When in Washington, Do as The Romans Do...

The frightening idea of this post on the SanAntonio Express-News (HT: Austin Bay) is NOT that a good man with experience overhauling intel agencies could possibly be denied his post because of partisan politics. That's a great big So-What-Else-Is-New. No, the scary bit is the following line (italics my own):

But the same sloppy thinking, mindless stereotypes and casual acceptance of second-class citizenship that once marked American race relations all now reign unchallenged whenever the military class appears to be getting a little uppity. Fact is, there is a gap — already miles-wide and growing every day — between the American people and their highly professional military.

Let us admit that I am paranoid. Let us admit that I often look for evidence for my Pet Theory that America is Ancient Rome with computers. But surely it can't be just me who blanches when faced with the possibility of open hostility between the "military class" (a very unpleasant term) and the political leadership.

And oh, sure, for the nonce the mystique of the serving professional, the guardian of the Constitution who is its servant, not its master continues to have a powerful hold on the military, as does the fact that service is honored in modern culture, not military glory. But if this "gap" continues to grow, if the military begins to believe itself superior to the civilian leadership not just in ability, but morally, too, then this bodes not well for the civilian leadership. And that bodes not well for us. Just because I do not wish to see America become the next France doesn't mean I care to see it become the next Brazil, either.