Against all enemies or just some

Every person that enters the military takes the same oath to “solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic…”

I served in the military for 34 years and was honored with two combat commands. Liberals and conservatives have asked my thoughts about Gen. James Mattis and others. I asked one of the liberals if Mattis was believable because Mattis was critical of President Donald Trump. The response was that Mattis demonstrated compelling credibility based on logic and evidence.

(Editor’s note: Mattis was secretary of defense from 2017-19.)

Before I get into Mattis, let me address National Security Advisor John Bolton. As I write this Bolton is on his bookselling TV tour. Bolton worked for President George Bush, who in 2008 said, “I don’t consider Bolton credible.” Bolton could have testified before the 2019 impeachment committee but did not. Bolton refused to testify willingly or even with a subpoena. What was Bolton afraid of? Was Bolton afraid to be questioned under oath?

On June 3, Mattis stated that Trump was violating the constitution by calling up the military. According to the National Guard Historian, since the enactment of the 1952 Armed Forces Reserve Act, the guard has been called up 12 times under the control of the president. The first time was in Little Rock, Arkansas, to support the Little Rock 9. Arkansas’s governor had called up the National Guard, but it just blocked entry to the nine black students. President Dwight Eisenhower issued executive order 10730 and federalized the guard but later sent in the 101st Airborne.

What got everyone upset was that Trump referenced the Insurrection Act of 1807, which gives the president the power to mobilize the state militia or active military to enforce laws. That act expanded the 1792 Militia Act which gave the president power to command state militias in cases of insurrection. This may be invoked in cases of insurrection against state law, state government, actions against federal law, or if the state fails to protect the U.S. Constitution.

Mattis denounces Trump, describes Trump as a threat to the constitution and that Trump is ordering the military to violate the constitution. Mattis went on to say that at home, we should use our military only when requested to do so. I have lots of respect for Mattis, but this statement is wrong. The governor of Arkansas did not request that Eisenhower bring in the 101st Airborne or federalize the guard. Eisenhower followed the U.S. Constitution and if Trump were to use U.S. troops, he would be following the constitution Mattis claims Trump would be violating.

Mattis also backs the protesters and claims that there are only a small number of lawbreakers. Trump did not threaten to bring in the military to stop peaceful protesters. What does Mattis’ statement have to do with looting and destruction of property?

Because of all the rioters, looters and arsonists, by June 2 numerous Secret Service agents were injured; in Chicago, 130 police officers injured; in Davenport, Iowa, an officer was shot; in Boston, a police patrol vehicle was set on fire and at least seven officers were injured; in Jacksonville, Florida, an officer’s neck was slashed; in Salt Lake City, Utah, 21 police officers wereinjured, and at least 33 police officers were injured in New York City.

The total number of officers nationwide injured in the weeklong rioting, looting and arson remains unclear. The destruction of property is estimated to be multiple hundreds of millions of dollars. Mattis said a small number of protesters. Wow.

Mattis said, “Donald Trump is the first president in my lifetime who does not try to unite the American people.” President Barack Obama said that police acted stupidly in the Professor Henry Louis Gates’ arrest followed by the beer summit photo op. Trevon Martin was killed by a Hispanic security guard, and Obama said that if he had a son he would look like Trevon.

Obama could have used Attorney General Eric Holder’s federal grand jury investigation into the Michael Brown shooting as a teachable moment to unite America but did not. The media did not help either, and America continues to see the hands up, don’t shoot lie to this day.

Bolton, Mattis and many of the generals are not happy with Trump’s desire to remove the United States from the wars that we have been engaged in since 2002. What would these guys say if Antifa came to their neighborhood?

June 1, Trump and the nation had watched three consecutive days of burning, looting and property destruction around the United States and all around the White House. It appeared to Trump that local governors and law enforcement were being overwhelmed. Under these conditions, Trump threatened to bring in the military using the 1807 Insurrection Act. Trump, unlike Mattis, understood his oath to defend the U.S. Constitution against all enemies foreign and domestic.

Richard W. Kucksdorf is a retired U.S. Army colonel residing in Bonduel. Kucksdorf has other writings on his website, “Observations From Flyover Country,” at rwkucksdorf.com.