A retired U.S. Army Strategist with two Bronze Star Medals says politics is not the reason he urges Americans to vote for anyone except Donald Trump in the upcoming presidential election in November — Nazi Germany is.
ML Cavanaugh explained the dire reasons he finds Trump unfit to lead the U.S. military in a damning editorial published Friday morning by the Los Angeles Times.
"This is not a political statement," writes Cavanaugh. "This is a strategic judgment based on fitness to lead — both to defend the United States and to protect the civilian-military balance that has enabled our nation to become the greatest in history."
"I believe that in November, everyone — civilians, service members, veterans, everyone — should vote for whoever has the best chance to keep Donald Trump out of office."
Cavanaugh approaches the question of campaign endorsement from a strategic perspective that prioritizes defense, both of the nation's safety and the freedoms he swore to protect as a member of the armed forces, over politics.
He describes the U.S. Army as a powerful political weapon and argues it should not be placed in the hands of a man who has suggested NASCAR drivers and college coaches be placed in critical national security positions.
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Cavanaugh does not align himself with a political party and notes he did not vote when he served in the military to protect the institution's nonpartisanship.
But Trump's rhetoric spurred Cavanaugh to speak out in favor of any Democrat candidate — likely Vice President Kamala Harris — who can claim victory in the upcoming presidential election.
"My commitment to military values and nonpartisanship hasn’t changed since I rejoined civilian life," Cavanaugh writes. "What’s changed is the choice presented in American politics. There really isn’t one, because one of the two major-party presidential candidates is clearly, demonstrably, irredeemably unfit to serve as commander in chief."
The retired strategist raised concerns that Trump's rhetoric has inspired for years, recalling a moment when Trump complained to his chief of staff, retired Gen. John Kelly, in 2018, "You f— generals, why can’t you be like the German generals?”
"[Trump] wants military leadership that mimics the Nazi high command," Cavanaugh writes. "He wanted generals who were “totally loyal” and “yes-men,” like the Nazi commanders under Adolf Hitler.
Cavanaugh warns Trump would likely achieve this goal given a second chance to regain political power.
"The immediate threat of a modern commander in chief who favors the Nazi approach would be the inappropriate use of military force on America’s streets (and perhaps even at polling places)" Cavanaugh concludes.
"The longer threat for this kind of recklessness is unknowable but foreseeable: eroding remaining trust in the military, eviscerating the civilian-military balance, ending America’s centuries-long success story."
