Retired Generals and Partisan Politics: Is a Time Out Required?
Abstract
Retired general officer participation in partisan politics is increasing and many in the military and civilian sector believe this participation will politicize the military. Army War College students and faculty, and active duty general officers from the United States Air Force, Army, and Marine Corps provided 760 responses on this subject through a survey. The U.S. Military has a mixed history of apolitical behavior. This was proper when the United States was isolated in its early history, when there were an adequate number of veterans in governmental positions, and when the survival of the nation was at stake during the Cold War. Today, the U.S. is the world's only superpower, there are fewer veterans representing the military's interests in government, and future national security strategy must contend with a vague, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous world. While the active duty military must stay non-partisan, retired general officer participation in partisan politics will ensure national security strategy issues take a proper role in public debate. The support for a candidate by a retired general officer should be provided singularly. Forming a coalition of retired general officers carries a disproportionate weight and can have a negative impact on the Armed Forces.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 2001
- Accession Number
- ADA391263
Entities
People
- William R. Becker
Organizations
- United States Army War College