<story><title>Joint Chiefs remind U.S. forces that they defend the constitution</title><url>https://www.npr.org/sections/congress-electoral-college-tally-live-updates/2021/01/12/956170188/joint-chiefs-remind-u-s-forces-that-they-defend-the-constitution</url></story><parent_chain><item><author>bostonsre</author><text>It&amp;#x27;s incredibly reassuring to know that there are solid honorable people in our armed forces that eschew politics in favor of doing the right thing. I&amp;#x27;m sure they don&amp;#x27;t hear it enough, but thank you if any members read this.</text></item></parent_chain><comment><author>rayiner</author><text>Yes, incredible to read this. My family left Bangladesh when it was being run by a military government. We are so fortunate to have the military we do.&lt;p&gt;Its not an idea or a principle or a law. It’s culture. It’s a norm
that has been socialized into members of the military, especially the leadership, for hundreds of years. I live in Annapolis now by the Naval Academy and it’s quite a joy to see each new cohort of naval officers carry on the tradition.</text></comment>
<story><title>Joint Chiefs remind U.S. forces that they defend the constitution</title><url>https://www.npr.org/sections/congress-electoral-college-tally-live-updates/2021/01/12/956170188/joint-chiefs-remind-u-s-forces-that-they-defend-the-constitution</url></story><parent_chain><item><author>bostonsre</author><text>It&amp;#x27;s incredibly reassuring to know that there are solid honorable people in our armed forces that eschew politics in favor of doing the right thing. I&amp;#x27;m sure they don&amp;#x27;t hear it enough, but thank you if any members read this.</text></item></parent_chain><comment><author>refurb</author><text>In case you haven’t noticed, US politicians (and military leadership is definitely political) love to proclaim they are defenders of the constitution (when it benefits them) and make excuses why the constitution doesn’t apply (when it benefits them).&lt;p&gt;**&lt;p&gt;Edit to respond to reply below asking if there are no honorable people in the military.&lt;p&gt;**&lt;p&gt;Not saying that there are no honorable people in the military.  There are plenty.&lt;p&gt;What I’m saying is getting to leadership position in the government, business or military requires a lot of political savvy.&lt;p&gt;Of course everything the Joint Chiefs said is accurate, but also view it through the lens of how saying it &lt;i&gt;now&lt;/i&gt; benefits the person saying it.&lt;p&gt;It’s pretty apparent that the Capitol Riot has led to a major shakeup across the entire government.  It’s apparent that everyone is looking to position themselves as best they can for the post-Trump world.&lt;p&gt;Think of it like after Germany was defeated in WW2.  Collaborators told stories of how they bravely resisted.  Those who just laid low painted themselves as brave partisans.  Some hated Germany for their own selfish reasons but post-war could exploit their resistance and claim to be nationalists.  Others saw a power vacuum and realized now was the time to exploit it.&lt;p&gt;It’s quite interesting to watch.</text></comment>