Five former Ministers of Defense expressed their concern about their “politicization” by him, just 24 hours after the top officers, calling on it to intervene, in an open letter that saw the light of publicity yesterday, Thursday (27/2).
Replacement of the Chief of the General Staff of National Defense
Donald Trump announced last week his decision to replace the Chief of the National Defense General Staff, Patras Charles Brown, before completing two years at the office, where the term is 4 years. Defense Minister Pitt Hegsheth then expressed the intention of replacing several more senior officers.
The former ministers are upset
“We are deeply alarmed after the recent dismissals, by President Trump, of major Army leaders,” former Defense Ministers William Perry, Lion Paneta, Chuck Hagel, James Matis.
Risky actions
“We are sending you this letter to encourage Congress (…) to demand Mr Trump to account for these completely risky actions and to fully carry out his constitutional responsibilities” in controlling the executive, explaining and asking his members to
The abuses “raise alarming questions about the government’s desire to politicize the Armed Forces and abolish legal restrictions on the president’s powers,” they said.
“The US cannot allow the armed forces to be” infected “by partisaning, diverted by their fundamental mission to defend the nation,” they say.
‘Presidential privilege The changes’
Donald Trump’s government assures that the changes at the top of the military hierarchy are a presidential privilege, which has been repeatedly used by its predecessors.
But critics, including the five former defense ministers, argue that these changes were not accompanied by any serious justification, especially for the qualifications or actions of officers who were removed from their positions.
Sources: RES-EIA, AFP
