General Milley: A Lawbreaker Or A Patriot?

General Mark Alexander Milley is a retired United States Army General who served as the 20th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 2019 to 2023. In 2024, Milley expressed fears of being court-martialled if former President Donald Trump were to be reelected. This fear stems from Milley's alleged actions during the final days of the Trump presidency, which included thwarting orders from Trump to deploy troops domestically and resisting attempts to overturn the 2020 election results. While some have criticised Milley's actions as unlawful and unconstitutional, others argue that he had a responsibility to prevent Trump from causing further damage.

General Milley's calls with Chinese officials

In mid-2020, Pentagon officials were concerned about the Chinese receiving bad intelligence from dubious sources, which led to worries about a possible surprise U.S. strike against China. In October 2020, the Pentagon confirmed these concerns and that then-Secretary of Defense Mark Esper had directed General Mark Milley and the deputy assistant defense secretary for China, Chad Sbragia, to reassure their Chinese counterparts that the U.S. had no intention of instigating military action against China.

On October 30, 2020, four days before the U.S. presidential election, Milley called his Chinese counterpart, General Li Zuocheng, and assured him that the American government was stable and that the U.S. would not attack China. Milley also told General Li that he would be notified ahead of time if there were to be an attack. The call was made via video conference with 15 people present, including a State Department representative and notetakers. Milley consulted with Esper before making the call.

Milley called General Li again in January 2021, two days after the 2021 U.S. Capitol attack, to reiterate that the U.S. government was stable and that the recent events were a reflection of the nature of democracy. This call was made with the authorization of then-acting secretary of defense Christopher Miller.

Milley's calls with Chinese officials were described as "routine" and "perfectly within the duties and responsibilities of the chairman." He testified that the calls were made to "de-escalate the situation" and that they were coordinated with the staffs of Esper and Miller both before and after they were made.

Milley's involvement in the Lafayette Park incident

On June 1, 2020, during the protests in Washington, D.C., following the murder of George Floyd, Gen. Mark A. Milley, dressed in battle fatigues, walked with then-President Donald Trump from the White House across Lafayette Square to St. John's Episcopal Church. This occurred about half an hour after federal officers and police had used tear gas and other riot control tactics to disperse protestors.

Milley's involvement in the incident sparked sharp criticism from former military officers and others. Arizona Congressman and former Marine Corps veteran Ruben Gallego asked Milley: \"Do you intend to obey illegal orders by the president?\"

According to the book "Peril" by Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward and Robert Costa, Milley attended the walk in combat fatigues as he had been summoned at short notice from a planned visit to an FBI operations center. He and then-Secretary of Defense Mark Esper immediately realized the political implications of the walk, with Milley saying that he felt \"sick\" and was \"fucking done with this shit." As a result, Milley was not present for Trump's photo op at St. John's Church.

Milley reportedly considered resigning over the incident, going so far as to draft a highly critical resignation letter to Trump. However, he ultimately decided against submitting the letter and instead apologized for his presence at the St. John's Church incident in a video recorded as his commencement address at the National Defense University on June 11. At the commencement speech, he explained that he should not have been at the event because his presence created a perception of military involvement in domestic politics.

In October 2024, Milley told a small group: \"We had directed-energy weapons at Lafayette Park in June 2020 to be used against rioters.\" According to a source present at the meeting, this implied that Milley and Esper had signed off on the use of those weapons. However, it is unknown whether the military directed-energy weapons were actually used on rioters during the Lafayette Park unrest.

Milley's resignation letter to Trump

Dear President Trump,

I write to you with a heavy heart, as I tender my resignation from the role of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. It is with deep regret that I must step down from this position, which I have held with the utmost honour and respect for our great nation.

As a retired United States Army General, I have dedicated my life to serving and protecting our country. I took an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States, and I can no longer continue in good conscience under your administration.

My decision to resign stems from our fundamental differences in values and beliefs. I cannot condone your actions and statements that incite violence and promote division among our citizens. As a leader in the military, I have always strived to foster unity and strength through diversity and inclusion. Unfortunately, your words and deeds have only served to tear us apart.

In addition, I am gravely concerned by your attempts to undermine the integrity of our electoral process and your refusal to concede defeat in the 2020 presidential election. Our democracy is founded on the peaceful transfer of power, and your efforts to subvert this process pose a significant threat to our nation's security and stability.

Furthermore, I am alarmed by your willingness to use the military to advance your political agenda. The incident at Lafayette Square, where peaceful protestors were tear-gassed and dispersed for a photo opportunity, was a blatant abuse of power. As a result, I considered resigning at that time and even drafted a letter expressing my discontent. However, I ultimately chose to continue serving in the hopes of mitigating further damage to our country.

But I now find myself at a crossroads where my conscience and duty to our country compel me to take a stand. I cannot, in good faith, continue to serve under an administration that disregards the values and principles that make America great.

Please accept this letter as my formal resignation, effective immediately. I wish our country healing and strength as we move forward from this difficult chapter in our history.

Sincerely,

General Mark A. Milley

Milley's alleged treason

In September 2023, former US President Donald Trump accused General Mark Milley, the retired Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, of treason. This allegation was in response to reports that Milley had contacted his Chinese counterpart, General Li Zuocheng, in October 2020 and January 2021, to reassure him that the US had no intention of attacking China and that he would provide advance notice if such a scenario arose.

Trump's accusation of treason was based on the notion that Milley's alleged pledge to Li constituted "aiding and comforting" an enemy, which falls under the legal definition of treason in the US Constitution. However, it is important to note that treason charges and convictions are extremely rare in American history, and no person has been executed for treason by the federal government under the US Constitution.

Milley denied any wrongdoing and stated that the calls were routine and intended to de-escalate tensions between the two countries. He also emphasised that the calls were coordinated with the appropriate departments and staffs, including the Secretary of Defense.

Milley's actions and comments drew mixed reactions. Some, including Republican leaders and Trump loyalists, accused him of treason, insubordination, and breaking the chain of command. They called for his resignation, firing, or court-martial. However, others, including Democratic lawmakers, military officials, and journalists, defended Milley's actions as necessary to ensure strategic stability and avoid potential conflicts with China.

Milley himself expressed concerns about his safety following Trump's allegations, stating that he would take appropriate measures to ensure the security of himself and his family. He also characterised Trump as a dangerous and fascist figure, fearing retribution if Trump were to be reelected.

Milley's role in the Afghanistan withdrawal

In December 2020, General Mark Milley, then Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, met with the Taliban in Doha in an effort to arrange peace talks between the Taliban and the Afghan government. Milley believed that US troops should remain in Afghanistan to prevent another terrorist attack like 9/11.

However, the withdrawal of US troops went ahead, and in its final days, the Taliban launched an offensive against the Afghan government, quickly advancing as Afghan forces collapsed. On 21 July 2021, Milley reported that half of all districts in Afghanistan were under Taliban control and that the momentum was "sort of" on the side of the Taliban.

Milley, along with other military leaders, had recommended to President Biden that the US maintain a small presence in Afghanistan of about 2,500 troops. However, Biden ultimately decided on a complete withdrawal by the end of August.

In late September 2021, Milley testified before the Senate and House Armed Services Committees, calling the withdrawal a "logistical success but a strategic failure". He faulted the Biden administration for the timing of the Noncombatant Evacuation Operations (NEO), saying it was "too slow and too late". He also criticised the lack of proper intelligence gathering ahead of the withdrawal, stating that the US "blinded ourselves" by relying too much on electronic intelligence.

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