Remember This: The Uniform Isn’t Political

A Protest That Raises Constitutional Questions

As has been witnessed too many times to count, there is apparently no principle or concept that progressives cannot turn upside down to further “the cause” of promoting the progressive agenda, its policies, and worldview. The latest example is one that should give sane and reasonable Americans serious misgivings about the motivations of those “serving in the cause.”

On July 1, United States Air Force (USAF) Major Jason Watson, while in uniform, called for the impeachment and removal of President Trump and Vice President Vance. “Impeach Convict Remove” read the sign he used while protesting on the steps of the U.S. Capitol. This is an action that both took my breath away and made me angry (for more than one reason) beyond words.

A Personal Perspective on Military Service

My late father (William I. Greener, Jr.) was a career military officer in the Air Force, serving during three wars (World War II, Korea, and Vietnam). In fact, he was in Vietnam for my entire senior year of high school. Later, Dad served as Donald Rumsfeld’s first Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs. No doubt, he is turning in his grave as we see progressives applaud Watson’s actions as courageous and patriotic. From where I sit, the more proper description would be treason. Hopefully, this is how it will eventually be treated.

The concept of civilian oversight of the military goes back to the inception of our founding. These actual and real patriots feared that without this civilian supervision, the military would be tempted to use its power to take over control of the government. Those serving in the military actually take an oath to uphold the Constitution that assures such civilian control. To be as clear as possible, Watson broke that oath. No amount of progressive rationalization will change this fact. We need to loudly tell progressives the Constitution is more important than they are.

A Lesson from Seven Days in May

For those tempted to give Watson a pass, let me suggest a viewing of the 1964 movie Seven Days in May. The plot centers on Burt Lancaster, serving in a senior military position at the Pentagon, plotting a military takeover of the government. The film was made at the height of the Cold War. At the time, many feared our civilian leaders were not sufficiently anti-Soviet in their approach. By God, if our duly elected officials will not do the right thing, we will just take things over ourselves.

Kirk Douglas, playing the role of a loyal military aide and someone also strongly opposed to the communists, is torn between his loyalty to the chain of command and to the oath he has taken. Eventually, the promise to his country comes first, and he turns on Lancaster to thwart the coup.

The money ball scene is when Frederick March, playing the role of President, encounters Lancaster in the Oval Office at a point Lancaster believes will put him into the Presidency. March rips him a new one, making the argument that if someone truly loved the United States, that person would trust its people and attempt to gain power as the Constitution intended—at the ballot box. With that, the coup is crushed, and our Republic is preserved.

Resignation or Political Activism

If Jason Watson believes so strongly that President Trump and Vice President Trump should be removed from office, then, possessing one ounce of integrity, he should have resigned and then pursued his views as a civilian. To do anything else is wrong and unacceptable to any person claiming to want to preserve the Republic. Simple as that.

To make matters even worse, what just took place did not just happen. It was the product of an effort headed by Jessica Denson, who heads the Removal Coalition. Watson reached out to her in February, and the rest is ugly history. In terms of investigations, what do you suppose would have happened to Denson and Watson had they done this when Obama was President?

Here is what Denson had to say on the day of the act of treason. “I think you can’t help but be struck by the contrast of someone who is upholding the highest level of commitment to their oath to call out a tyrannical and illegal administration being arrested, while so many of those actors continue in seats of power with impunity.” Ma’am, less than respectfully, this is horseshit. I am not a lawyer, but hopefully, there is a legal basis to prosecute Ms. Watson for her actions contributing to Watson’s actions.

A Principle That Should Transcend Politics

You do not have to be much more than awake to recognize the reality, as measured by any number of things, those serving in uniform tend to be more conservative than the overall population. In my view, the more realistic concern would be that these conservatives, moved by a fear that our civilian leaders are not being sufficiently tough with America’s adversaries, would take action.

In fact, for decades, this is precisely what progressives have argued should worry us. Suddenly, when a member in uniform calls for the removal of the Commander in Chief and the Vice President, progressives decide this sort of behavior is to be applauded and supported. Please, dear God, cannot progressives, one time, put something (damn near anything) ahead of “the cause?”

Remember this: Civilian control of the military is a fundamental component of what has served our nation well since day one. Anyone in uniform not content with the policies and leadership of their civilian bosses is free to resign and become involved in trying to secure power by winning elections. Accepting anything less tells us exactly who you are and what your priorities are. We say that it is not good enough.