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>> We are fast approaching the
anniversary of the
unprecedented January 6 attack
on the Capitol in an effort to
stop or delay the
constitutional process of counting the electoral vote
of counting the electoral vote
to the presidential election.
More
troubling information continues
to emerge almost daily,
including information about
veterans or active military taking part and that’s count 80
taking part and that’s count 80
of those charged are or have
been in
the military. General Tom
kolditz knows the military from
West point to the Pentagon.
35 use of leadership across the world in a cold. It is
the world in a cold. It is
uniquely qualified to assess
what went on January 6 and some
of the in the possible impacts.
Good morning, general. Good to see you again. You know that
see you again. You know that
morning, Carol, we talked about
this a few months and you see
more military now being
involved in this whole thing
since then. How surprised if
you’ve been about the revelations coming from it and
revelations coming from it and
what does it mean. Do you think
in terms of the way the
military may be changing.
>> Well, I think the military will always be a reflection
will always be a reflection
of society.
seeing the the the negative
outcomes of right wing
extremism all over our society.
We’re seeing it on our airlines
where people are.
You know, arguing in and even assaulting flight attendants
assaulting flight attendants
because they don’t want to wear
mask. We’re seeing it. In terms of an uptick of hate
In terms of an uptick of hate
so it’s really been surprising
that the military would
also reflect this rise of anger and extremism.
and extremism.
And I think the military is
uniquely positioned to
>> Well, I’m sure you say that.
I mean, because I’m in the
military has been.
An example of stability in this
country for generations. I mean, you think about the
I mean, you think about the
military. You think about solid
stable, but now civilian
politics infiltrating, as you
may say, is impacting why do
you say the military is uniquely positioned to go ahead
uniquely positioned to go ahead
and handle it.
>> Well, first of many, many years. The military
many, many years. The military
has had rules and regulations
and laws under the EU CMJ to
prevent political participation by soldiers, not, for example.
by soldiers, not, for example.
Disrespect to a senior official
like the president, the United
States is a crime in the military.
and and recently the Department
of Defense released a memorandum that detail what
memorandum that detail what
they mean by advocating
insurrection are advocating
the toppling of the government
and that includes why Keenan sharing on social media.
sharing on social media.
It’s pretty demonstrative and.
In the past we thought of. Taking action as the
Taking action as the
requirement for enforcement.
And
it’s been made clear that mere is in action.
is in action.
And that’s an distinction.
And so what
we’re seeing is the Department of Defense in its own
of Defense in its own
professional way. Bearing in
going up against this kind of
extremism in the ranks. And,
you know, I want to talk about
something very chilling warning
3 retired generals. They wrote an op ed.
an op ed.
>> it’s something in the
Washington Post a few weeks
ago. We’re talking about
general Paul Eaton Antonio to
Cuba and Steven Anderson, they
wrote about what they say is a
dangerous trend. They say they took note of a number of
took note of a number of
veterans involved in the
January 6 attack. They also
what what they see is a
breakdown in structure and
control in the military. They write we are chilled to
They write we are chilled to
our bones at the thought of
a coup succeeding next time
without constant maintenance.
The potential for a military
breakdown. Mirroring societal or
political breakdown is very Do
you know these generals and you
agree with their concerns. >> Well, I know, Paul, you I
>> Well, I know, Paul, you I
know Tony to, but very well.
I don’t know. Generally
but I will tell you that
listeners should understand that Tony to go, but is
that Tony to go, but is
a very a unique among retired
general officers. He was the person who wrote the.
person who wrote the.
A critique and critical report
And basically ended his career
by doing Secretary of defense
rumsfeld was furious and others
are quite angry. Adding.
But he told the truth.
And he is the most truthful
high integrity. General
officer.
I mean, I don’t know why you
would exceed his personal
integrity. And so it’s it’s
unique and special. And Tony
to Google was one of the people
who wrote that that letter and
that warning.
>> So do you agree with their
their concerns about the
breakdown within the military
and perhaps them military may be involved in the coup at some
be involved in the coup at some
point.
>> Air military members who are
quietly right wing extremists. You know, we see in military
You know, we see in military
general officers like that.
Brigadier general in the
Oklahoma national Guard who
But I don’t think it’s going to be a problem that is bigger
be a problem that is bigger
than our military stability
control
you know these these ideas and some of these individuals get a
some of these individuals get a
lot of attention and they seem
bigger than they are. The in the 3.2 million person
The in the 3.2 million person
Department of Defense.
Asked majority 99% are great
Americans loyal to their
country and no matter what their basic political beliefs
their basic political beliefs
are. They’re going to do
their jobs. So the people who
emerges extremists or people
who are fomenting some sort
of aggression against our country. And I think you’re in
country. And I think you’re in
for a very rough time. You’ve
leadership. I mean, that’s
where role as the director
founding director of the door Institute at Rice University.
Institute at Rice University.
>> So what role does
leadership play in all of this
in terms of corralling some
of the challenges that the that
the political influences, my play in the military.
play in the military.
>> Yes, we know leaders can
be conservative leaders can be
liberal. There’s a lot of diversity in it.
diversity in it.
What they can’t be is
deliberately dishonest and
right now we’re in a war for
the truth.
The idea that Donald Trump
actually won the election when he lost by 7 million votes
he lost by 7 million votes
across 7 states could see them
certainly. Many leaders know
it.
And yet go along with it. So the key element of
So the key element of
leadership that’s missing right
now. That has to be one back.
His personal integrity and
respect for the truth. So you think you said, I think you
think you said, I think you
said he won. But you said that
the fact that he lost the
election by.
>> That number seems
to be.
>> of well known among people. But there are people who are
But there are people who are
actually going the opposite
way.
>> Well, there are people who
have near blind loyalty to former president Trump.
former president Trump.
And if they would just reasons
Weiss more than 60 courts would
turn the objections that have been raised. Why there’s
been raised. Why there’s
no evidence 7 million votes
across
7 states there. It surely be a
trail in one of them. And yet there
isn’t so leaders. I need to possesses which is a commitment
possesses which is a commitment
to personal integrity and
That wraps it up
pretty well. Truth is kind of
the winds out on everything.
General kolditz, thank
you, Sir.
>> I’m sure we’ll talk again in the not so distant future
the not so distant future