The US military's commitment to staying apolitical is under threat due to the nation's increasing ideological divide, according to a former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Retired Admiral Mike Mullen, who served under Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, has expressed deep concern over the current political environment's impact on the armed forces. Mullen described the situation as "challenging" and the most dangerous in his memory, highlighting the growing difficulty in maintaining the military's traditional apolitical stance. He emphasized that the civilian-military relationship has become more complex and divided, with a broader and more junior cross-section of the military being affected. Mullen's comments come in the wake of accusations against the Trump administration for politicizing the military, including the purge of senior commanders and the deployment of National Guard units for law and order missions. He also criticized a recent video made by six congressional Democrats who urged currently serving personnel to resist "illegal orders." Mullen, known for his outspoken nature, previously criticized Trump for using the military to disperse Black Lives Matter protesters, warning of the dangers of the military being "co-opted for political purposes." Mullen's concerns reflect the growing challenge of maintaining the military's neutrality in an increasingly polarized political landscape.
