A Coup?

Looking at what may happen in Greece, a coup is not out of the question. The same is true in Argentina. A million people apparently protested the government. Could the same be true in America? There have been several such threats in America’s history. Here is the Wikipedia summery of one such plot. 

The Business Plot was an alleged political conspiracy in 1933. Retired Marine Corps Major General Smedley Butler claimed that wealthy businessmen were plotting to create a fascist veterans’ organization and use it in a coup d’état to overthrow United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt, with Butler as leader of that organization. In 1934, Butler testified to the Special Committee on Un-American Activities Congressional committee (the “McCormack-Dickstein Committee”) on these claims. In the opinion of the committee, these allegations were credible. No one was prosecuted.

General Butler is one of my personal heroes and wrote one of my favorite books on war, War is a Racket. While I think there was a plot, its chance of success was not high and may not been much more than good ole boy wishful thinking. 

Could there be a coup in the US? I doubt it. But it must be admitted that some very strange things are going on with our military. General McCrystal, Afghan commander, was removed from command because of his obvious dislike of his ultimate commander President Obama that was revealed in a Rolling Stone article.

General Petraus (who replaced McCrystal), former head of the army in Iraq and now CIA director, was forced to resign over an affair. Petraus’ replacement, General Allen, is now in trouble and will be relieved as well as it appears that Allen’s  girlfriend and General Petraus’ girl friend were in a cat fight. It really sounds like many of our top generals are part of some bizarre sex club. 

Rear Admiral Gaouette was relieved of his command of the carrier attack group in the Middle East for “insubordination,” and General Ham, commander responsible for Libya, is mysteriously retiring. The rumors he was relieved are false. 

More strangeness: Secretary of State Hilary Clinton’s chief assistant has strong ties to the Moslem Brotherhood. And Valerie Garrett was born in Iran. Garrett is the most important person in the Obama administration apart from Obama. (Garrett being born in Iran is not significant. Her father, a doctor, was in Iran to help Iran with medical issues. Both Garrett’s parents were Americans.)

Coincidence is a funny thing and does happen. That is all this may be, in fact that is the most likely explanation. I hope. 

Seven Days in May is an old movie about a potential coup of a ‘weak” anti-war president by a popular military leader. It is worth watching again for us “old folks,” and worth a look for those that may never have seen it. The whole movie seems to be available on YouTube. Here is part 1.