Opinion: The military gets the word: Vote, but don’t politick

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

From troop levels in Iraq to the long-term role of the military in U.S. foreign policy, the differences between John McCain and Barack Obama appear stark.

As a result, few are likely to have their jobs more directly affected by the outcome of November’s election than Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

But Mullen knows he cannot tip his hand in the face-off. And on Monday, he sent out word to all under his command: neither should they.

The Times’ Julian Barnes reports that at a meeting of officials who work on the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Pentagon’s planning arm, Mullen was direct and to the point.

“It is a highly political time right now,” he said. “I am anxious to make sure everyone in uniform stays out of the politics.”

In an effort to appear apolitical, some military officers, such as Gen. David Petraeus, choose not to vote. Mullen, however, stressed that he did not want troops to follow that example.

His message, he said, ‘doesn’t mean don’t vote; please do vote. But understanding what the rules are and not being pulled in is critical.”

Mullen, who assumed his position in October, also said that his planning team for the presidential transition had begun its work. His goal is for the group to serve as “the very solid underpinnings, from a national security perspective, in a time of change for our country.”

-- Don Frederick