Victor Davis Hanson // National Review
Sometimes retired generals are deified. Ulysses S. Grant and Dwight D. Eisenhower won two presidential terms in landslide elections.
At other moments, war heroes such Generals Douglas MacArthur and Curtis LeMay were vilified as near insurrectionaries for their blistering attacks on sitting presidents.
In such a climate, the Uniform Code of Military Justice, which became effective law in May 1951, prohibits active generals from disparaging their commander in chief — in the way perhaps MacArthur had bitterly pilloried then-president Harry Truman over the Korean War. Article 88 of the UCMJ makes it a crime to voice “contemptuous words against the President, the Vice President, Congress, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of a military department, the Secretary of Homeland Security, or the Governor or legislature of any State.”
But no one quite knows, and debate continues over, whether such codified prohibitions on free expression apply to retired generals receiving military pensions. Yet, given the spate of recent “contemptuous words against the President” leveled from retired generals, it seems that few worry about regulation AR 27-10 of the code: “Retired members of a regular component of the Armed Forces who are entitled to pay are subject to the UCMJ. (See Art. 2(a)(4), UCMJ.) They may be tried by courts-martial for offenses committed while in a retired status.”
Discussion (3)
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VDH, You write very well. Your lectures, the few I have seen online, are wonderful. And obviously you have a great history of scholarship, study, analysis. But why are you a pundit? Why all of a sudden to I begin to see you talk to current minute events? Those writings don't make enough sense unless I conclude you have changed professions. No longer just an educator on past events; now it seems you are a commentator on current events. That is a bit odd. Sorry but now I have to question your perspective. Do you have and maintain a rational perspective or have you lost that? Based on your current writing it seems you have converted into a political pundit. As such your past performance should not be a basis for anyone respecting your current thinking. Look to your balance; it seems to be lacking. --bn
Hey Vic....pretty lame stuff TOTALLY AVOIDING the main question. I knew you could not /would not take it on. Another semi-brilliant and long winded deflection. You should apply for the WH Pres Secretary of Total BS. You'd be a hit with DJT. What are Mattis / Kelly / Powell actually telling us...particularly the 1st two who had daily contact with DJT? We got a man without character, without basic morality or decency or honesty running the show.....not about policy or party. You see yourself as some champion of civilization (hello Bill Barr) while promoting the exact opposite.
Victor, A number of the retired generals to whom I send your pieces are totally and vociferously on-board with you on this essay. BTW, my list is now over 3,500. You're one hell of a draw. Perhaps I should start charging??????????????? Naw.