"But a pattern is becoming clear: Donald Trump is purging the higher ranks based on his prejudices and demands for loyalty; the military is being turned into a partisan instrument and a political prop; more dangerous still, the president is instilling the logic of impunity that has come to characterize his entire approach to governance. Figures deemed too close to Trump critics, such as general Mark Milley, have seen promotions delayed or canceled; those targeted by far-right influencers might face professional backlash."
"Trump used Maga-fied soldiers as background to a Fort Bragg speech, violating longstanding norms against instrumentalizing state institutions for partisan purposes. Every violation becomes a test of who will be loyal: critics the potentially disloyal will identify themselves. With every illegal order, such as attacking boats in the Caribbean, he manages to have those who carry them out compromise themselves morally and potentially render themselves liable for criminal prosecution, thereby generating an incentive for members of the military to make sure Trumpists stay in power."
Donald Trump is reshaping the military by removing and sidelining officers deemed insufficiently loyal and using service members as partisan props. Promotions and careers are being influenced by perceived political alignment, creating professional risks for those linked to critics. Repeated norm violations and illegal-sounding orders risk compromising personnel morally and legally, producing incentives for loyalty to Trumpist power. High-profile pardons reinforce a promise of impunity for allies while leaving declared enemies exposed to legal consequences. The combined effect is a politicized military and a legal regime that protects loyalists while binding and punishing opponents.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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