Josh Malone’s Post

**The Impossibility of Autocracy in America** Having lived under military and autocratic rule, I know firsthand the chilling effects of such regimes. One wrong word can land you in a secret police cell, every phone call potentially monitored, and laws sidelined by military decrees. In such systems, political debate is illegal, private rights are nonexistent, and the constitution is a forgotten relic. Neighbors spy on neighbors, generals are deified, and the President wields absolute power, reliant on a loyal presidential guard and military might. But could Trump ever achieve this kind of dominance in the United States? Absolutely not. The military wouldn’t carry out his orders; he lacks ties to the military, officer training, and the crucial esprit de corps. American soldiers are loyal to their families, friends, flag, and anthem—not to any single individual. If a would-be Caesar tried to usurp democratic norms, the military would turn on him, preserving the nation's core values and stability. America is not a banana republic. It's a country where people enjoy security, entitlement, and the rule of law. Any threat to this way of life, whether from Trump or his followers, will be met with resistance. The military, understanding the nation's history and duty to protect it, would act to maintain peace and stability, even if it meant removing a corrupt leader. #Democracy #Freedom #MilitaryLoyalty #RuleOfLaw #AmericanValues #Trump #Autocracy #PoliticalDebate #Constitution #NationalSecurity

The #Battle of #Peleliu had the highest United States Armed Forces casualty rate of any amphibious assault in the Pacific operations of World War II, and, tragically, did not produce significant strategic #military advantage. Joshua Dimkoff discusses military necessity and lessons learned. He argues that the Battle of Peleliu was of dubious military necessity and won at a horrifically high human cost. For future #LSCOs, the military #necessity of the mission that sends American forces into combat must be clear. Read more: https://lnkd.in/de-dn3fR #articlesofwar

As a veteran of the Global War on Terrorism, now studying extremism and political violence, the findings of the paper "Storming the Castle: Examining the Motivations of the Veterans Who Participated in the Capitol Riots", authored by Eric B. Hodges and published in the Journal of Veterans Studies, are deeply concerning. It analyzes the involvement of military veterans in the January 6th Capitol Riots, revealing that 10% of those arrested had prior service. This is a troubling statistic given the military veteran population in the U.S. is only 6.2%. The study points to the profound influence of nationalism, militarism, and the belief in election fraud, all of which drove these veterans to participate in the attack. The rise in political sectarianism—where moralized divisions between political groups lead to viewing the opposition as "other"—combined with military training, created a volatile mixture that culminated in violence. Given the history of veterans' involvement in violent extremism, this calls for serious reflection. To my fellow veterans, active military members, and their families: we must stand against this growing trend of extremism within our ranks. Our duty is to uphold the Constitution, protect our communities, and ensure that the values we fought for are preserved. Engage in conversations, be vigilant about the information you consume, and be a voice for unity rather than division. To the broader community: support your veterans, engage in local outreach, and provide the resources needed to help prevent those who served from falling into extremist ideologies. We all have a role to play in healing the divisions in our society. Let’s address these challenges head-on, ensuring that the veteran community continues to be a force for positive change and leadership in our nation. #VeteransForUnity #StopExtremism #MilitaryCommunity #PoliticalViolence #VeteranLeadership #ProtectOurDemocracy #StandForTheConstitution #GlobalWarOnTerrorVeterans #SupportOurVeterans #HealTheDivide Link to paper: https://lnkd.in/eRShM2rk

Federalist Paper #8 delves into Alexander Hamilton's nuanced perspective on military policy, emphasizing the significance of a vigilant yet restrained approach to the use of armed forces in a republican government. His insights shed light on the Founders' concerns regarding the delicate balance between national security and the preservation of liberty, a balance still crucial in modern governance and policymaking. #AlexanderHamilton #federalistpapers #constitution #government #civics

The Espionage Act broadly sought to crack down on wartime activities considered dangerous or disloyal, including attempts to acquire defense-related information with the intent to harm the United States, or acquire code and signal books, photographs, blueprints, and other such documents to pass them (should be with/without intention) to America’s enemies. The Act also outlawed false statements intended to interfere with military operations, attempts to incite insubordination or obstruct the recruitment of troops, and false statements promoting the success of America’s enemies. https://lnkd.in/gpvShDCa

Now available, Elizabeth N. Saunders's The Insiders’ Game reveals how elites shape the use of force in American foreign policy. One of the most widely held views of democratic leaders is that they are cautious about using military force because voters can hold them accountable, ultimately making democracies more peaceful. How, then, are leaders able to wage war in the face of popular opposition, or end conflicts when the public still supports them? The Insiders’ Game sheds light on this enduring puzzle, arguing that the primary constraints on decisions about war and peace come from elites, not the public. Learn more & order your copy of this important book: https://hubs.ly/Q02p8Rz30

White Supremacy, Terrorism, and the Failure of Reconstruction in the United States - PDF: https://lnkd.in/gPBQ7u5i Reconstruction failed in the United States because white Southerners who were opposed to it effectively used violence to undermine Black political power and force uncommitted white Southerners to their side. Although structural factors made it harder to suppress this violence, a series of policy failures proved most important. The Radical Republican-led U.S. government did not deploy enough troops or use them aggressively. Nor did it pursue alternative paths that might have made success more likely, such as arming the Black community. The violence caused Reconstruction to fail, and the victorious white supremacists embedded structural racism into the post-Reconstruction political and social system in the South. Reconstruction's failure illustrates the dangers of half measures. The United States sought to reshape the American South at low cost, in terms of both troop levels and time. In addition, the failure indicates the importance of ensuring that democratization includes the rule of law, not just elections. Most important, Reconstruction demonstrates that a common policy recommendation—compromise with the losers after a civil war—is often fraught, with the price of peace being generations of injustice. #Reconstruction #Terrorism #WhiteSupremacy #Race #JimCrow #injustice #racism #

"Unfortunate" is the wrong word. To say that the catastrophic events at Abbey Gate were merely unfortunate would be to: Dilute the magnitude of the blunder deliberately Dilute the audacity of negligence, and Dilute the unfathomable depth of the betrayal that unfolded. August 26, 2021. This date will forever be etched into the annals of history. A stark reminder of what happens when a superpower, one that prides itself on its unmatched military prowess and intelligence capabilities, flagrantly disregards actionable intel. How could the U.S. government and its military echelons, armed with some of the world's most sophisticated intelligence networks, let over 180 innocent lives be lost? How could they stand by as 13 of their own sons and daughters of their land were mercilessly slaughtered? It's no mere oversight but an egregious failing of duty and an insult to the very ideals America claims to uphold. Suppose we, as a global community and as American citizens, do not demand answers and hold those in power accountable. In that case, we are complicit in every tear shed, every life lost, and every ounce of grief that resonates from that ill-fated day at Kabul's Abbey Gate. Let's send a shirt to Joe Biden in Washington D.C. If we can get 1 million likes or loves on this post, we will send this shirt to our "Commander-In_Chief" in the White House. Like and share this post everywhere! #abbeygate #kabul13 #afghanistanwar #veterans #accountabilitynow #neverforget #DIA #DIAEveryday #DIAMindset