Milley’s Retirement Plans
Retired Army General Mark A. Milley, the former top officer of the U.S. military, said he was “deeply grateful” to receive a preemptive pardon from outgoing President Biden. He served as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff during President-elect Donald Trump’s first term.
“My family and I are deeply grateful for the President’s action today,” Milley said in a statement to USA Today provided by a spokesperson. “After forty-three years of faithful service in uniform to our Nation, protecting and defending the Constitution, I do not wish to spend whatever remaining time the Lord grants me fighting those who unjustly might seek retribution for perceived slights.”
These perceived slights include the deeply contentious COVID vaccination response, recruiting and retention failures, and adverse interactions with foreign allies.
His publicly defended prioritization on DEI within the armed forces has undercut the military’s mission and cohesiveness.
He reportedly briefed congressional leaders in closed session that Ukraine would “fall in 72 hours” after a Russian invasion.
Prior to the disastrous withdrawal he maintained Afghan security forces had the abilities and resources needed to fight and defend their country, and advised the abandonment of the fortified Bagram Air Base in favor of Kabul’s airport. In testimony before the Senate a month after the pullout, Milley called the evacuation “a logistical success but a strategic failure” for the country.
Perhaps most egregiously he took it upon himself to twice contact his counterpart in the People’s Liberation Army Gen. Li Zuocheng, “conveying reassurance in order to maintain strategic stability” saying that President Trump did not intend to launch a military strike. “I said, hell, I’ll call you. But we’re not going to attack you,” Milley told the House Armed Services Committee.
A Presidential Pardon will only get one so far.
Hegseth cutting Milley’s security detail, eyes stripping him of star
Story by Ellen Mitchell
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is set to announce the immediate rescission of the personal security detail and security clearance for former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, retired Army Gen. Mark Milley, several news outlets report.
The Trump administration is also aiming to get Milley demoted in retirement. Hegseth is expected to direct the Pentagon’s new acting Inspector General to conduct a review board to see if enough evidence exists for the four-star general to be stripped of a star based on his actions to “undermine the chain of command” during President Trump’s first term, multiple senior administration officials told Fox News, which first reported on the plan.
Additionally, a second portrait of Milley inside the Pentagon will be removed as soon as Tuesday night. That portrait sits in the Army’s Marshall Corridor on the third floor and honors Milley’s service as a former chief-of-staff of the Army. The first portrait of him, which was removed just hours after President Trump was sworn into his second term on Jan. 20, depicted his time as the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Taking down both Milley portraits means there will be no more imagery of him inside the Pentagon.
Defense Department officials declined to comment on the potential directives, and the White House did not respond to a request for comment.
Not a bright future in DC thinktanks or the military defense industry without a security clearance, so the talking head circuit beckons. Maybe a book deal? Happy retirement, Mark.
Hat tip to our own Devtun for the inspiration.
Category: Big Pentagon, Guest Link, Schadenfreude
Best of luck, tons of fun.
Some will always fondly remember the tickle fights.
“a second portrait of Milley inside the Pentagon will be removed as soon as Tuesday night”
Will the portraits be returned to Hunter?
They will be replaced by waterproof, self-adhesive urinal targets.
TTFN
Ta Ta For Now
Maybe he can become a climate warrior.
Don’t let the door hit you on the ass on the way out. We can substitute this picture for the ones removed.
Fairwinds and Following Seas, May the road rise up to meet you, etc , etc, etc…
The View?
He’ll be a new regular.
Lose a star? Quick Foo of The Google shows an average (?) 3 star retirement north of $15K a month. How daHell does one expect a guy to feed his fambly on such a paltry sum? Think of the children! Quick set up a Go Fund Me for Mon’ General’.
The treasonous bitch needs to be recalled to active duty, Court Martial for, at the least…”Conduct unbecoming…” busted to E-1 and then spend the rest of his miserable life making gravel out of boulders. By taking a “pardon” he has admitted that he did something wrong.
PHUQUE HEEM!
If the pardon applies, the longest/nastiest stretch of NJP and worst admininstrative reduction/separation possible could be a thing, too.
My inner barracks lawyer says that court-martial is not an option because of the pardon, but… Article 15 is not out of the question. Now… let’s say Milley is recommended for ART 15, and requests court-martial? What happens then? Does the process stop? Is UCMJ even required to reduce him in rank? I would think it would be an administrative reduction to “last rank held successfully”, no legal action required. Do we have any S1 dickweeds in the house?
Rope, scaffold, and his treasonous ass. Some assembly required.
I had a troop once who could screw up dental floss. He held record lows for being behind in training; he probably wanted out but he didn’t have the stones to say so. I counseled him, worked with him, and got others to help him, all to no avail. He told the Squadron Commander he was doing his best; but if one’s best is an 18% percent on an open book test, I don’t want to see the worst. Anyway, I suggested an Article 15 with entry level discharge; the Commander asked what if he requests a court-martial. I said if he asks for a court-martial, cancel the Article 15 and I’ll figure something else out. If he accepts, he’s gone and the problem goes away with him.
If thoroughly Modern Milley takes the Article 15, well, bye.
