Protecting American Democracy— The Military's Role: Retired Brigadier General Steven Anderson

Let's Find Common Ground

USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future

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5 • 2.7K Ratings

🗓️ 17 February 2022

⏱️ 24 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

What is the military’s role in protecting democracy? The question took on a new sense of urgency in the months after the riot at the U.S. Capitol on January 6th, 2020. A deep partisan divide opened up over what actually happened on that day, how to describe the chaotic events, and who should be held responsible. After decades of service in the U.S. military, retired Brigadier General Steven Anderson decided to speak out about the threat of future insurrections and the possibility that a coup might succeed next time. "There is a significant threat being posed to our nation and our democracy," he says. While some of those arrested and charged in the attack were veterans or even active members of the military, General Anderson says America's armed forces can make a constructive contribution in the future. In this podcast, he tells us that The Pentagon should order a civics review for all members— uniformed and civilian— on the U.S. Constitution and electoral integrity. We also discuss how the military can foster diversity and common ground.

Transcript

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0:00.0	What is the military's role in protecting democracy?
0:03.4	The question took on a new sense of urgency in the months after the riot at the US Capitol on January 6th of last year.
0:10.5	A deep partisan divide opened up over what happened that day,
0:14.4	how to describe the chaotic events, and who should be held responsible.
0:24.0	This is Let's Find Common Ground. I'm Ashley Melntite.
0:28.0	And I'm Richard Davies. After decades of service in the US military,
0:32.0	retired Brigadier General Stephen Anderson decided to speak out about the threat of future insurrections
0:39.0	and the possibility of an attempted coup. General Anderson did TV interviews and commentaries
0:45.4	and co-authored a widely read opinion piece in The Washington Post.
0:50.1	In this episode, he tells us that America's armed forces can play a constructive role
0:54.6	in strengthening our public institutions and finding common ground. Richard, you get the first question.
1:01.6	When most of us consider the role of the US military, we think about foreign threats to our national security.
1:08.6	What does the US Constitution say about the military's function during a domestic crisis?
1:15.6	Does the military have a role?
1:17.6	I sworn oath 43 years ago to support and defend the Constitution against all enemies foreign and domestic.
1:27.6	43 years ago when I took that oath, we were concerned of course about the foreign threats,
1:33.6	particularly the Soviet threat that was posed at that time.
1:37.6	Never in my wildest imagination did I think that I'd be talking at any time about a significant domestic threat.
1:46.6	But I believe that that's what is being posed against our nation right now.
1:52.6	A domestic cancer that is growing within.
1:56.6	And to the extent that the military can maintain order and peace internally
2:06.6	and do the right things to ensure that we protect our nation and our democracy from internal threats.
	...

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