Peter. This from another thread and I have no idea if there is any truth to this..could just be some crap disturbance.
Military to Pledge Oath To Obama, Not Constitution <http://jumpinginpools.blogspot.com/2009/01/military-to-pledge-oath-to-obama-not.html>
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Conservative News and Reporting
"News for the Rest of Us"
committedtoromney.com
Michele Chang
Secretary of Defense Robert Gates is extremely frustrated with orders
that the White House is contemplating. According to sources at the
Pentagon, including all branches of the armed forces, the Obama
Administration may break with a centuries-old tradition.
A spokesman for General James Cartwright, the Vice Chairman of the Joint
Chiefs of Staff, states that the Obama Administration wants to have
soldiers and officers pledge a loyalty oath directly to the office of
the President, and no longer to the Constitution.
"The oath to the Constitution is as old as the document itself." the
spokesman said, "At no time in American history, not even in the Civil
War, did the oath change or the subject of the oath differ. It has
always been to the Constitution."
The back-and-forth between the White House and the Defense Department
was expected as President George W. Bush left office. President Obama
has already signed orders to close Guantanamo and to pull combat troops
from Iraq. But, this, say many at the Defense Department, goes to far.
"Technically, we can't talk about it before it becomes official policy."
the spokesman continued. "However, the Defense Department, including the
Secretary, will not take this laying down. Expect a fight from the
bureaucracy and the brass."
Sources at the White House had a different point of view. In a circular
distributed by White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, the rationale
for the change was made more clear.
"The President feels that the military has been too indoctrinated by the
old harbingers of hate: nationalism, racism, and classism. By removing
an oath to the American society, the soldiers are less likely to commit
atrocities like those at Abu Ghraib."
"We expect a lot of flak over this," the classified memo continues. "But
those that would be most against it are those looking either for
attention or control."
The time frame for the changes are unknown. However, it is more likely
that the changes will be made around the July 4th holiday, in order to
dampen any potential backlash. The difference in the oath will actually
only be slight. The main differences will be the new phrasing. It is
expected that the oath to the Constitution will be entirely phased out
within two years. |
