Military leaders will do the right thing ‘at all costs’ in Trump administration: US Defense Secretary Austin

Washington, November 8 (IANS). US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the military will not get involved in politics and is prepared to comply with ‘all lawful orders’, as the Pentagon remains committed to an orderly transition to the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump.

“I have every confidence that our leaders will continue to do the right thing, no matter what,” Austin said at a press conference in Miami.

Although he declined to speculate on what the Trump administration would do, the defense secretary said he had confidence in the military’s leadership.

“The U.S. military will continue to stand apart from the political arena, defend our Republic with principle and professionalism, and stand with our valued allies and partners,” Austin said in a memo sent to U.S. troops that was publicly released Thursday. “That strengthen our security. I’m also confident that our Congress will continue to do the right thing to support our military.”

Trump considered invoking the Insurrection Act to deploy active-duty troops to suppress protests in 2020.

Ahead of Trump’s return to the White House as president, Austin was asked about the possibility of the incoming commander-in-chief issuing potentially unlawful orders.

“The laws are really well-defined about what can and cannot be done to active military personnel,” Austin said. “Our leaders are well-versed in those laws and we have the largest legal team in the world “That helps us make sure we stay on the right track.”

In a message sent to the military the day after the election, Austin wrote that the US military would “follow all lawful orders of its civilian chain of command”.

Austin also said that the president gets to choose his military leaders. There is speculation that Trump may fire Joint Chiefs of Staff General CQ Brown, who has repeatedly come under attack from the right-wing.

–IANS

SCH/AS