Thank you for this article, it is really a good primer for those who do not know the law, much about history, the Constitution, or traditional American Civil-Military relations. I just shared it on other platforms to spread the message. I believe like you that Trump is indeed trying to start a civil war, and that he might succeed. I am becoming more and more worried about a MAGAfied Regular Army backing Trump after the Fort Bragg shit show. Many of the younger soldiers and officers have been raised on a steady diet of MAGA since they were young. A 22 year old Lieutenant was just 10 when Trump announced his candidacy. Young enlisted soldiers were in kindergarten or 1st Grade. If they grew up in MAGA or Christian Nationalist homes they would have imbibed the poison since before they knew any better. I have had such kids in the school where I teach. Those environments are like being raised in the Hitler Youth. From history we know that between 1938-1940 that old line German Generals who were part of the resistance movement didn’t launch a coup because the feared that the rank and file would back Hitler. Likewise, I have not been inspired by the silence of the Generals.
All the best, thank you for your military and Congressional service and your honest voice.
Sincerely,
Steve Dundas, CDR, CHC, USN (Retired) by the way I also spent 17 1/2 years in the Army, National Guard, and Army Reserve before reducing in rank from Major to Navy Lieutenant to get back on active duty in February 1999.
Commander, thank you for your points. In spite of all the propaganda spewed at these young citizens, they are Americans. I hope that above all, they have not decided to surrender to lies or bullies. There is something about this country that stands for honor, hope and redemption. We may not have shown our true colors yet.
Let us believe that by Independence Day in 2026, our voices will ring out in clear tones of justice.
Thank you for all of your enlightening posts. You are helping steer us through troubling times.
My concern and question is how does the individual soldier determine if an order from POTUS is illegal/immoral or just wrong. As to the commander(s) of troops, for example, if the commander of the National Guard (or likewise of the 700 Marines) determines that his men are no longer needed and that the LAPD and the 700 Marines (or 2,000 NG) can handle the situation, can he unilaterally leave and "unfederalize" his men or in the Marines case simply go back to Pendleton?
What are the implications for those individuals and what might happen.
Incredibly also, he screened the troops for appearance (obese guys not allowed, he seems to forget he is obese himself) and loyalty - any insufficiently MAGA-minded were denied participation. Thus, Trump is even causing *division in the military!
I am reminded of the scripture Rev. 12:12 almost every day now, as Trump seems to be doing the devil’s bidding & is a threat at home & around the world.
Thank you Colonel Vindmen for your service and your wise advice.
I often wonder what would happen if trump had the military start firing on the unarmed protesters or if there is a civil war? I pray they will disobey him and follow their oath they took to the Constitution.
We cannot get rid of trump soon enough he is destroying our democracy, our country, our relationship with our allies, etc.
Thank you, Col. Vindman for reminding your readers of the consequences of the Kent State massacre in May of 1970, when unarmed students protesting the drafting of young men to fight in the illegal Vietnam War were assaulted by the Ohio National Guard resulting in 4 deaths and 9 injuries. My lasting memory from that day was a photograph of a very young female student pushing a flower into the barrel of a rifle aimed at her. I was in College ion Sacramento CA at that time and participated in the protests against the war there.
Certain members of the right have looked to civil war as an answer to their feelings of persecution for many years. I will not be suprised if this happens but I am terribly unprepared. How does a resistance function when the military uses its might against a largely unarmed public? As a strategist please tell us, what tools do we need? How do we maintain communication? What security measures would be useful. Some of my family and friends are likely first targets. I am all for writing to congress and attending marches but without our own leadership stepping up we are sitting ducks
Colonel Vindman,
Thank you for this article, it is really a good primer for those who do not know the law, much about history, the Constitution, or traditional American Civil-Military relations. I just shared it on other platforms to spread the message. I believe like you that Trump is indeed trying to start a civil war, and that he might succeed. I am becoming more and more worried about a MAGAfied Regular Army backing Trump after the Fort Bragg shit show. Many of the younger soldiers and officers have been raised on a steady diet of MAGA since they were young. A 22 year old Lieutenant was just 10 when Trump announced his candidacy. Young enlisted soldiers were in kindergarten or 1st Grade. If they grew up in MAGA or Christian Nationalist homes they would have imbibed the poison since before they knew any better. I have had such kids in the school where I teach. Those environments are like being raised in the Hitler Youth. From history we know that between 1938-1940 that old line German Generals who were part of the resistance movement didn’t launch a coup because the feared that the rank and file would back Hitler. Likewise, I have not been inspired by the silence of the Generals.
All the best, thank you for your military and Congressional service and your honest voice.
Sincerely,
Steve Dundas, CDR, CHC, USN (Retired) by the way I also spent 17 1/2 years in the Army, National Guard, and Army Reserve before reducing in rank from Major to Navy Lieutenant to get back on active duty in February 1999.
Commander, thank you for your points. In spite of all the propaganda spewed at these young citizens, they are Americans. I hope that above all, they have not decided to surrender to lies or bullies. There is something about this country that stands for honor, hope and redemption. We may not have shown our true colors yet.
Let us believe that by Independence Day in 2026, our voices will ring out in clear tones of justice.
Colonel Vindman
Thank you for all of your enlightening posts. You are helping steer us through troubling times.
My concern and question is how does the individual soldier determine if an order from POTUS is illegal/immoral or just wrong. As to the commander(s) of troops, for example, if the commander of the National Guard (or likewise of the 700 Marines) determines that his men are no longer needed and that the LAPD and the 700 Marines (or 2,000 NG) can handle the situation, can he unilaterally leave and "unfederalize" his men or in the Marines case simply go back to Pendleton?
What are the implications for those individuals and what might happen.
Thanks for all you are doing.
“Remember your training” ? At Fort Bragg Trump totally waded into ‘politicization of the military’.
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/national-international/trump-fort-bragg-speech-questions-concerns-politicization-military/3766255/
Incredibly also, he screened the troops for appearance (obese guys not allowed, he seems to forget he is obese himself) and loyalty - any insufficiently MAGA-minded were denied participation. Thus, Trump is even causing *division in the military!
I am reminded of the scripture Rev. 12:12 almost every day now, as Trump seems to be doing the devil’s bidding & is a threat at home & around the world.
Thank you Colonel Vindmen for your service and your wise advice.
I often wonder what would happen if trump had the military start firing on the unarmed protesters or if there is a civil war? I pray they will disobey him and follow their oath they took to the Constitution.
We cannot get rid of trump soon enough he is destroying our democracy, our country, our relationship with our allies, etc.
Thank you, Col. Vindman for reminding your readers of the consequences of the Kent State massacre in May of 1970, when unarmed students protesting the drafting of young men to fight in the illegal Vietnam War were assaulted by the Ohio National Guard resulting in 4 deaths and 9 injuries. My lasting memory from that day was a photograph of a very young female student pushing a flower into the barrel of a rifle aimed at her. I was in College ion Sacramento CA at that time and participated in the protests against the war there.
Certain members of the right have looked to civil war as an answer to their feelings of persecution for many years. I will not be suprised if this happens but I am terribly unprepared. How does a resistance function when the military uses its might against a largely unarmed public? As a strategist please tell us, what tools do we need? How do we maintain communication? What security measures would be useful. Some of my family and friends are likely first targets. I am all for writing to congress and attending marches but without our own leadership stepping up we are sitting ducks