The Origins of the American Military Coup of 2012

[imported_Chuck Weinstock]

The Origins of the American Military Coup of 2012 (http://carlisle-www.army.mil/usawc/Parameters/1992/dunlap.htm)

[B-Man]

Someone has a healthy imagination.

[Kurn, son of Mogh]

We were disillusioned with the apparent inability of elected government to solve the nation's dilemmas.

*Sigh* No reason to get off on a rant here. Anyone who is in the least tuned in to my libertarian bent can guess why this line troubles me.

I am reminded, however, of the episode of the Simpsons where Homer runs for office under the campaign slogan of "Why can't someone else do it?"

[Chris Alger]

Thanks a lot for this. If this is the essay I think it is, it won an award a few years back. I remember reading about it at the time but never got around to getting it and since forgot it. Thanks.

[imported_Chuck Weinstock]

I believe it must be the paper you are referring to. Here's a quote from the article which pointed me to the paper (by Sidney Blumenthal, writing for salon.com):

[ QUOTE ]
In 1992, Gen. Powell, chairman of the Joint Chiefs, awarded the prize for his Strategy Essay Competition at the National Defense University to Lt. Col. Charles J. Dunlap for "The Origins of the American Military Coup of 2012." His cautionary tale imagined an incapable civilian government creating a vacuum that draws a competent military into a coup disastrous for democracy. The military, of course, is bound to uphold the Constitution. But Dunlap wrote: "The catastrophe that occurred on our watch took place because we failed to speak out against policies we knew were wrong. It's too late for me to do any more. But it's not for you." "The Origins of the American Military Coup of 2012" is being circulated today among top U.S. military strategists.


[/ QUOTE ]

(emphasis, mine)

Chuck