I call your attention to some links:
When to Shoot the Colonels
"When to Shoot the Colonels": A West Pointer's ad seriatim commentary upon Baugh's essay.
Reprise on 'When to Shoot The Colonels'
It's important to read them in order.
My thoughts: Tom Baugh sent me a copy of his book. Now that the holidays are over, I can give it the attention it needs (along with Dave Kopel's newest book and the Neal Knox anthology, which I also received shortly before Christmas).
Baugh is correct when he tells us the military "exists to back our national will with force." I also think in this case, his assessment that"oath keepers...will be in in an impossible situation" does not consider all factors. It does not account for the uncertainty that made troops ultimately not mow down crowds when the Shah was deposed. It does not account for a Romanian Christmas of days gone by that ended with a tyrant bleeding in the dirt, killed by troops who once enforced his will.
The only thing we know for sure is none of us can predict the future. That said, we do have an ability to affect probabilities. I'd say the largest part of whether or not American soldiers would fire on American citizens--and whether Oath Keepers can play a key part in defusing that potential-- depends on us and what we do.
When to Shoot the Colonels
"When to Shoot the Colonels": A West Pointer's ad seriatim commentary upon Baugh's essay.
Reprise on 'When to Shoot The Colonels'
It's important to read them in order.
My thoughts: Tom Baugh sent me a copy of his book. Now that the holidays are over, I can give it the attention it needs (along with Dave Kopel's newest book and the Neal Knox anthology, which I also received shortly before Christmas).
Baugh is correct when he tells us the military "exists to back our national will with force." I also think in this case, his assessment that"oath keepers...will be in in an impossible situation" does not consider all factors. It does not account for the uncertainty that made troops ultimately not mow down crowds when the Shah was deposed. It does not account for a Romanian Christmas of days gone by that ended with a tyrant bleeding in the dirt, killed by troops who once enforced his will.
The only thing we know for sure is none of us can predict the future. That said, we do have an ability to affect probabilities. I'd say the largest part of whether or not American soldiers would fire on American citizens--and whether Oath Keepers can play a key part in defusing that potential-- depends on us and what we do.