, his wife and Cabinet to an 'undisclosed destination' where they are held incommunicado. The Army Chief of Staff goes on National TV and says the President has been arrested for treason, the Congress has been dismissed and national elections are scheduled for three months hence.
Stage 5 (Texas)
The Great State of Texas lowers the American Flag and raises the flag of Texas and declares its independence (again). Fortuitously, it is Texas Independence day.
Texas flag
Far fetched? A hypothesis too far? Well, we'll all have to sit back and see how this plays out. I've said what I think from the outside.
It is up to American to do what they think inside their mind, militarily and politically.
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