Ret. Admiral John Kirby on Pres. Trump’s Use of Military

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR: First, your reaction to the growing mountain of protests from the military to the president and his policy against the protesters in the streets.

REAR ADMIRAL JOHN KIRBY (RET.), FORMER U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN: I think it’s underscoring, Christiane, that there are two conversations going on in this country right now. One is clearly on race relations and the criminal justice system and how it treats African-Americans, and that is by far the most important one we’re having. But there’s also another conversation happening over civil military relations and the use of the military in support of domestic law enforcement purposes and the degree to which this president has continued to politicize military missions and operations, and that is what you’re seeing all these retired admirals and generals come out in response to. I think we finally have reached, as Admiral Mullen described, an inflection point in this country and these former leaders simply need to — they feel compelled to have their voices heard in respect — with respect to the dangers that we’re now encroaching upon in civil military relations.

AMANPOUR: Well, let me ask you about Admiral Mullen, because he was the chairman of the Joint Chiefs you did, in fact, work for him at that time. So, you worked very closely with him. Let me just read, because he was the one who came out first. He said, I cannot remain silent, and he said this a few days ago. He said, it sickened him to see security forces clear peaceful protesters from Lafayette Square. And as you say, he called it an inflection point. To what? An inflection point to what? What is the expectation, the intent, do you think, of people like Admiral Mullen and the other top brass who are making and coming out and saying these things right now?

KIRBY: I think it was specifically the way that the military, in this case the National Guard, was used to support what was essentially a photo opportunity by the president to push peaceful protesters out of the way in a forcible way. And the dangers that that could have in setting up real and perhaps irrevocable tensions between the American people and their military. The militaries and institution has the highest trust and confidence, the American people continues to pull very highly and the American people should — and are — do trust their military that they’re going to obey the law, that they’re going to act in their defense. And to have a president who is clearly willing, by threatening to invoke the Insurrection Act when there’s really no justification for it, by threatening to put active duty troops on the city streets of places where mayors and governors don’t want them, he is potentially driving a wedge between the American military and the American people. And I think seeing that happen in real time, as he walked out to St. John’s Church is what alarmed so many of these retired generals and admirals. I know it alarmed Admiral Mullen.