General @Martin_Dempsey, retired chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, is criticizing the president's threat to send federal troops into the states. "The idea that the military would be called into suppress what for the most part were peaceful protests" is "very dangerous."
Dempsey rarely speaks out on politically charged issues, and has even critiqued fellow retired generals who do. But in an interview with @NPR, he says he has an obligation at times to defend the integrity of the military, where he once was the top officer. @MorningEdition
Dempsey acknowledges the president can, legally, use federal troops to face down an insurrection if state governments have collapsed "or local law enforcement were overwhelmed. But none of that seemed to be the case."
Dempsey adds that using troops against civilians would corrode the military. "We have to maintain a relationship of trust [with] the American people... We ask parents to share their sons and daughters with us" for service. They won't volunteer if they don't trust the institution.
Dempsey spoke on the occasion of a new book, "No Time for Spectators." It offers lessons of his long military career - for example, that character matters, and that you should not let blind loyalty to someone lead you to do wrong. Hear our conversation Friday @MorningEdition @NPR
