The Turkey Military (or parts of it) has declared it is taking over that nation to “preserve democracy” by overthrowing the elected president and majority government.
First lets grant that just because a person is democratically elected does not mean they are ok to rule a nation. I’m willing to risk Godwin’s law and point to the election of Hitler as a historical example of how the process a person comes to power is not enough to make them ok. It might have been a good thing for the German military of 1933 to have seized power and forced another election in under the Weimar Constitution. (yes, hindsight is 20/20)
Could the US Military do what Turkey just did?
Short answer is Yes. Long answer is Not likely any time soon.
Part of the reason this is very unlikely to happen soon in the US is the history of the US Military. The strong separation of political power from the military. Civilians are the highest ranking leaders of the Military, and Officers are commissioned by the Congress of the United States. (Not the President!) Every member of the military swears an Oath to “protect and defend the Constitution of the United States,” Not to Protect and defend the United States.
This is important, in that members of the military, at all levels, are taught that they answer to elected officials directions and their “job” is to uphold and defend the Constitution. Not the President, or Sectary of Defense, or Mayor of Smallville. As such, the military is strictly limited in what it is allowed to do in civilian areas. Something that makes disaster relief complicated because of the laws passed by Congress.
Many senior leaders in the Military are very proud of the non-political stands the US Military takes. We don't hear about the Joint Cheifs of Staff making statements in support of, or against International trade agreements, abortion, gun control, tax policies, or displays of the 10 commandments in court houses. Their statements are limited to direct issues that apply to Soldier pay, Military readiness, and future military needs.
Every election year, great effort is made to ensure that all Soldiers, Sailors and Marines know the rules on political activities they are allowed to participate in. You are encouraged to know the issues, vote on the issues, even help with the elections on your own time as long as you clearly are not implying or stating the military supports your view.
Ok, so where is the “Yes” part?
The Military could stage a coup. It has the power, the weapons, and the training. All that is keeping it from doing so is tradition, lack of support from the general citizenry and a diverse membership.
Even with out the support from the general citizenry, the history and diverse membership are really what keeps the Military from “just taking over”.
Diverse Military Membership?
The military is made up of the citizens of the United States. Even though President Carter brought back the draft system (Selective Service) that President Nixon ended, we have an all volunteer military. No one is taken and forced to join or go to jail, no one is forced to serve at the point of a gun. People join on their own free will. (Yes, there may be economic reasons, but that is still a choice vs getting a letter telling you you’re going to join.)
Racially the military is more racially diverse then just about any other segment of the US. 70% of the 1.3 million active duty and 800,000 Reserve/Guard membership is white. 74% of the general population is white*. 17% is African American, vs 8% of the general population. You will work with, live with, and spend more constant close contact time with members of another race than you ever will in the general civilian life. When a Soldier says “my best friend is black/white/asian/hispanic/purple” it is not meaning “oh, I work in the same office as a black person I know by the first name and lives in the next town.” It means they have laid in the mud for several days working 24/7 for weeks together, eating, sleeping, waiting with in arms reach of each other. (and for the last 15 years, watched out for each other’s lives) They know each other well. How many people can say that in the general population when talking about their “other race friends”?
[*the military does not currently track multi-race, lumping them into white, hispanic, asian, native american, or african american. Unofficial numbers put multi-race at about 5% of the military and general population]
The one area the military is not as diverse is gender. Since the 1980’s it has held steady around 16% female. Now that most Combat Arms are open to women who can meet the physical standards, this might go up a few points. But not a lot until there is a major cultural change in the general population that changes women’s views on military/police/fire/EMS/sanitation/traditional mens work.
But is that diversity in danger of changing?
YES!!!
57% of the current military enlistments come from 20% of the population. Rural and Rural Suburban communities make up 57% of the enlisted and 38% of Officers. Suburban and Urban Suburban areas account for 21% of enlisted and 46% of officers, with Urban areas covering the rest.
As we have seen over the last several years, Rural and Rural Suburban areas have been becoming more and more conservative. This means more Soldiers leaning to the right in views and votes and social meme’s. The danger is that this could build into an echo chamber that feeds the “American is lost and needs to be rescued by force of arms” ranting we currently see in the radical right groups such as InfoWars, John Birch, Koch Bro’s, Gun Owners of America, etc. Add in the feeling of “being an elite member of the nation” for doing something that less than 1% of the nation was willing to do, and a coup becomes conceivable.
What can be done to make sure this does not happen?
Several things.
First encourage Congress to insist on keeping the military as apolitical as possible. Praise commanders who enforce DoD directives and Federal Laws on political activity.
Second, urge younger people with liberal views to consider becoming officers or enlisting. There are many benefits to this. Equal pay, free single payer health care, free college, job training, and the ability to stand up after your service is over and give counter view points with authority. Gen. (ret) Wesley Clarke was better able to criticize Bush 2’s Iraq war in the 2004 election than any of the other Democratic candidates. Brandon Wayne (Afghanistan Vet, Company Commander, Special Forces unit member) was able to explain why he would give up his assault rifle from a position of authority. (www.buzzfeed.com/...)
Third, share with friends good news about military members doing selfless things for the community — such as this: www.wdrb.com/… or wncn.com/… or www.washingtonpost.com/… or abcnews.go.com/… Help make the mentality of the general population to see Military Service as selfless service. Help make the image and goal of being in the military one that expects a very high standard of behavior.
Could there be a coup today?
No. While our nation is facing hard times, increased divineness, and greater efforts by the powerful to loot all we have, the idea that the military would usurp the job of the courts is currently counter to all that the military stands for. However if things keep going the way they are, that could change.