NEW: At least twice in the last week, senior Trump administration officials directed the military's service chiefs to keep quiet about the death of George Floyd, even though some of them were interested in speaking out.
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The officials said SECDEF Esper wanted to address the issue first. But he hasn't.
“I think there is a question about how and when, and at what level, the department should weigh into what has become a highly charged emotional and political issue,” a senior defense official said.
“I think there is a question about how and when, and at what level, the department should weigh into what has become a highly charged emotional and political issue,” a senior defense official said.
The directive came as Trump increasingly reaches for the military as a tool of choice to quell unrest, and Esper seeks to shield the Pentagon from politics and keep the Pentagon from appearing at odds with a commander in chief, who has called people involved in rioting “thugs.”
To be clear, some other senior military officials did so. They include @cmsaf18, who spoke out in a passionate thread on Monday night, @NavyMCPON and a few lower-ranking generals.
But the chiefs did not.
But the chiefs did not.
That broke when @GenDaveGoldfein addressed the issue, first in an internal memo to Air Force commanders yesterday, and this evening in this follow-up video with @cmsaf18.
All of this has civil-military implications that people like @jimgolby, @lindsaypcohn, @DaveLapanDC, @Carter_PE and other will study.
Some of the chiefs have spoken out on race issues before, especially Gen. Berger, the commandant of the Marine Corps. In April, he announced that he was curtailing displays of the Confederate battle flag in the Corps.
Dana Pittard, a retired Army general, said he isn't surprised by the Pentagon's stance on this issue.
“I hate to use the term ultra-loyalist, but they’re appointees,” said Pittard, who is black. “They’re not going to stray very far from the president.”
“I hate to use the term ultra-loyalist, but they’re appointees,” said Pittard, who is black. “They’re not going to stray very far from the president.”
Update: Tonight, Esper addresses the unrest and the U.S. military response in a memo. It asks them to remain apolitical, a frequent theme of his.
The request to remain apolitical comes despite Esper (and Milley) participating in a photo-op at the St. John's church near the White House that prompted police to clear protesters from Lafayette Park with nonlethal weapons.
Esper said today he didn't know that was the plan.
Esper said today he didn't know that was the plan.
Says Esper in the new memo:
“I, like you, am steadfast in my belief that Americans who are frustrated, angry, and seeking to be heard must be ensured that opportunity,” Esper wrote.
“I, like you, am steadfast in my belief that Americans who are frustrated, angry, and seeking to be heard must be ensured that opportunity,” Esper wrote.
“And like you, I am committed to upholding the rule of law and protecting life and liberty, so the violent actions of a few do not undermine the rights and freedoms of law-abiding citizens," Esper added.
