USA Today. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley said Thursday [June 11, 2020] it was a "mistake" to accompany President Donald Trump and other top administration officials on a walk to historic St. John's Church after peaceful protesters were forcibly cleared from the area.
“My presence in that moment and in that environment created a perception of the military involved in domestic politics," the Army general said in remarks for a National Defense University commencement ceremony. "As a commissioned uniformed officer, it was a mistake that I have learned from, and I sincerely hope we all can learn from it."
Protests erupted in cities across the USA and have continued since George Floyd, an African American man, was killed May 25 when a white Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes.
USA TODAY Poll:Forceful clearing of Lafayette Square was defining moment for president and protests
Milley's remarks mark a dramatic breach between the Pentagon and the White House on the military's role in responding to the protests that followed Floyd's death. The photograph of Milley, in his camouflage combat uniform, and Defense Secretary Mark Esper walking along a path cleared of protesters by police and National Guard forces sparked outrage among retired military officials.
The walk to the church was condemned by many, including former Defense Secretary James Mattis, who assailed the use of force for the president to pose for photographs while holding a Bible.
Before the Lafayette Square incident, Esper referred to U.S. cities as a "battle space" that needed to be dominated by law enforcement and National Guard soldiers. After criticism from retired Adm. Mike Mullen, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and others, Esper said he regretted the remarks.
“We must reject any thinking of our cities as a 'battlespace' that our uniformed military is called upon to 'dominate,' " Mattis wrote in a statement published in The Atlantic. "At home, we should use our military only when requested to do so, on very rare occasions, by state governors. Militarizing our response, as we witnessed in Washington, D.C., sets up a conflict – a false conflict – between the military and civilian society."
Trump sought deeper involvement of the Pentagon in responding to the protests by calling for the use of active-duty forces, which are generally prohibited from domestic law enforcement duties. Units from the 82nd Airborne were dispatched to the outskirts of Washington and were close to be called on, according to Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy.
Trump said Milley would be in charge of the response to protests. Milley's remarks Thursday are almost certain to strain his relationship with Trump.
Esper also distanced himself from the president's walk to St. John's, saying he had nothing to do with the decision to clear the protesters. He told NBC News he didn't know they were going to the church, then clarified the next day that he knew where they were going but not about the president's planned "photo op" with the Bible.
Trump's defense secretary said he does not "support invoking the Insurrection Act" allowing the use of active-duty troops to quell the unrest, which the president threatened to use.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said he supported Milley's statement "in both substance and spirit" in a tweet.
In his remarks Thursday, Milley addressed concerns about racial discrimination at the heart of the protests and said the military needs to do more to be inclusive.
"Our responsibility as military leaders is to ensure that each and every one of our service members is treated fairly, with dignity and respect," he said.
"We must, we can, we will do better," Milley said in calling for a reassessment of how the military recruits and promotes its members. "We must ensure that diverse candidates have equal opportunity to branch into the career fields and serve the key positions most likely to produce our future senior leaders."
William CummingsTom Vanden Brook
USA Today, June 11, 2020
The original article included the Graham tweet.
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Below is the CNN video of General Miley’s remarks.
Top general apologizes for appearing with Trump in photo-op www.youtube.com
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Voices4America Post Script. America’s Top General apologizes for appearing with Trump in his St. John’s Church photo op- you remember: when Trump was grinning like an idiot with his Bible upside down.
The split goes on.
Trump digs in to support the grand ole racism that has defined him always (redlining, ads to prosecute the Central Park, birtherism) - and defined his Administration ( samples. Charlottesville “very fine people,” tear gassing and supporting attacks on peaceful Black Lives Matter protestors, fighting to retain naming and statuary honoring the Confederacy).
Others- Including Esper, Milley, even toady Lindsey Graham (himself in danger of losing his Senate seat, to a black man, no less) move away.
A Monmouth University poll this week found that 76 percent of Americans consider racism and discrimination a "big problem.
Trump’s regime is falling down.
Incompetent Covid management, a failed economy, and racism are coming home to roost.
#NotFit4Potus #Biden2020