Those who know better, please chime in and educate this civilian …
Could he be recalled to AD for admittedly contacting his CCP handler and charged under UCMJ? If so, what are the highest, most serious charge(s) that could be leveled?
Yes, indeed, he can be recalled and court martialed for stuff he did on active duty. Hard to say for what (not even touching the pardon) but passing foreigners classied could be considered espionage. Hope he likes Leavenworth.
In looking at the actual text of his pardon…
GENERAL MARK A. MILLEY
A FULL AND UNCONDITIONAL PARDON FOR ANY OFFENSES
against the United States, including but not limited to any offenses under the United States Code or the Uniform Code of Military Justice, which he may have committed or taken part in during the period from January l, 2014, through the date of this pardon arising from or in any manner related to his service as Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army or Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
I don’t think there are any charges that can be levied under the UCMJ.
However, I think the approach being taken is one used against other senior officers in the last couple years. They reduce them in rank to where they last satisfactorily served. Thus the comments about taking a star that have been bandied about.
Years ago promotions beyond 2 stars didn’t usually come with an increase of take home pay because of the cap in executive pay. However, when calculating high pay at retirement what the pay chart showed vice take home pay was used as the basis for determining retirement pay.
Administratvely Reducing him 3 stars and vacating his security clearance and the resulting infamy may be the most that can be done.
That’s what happened to my Bde Cdr in Germany… twice promoted below-the-zone, retired at LTC/O5 as his last rank sucessfully held– had a good time, if no one else did:
Crappy admin discharge he can apply to upgrade after a few years of good behavior, too.
Considering Biden was bounced from the presidential race because they finally recognized his mental decline. I’d like to think that if Biden were considered unfit for office because of his decisionmaking, then perhaps the courts should take a closer look at the validity of all the pardons he issued.
If found to be null and void, let the games begin… starting with Hunter and Fauci, and work down the line.
“Do you want fries with that?” might be good to learn. He chose poorly.
Maybe he can learn to code if he can’t survive on $15K a month.
Looks like the Fort Belvoir Commissary has a new head bagger. Remember, they work for tips, so please be generous.
Can he be recalled to active duty , then tried and convicted , reduced in rank to PFC have his retirement revoked ?
I wonder how much a PFC with 30+ years would make in retirement. And make him pay for cobra insurance out of that pension.
Could someone that was a reservist and was mandated by Milley and Austin to take the jab, then developed complications to said jab. Sue the shit out of them personally, that jab was untested and did not work. Sue them in state court, his get out of federal crimes pardon, does not work in state court.
I don’t know. A second option from a state level attempt might be a civilian defense contractor having to take the jab in order to retain a security clearance required for their position.
Objectively speaking you will have a hard time suing over the jab. Any actual damage is anecdotal and an incredibly small portion of the populace…how many people had 3-5 shots, no issues, no problems, no complications? A comparison of the complications with the numbers of little-bother recipients would not help the case.
3-5 when told one shot would do. I think you just made the case against the guvmint.
Highly unlikely such a lawsuit could survive dismissal motions. Milley & Austin would likely have immunity from such a lawsuit.
I initially thought that he’d go after a gig as a talking head on CNN or MSDMC, but both of those outfits are in mid-flush going down the shitpipes, so that’s a no-go!
There’s always The View… might not be as exciting as if Alex Jones were on there, it’d still be fitting.
Milley’s inept reign as CJCS is typical DC Swamp/Biden Regime of NO accountability and failing upwards. Everything, and I do mean EVERYTHING that guy’s dick skinners touched was FUBAR.
All of the above is just level of incompetence not seen ever, but I don’t know if your can charge someone for being criminally stupid. I don’t think the UCMJ has provisions for that. However, his call to China with the promise update a possible advisory of military movements/deployments is unprecedented and HAS TO BE a chargeable offense. The pulling of ANY/ALL of his security clearances is the minimum and should SECDEF’s first order of business.
In a meme:
He had quite a career as a badge hunter.
And there is always the ‘lawful orders’ defense – he literally was just following orders for all of that list. May be incompetently, but legally? The calls to China are probably the only vulnerability.
Wonders how that line of defense worked at the Hague 🤔
Some defendants tried that argument at Nuremberg and they failed.
When in doubt, fall back on Art. 134. Conduct prejudicial to good order and discipline.
Was going to suggest Art. 134 but you beat me to it…
Learned about back in AF BMT; 52 yrs ago-
oh, geez, I’m getting old…
Miley could always find work at a sperm bank.
Actually……he’d probably get fired for drinking on the job
Bazinga.
Hahaha…
(I understood the joke!)
Why Milley has a security detail?
Do all previous Chief of Staff get one?
No. Even retired directors of the CIA don’t get a security detail as a matter of right.
Why was General Milley wearing utility uniform while on duty at the White House on that infamous occasion where President Trump visited the vandalized church? General Milley then complained publicly about being photographed on that occasion.
General Mark Milley has honorably served his country for 43 years, and it is shame that there are those who question his loyalty and seek prosecute him on charges with no merit. Politicians should respect the sacrifices made by career military members, and the purging of military officers and stacking criminal charges against officers and their families should never be tolerated. Generals Michael Flynn and Stanley McChrystal were unavailable for comment.