Former Joint Chiefs head blasts retired generals for engaging in politics

Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Martin Dempsey criticized two retired generals who separately spoke at the Democratic and Republican conventions.

{mosads}“The military is not a political prize,” Dempsey, himself a retired Army general, wrote in a letter to the The Washington Post Sunday. “Politicians should take the advice of senior military leaders but keep them off the stage. The American people should not wonder where their military leaders draw the line between military advice and political preference.”

Retired Marine Gen. John Allen spoke on behalf of Hillary Clinton at the Democratic National Convention, and retired Army Gen. Mike Flynn, an adviser to Donald Trump, spoke at the Republican National Convention. Dempsey said on Sunday that it was a mistake for them to do so. 

“Retired Marine Gen. John Allen and retired Army Lt. Gen. Mike Flynn weren’t introduced at the Democratic and Republican conventions, respectively, as ‘John’ and ‘Mike,’” Dempsey wrote. “They were introduced as generals. As generals, they have an obligation to uphold our apolitical traditions. They have just made the task of their successors — who continue to serve in uniform and are accountable for our security — more complicated.”

“It was a mistake for them to participate as they did,” he added. “It was a mistake for our presidential candidates to ask them to do so.”