Tensions in Taiwan
Despite expanding tensions between the US and China on Taiwan and the South China Sea, Trump is to “clean up the house”, that is, the U.S. army, and get free of commanders who have their activities and views different from its program.
The American Accountability Foundation, a conservative organization, published a list of 20 colonels, generals and admirals who expressed their support for the initiatives of diversity and integration in the military. Among them is Admiral Lisa Franchetti, head of naval operations.
Controversy around the “Military Commission”
According to Guardian, the fresh administration can make "military commissions" composed of retired military commanders favoring Trump's program to measure and remove officers who supported anti-racist initiatives. Senator Jack Reed described specified "cleaning commissions" as being considered by the upcoming administration.
"The rhetoric, sometimes Trump candidate, but frequently from the people around Trump, was rather bombastic and extreme," said Peter Feaver, prof. at Duke University.
Fears of politicizing the Army
Experts inform that subjecting general officers to a test of political loyalty may undermine public assurance in military leadership. "This will show American public opinion that military leadership is simply a political matter, and this will reduce assurance in the military," Kori Schake of the American Enterprise Institute explained.
Katherine Kuzminski of Centre for a fresh American safety pointed out that although the president has the authority to release generals, motive is important. "It is disturbing if a leader in a uniform who does not act partisanly cannot keep his work unless he adapts to the president under whom he serves".
Experts inform that large-scale political cleansing can seriously disrupt the military leadership system, which has already been undermined by the fresh frost of promotions ordered by Senator Tommy Tuberville. It will only be revealed how the Trump administration will deal with military leadership after taking office.
