News Dec 09, 2016 11:07 AM EST

Will military-heavy Donald Trump's administration be dangerous for America's civilian authority?

By Shubham Ghosh

President-Elect Donald Trump's team-building process for his administration which will take over the reins next month has been the central discussion in American politics at the moment. And one particular aspect of this discussion has been the number of former military leaders Trump has picked to lead his administrative machinery.

According to a report in Politico, Trump has sought advice from his friends on the number of generals he should keep in his Cabinet and that he might end up with five of them. Trump already has picked three retired generals for important national security posts: James Mattis as the secretary of defense, John Kelly as the secretary of homeland security and Michael Flynn as the national security advisor. Besides, former men in uniform - David Petraeus and James Stavridis - are also in the race to become the secretary of state. There is no doubt that Trump is set to put in place a military-heavy administration not seen since World War II.

But is Trump, who attended a military academy in high school and is known to have high regards for the generals, paving the way towards a weak civilian administration?

Jack Keane, a retired general, who was also interviewed by Trump last month for the post of defense secretary but declined, told Politico that Trump gelled well with the men in uniform because he liked people who are experienced, confident, straightforward, have knowledge and no arrogance.

Another retired air force member Charles Dunlap also wrote in an article in Vox saying it was wrong to assume that picking retired generals for important administrative posts would see the U.S. engaging in wars more than avoiding them. According to Dunlap, since the generals have had horrific experiences about war, they are less likely to go to conflicts.

However, not all are convinced. Trump's conceptualization about military ruthlessness (he praised an early 20th century American general, John Joseph Pershing for ordering dipping of bullets in pigs' blood to kill Muslim terrorists, at an election rally in February this year even though the story remained unproven) made quite a few people worried about his likely thoughts on military action.

Besides, Trump's cheerful take on the fact that the next defense secretary Mattis has the nickname 'Mad Dog' perhaps also gives a hint about his merciless instincts.

Will Trump be vulnerable to the former military men after he takes over the reins by the virtue of the fact that he has a great respect for them?

Only time will tell.


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