McChrystal would have been just the sort of renegade loose canon OathKeepers would like to have had lead a coupe against civilian ruled armed forces. Who knows the extent to which his misgivings relative to Obama might have taken out of the light of day. Could never happen, just saying OathKeepers wet dreams had them wetting themselves.
No - The gravity of the situation is what the McThingy guys said is mutiny. Despite all the right wingers jumping up and down Obama has not done a single thing to subjugate the Constitution. So he can hardly be considered as a Domestic enemy. The McThingy guy is the enemy in the midst and usually mutinous soldiers especially high ranking ones are shot on sight without trial.
The United Statesâ Uniform Code of Military Justice defines mutiny thus: Art. 94. (§ 894.) 2004 Mutiny or Sedition. (a) Any person subject to this code (chapter) whoâ (1) with intent to usurp or override lawful military authority, refuses, in concert with any other person, to obey orders or otherwise do his duty or creates any violence or disturbance is guilty of mutiny; (2) with intent to cause the overthrow or destruction of lawful civil authority, creates, in concert with any other person, revolt, violence, or other disturbance against that authority is guilty of sedition; (3) fails to do his utmost to prevent and suppress a mutiny or sedition being committed in his presence, or fails to take all reasonable means to inform his superior commissioned officer or commanding officer of a mutiny or sedition which he knows or has reason to believe is taking place, is guilty of a failure to suppress or report a mutiny or sedition. (b) A person who is found guilty of attempted mutiny, mutiny, sedition, or failure to suppress or report a mutiny or sedition shall be punished by death or such other punishment as a court-martial may direct.
I, (NAME), do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God. First and foremost is allegiance to the US Constitution, all orders from the President and down through the chain of command must past a test of Lawfulness, this has just as much to do with the person giving the order as it does with the order itself, meaning if the order would cause the individual to commit a crime, or if the person giving the order is not in a position to legally give the order, or if any such order would be in violation to the Constitution, the order would not be unlawful.
When a high ranking officer says words that disrespect his chain of command, foot soldiers could easily misconstrue the statement that its OK to disobey the Commander-In-Chief. Why? because the majority of foot soldiers are illiterate and are easily influenced by rank soldiers without them fully understanding the consequences. If that sitiation is not checked and allowed to foster it leads to anarchy and military coup. Yes right in the US of A. McThingy is lucky to be alive.
This is actually a problem for the military, because it sets an example that you can disrespect your superior officer openly. There was really no choice but to relieve him of duty, because once that idea works its way up and down the chain of command, its anarchy. Petraeus seems to have the reputation as a highly disciplined person. It doesn't sound like he would be giving interviews to Rolling Stone magazine.
Beyond his obvious disrespect for the chain of command, the general should have been fired just for giving the interview in the first place. Note to all Generals: Your opinions are not being solicited. Your job is to kill the bad guys, period. You want to be a fuckin' politician, resign and run for office. Otherwise, do your god damn job on the battlefield. Note to all Repubs supporting this asshole: Hypocrites! Party and politics do not trump what is right for the country, and idiot Generals like McChrystal are not good for the country. He's supposed to be a leader of fighting men. He gives no respect to his commander, which happens to be the president, then he deserves no respect from his troops. Obviously, that won't work.