Radio Atlantic Trump's Vision to Remake the Military
13 snips
Nov 21, 2024 Tom Nichols, a staff writer at The Atlantic and professor emeritus at the Naval War College, unpacks the implications of Trump's strategic military appointments. He critiques how Trump's loyalty-driven selections in the military and intelligence sectors could jeopardize civil-military relations and democracy itself. Nichols addresses concerns about the qualifications of key candidates and the potential erosion of constitutional obligations. Using humor, he also examines the normalization of political dysfunction and the importance of resisting such trends.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Loyalty Over Constitution
- Trump's military appointments, especially for Secretary of Defense, reveal a concerning pattern.
- He aims to place loyalists in key positions to centralize control, prioritizing personal loyalty over constitutional duty.
Assad Assassination Attempt
- Trump's reported desire to assassinate Bashar al-Assad, countered by James Mattis, exemplifies his desire for unquestioning obedience.
- This anecdote highlights Trump's frustration with military leaders who resisted his potentially unlawful orders.
Afghanistan Withdrawal as Intimidation
- Trump's reported interest in court-martialing officers involved in the Afghanistan withdrawal isn't about Afghanistan itself.
- It's a show of power, aimed at intimidating past and future dissenters within the military.
