Durbin Praises General Mark Milley, Retired Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin today delivered a speech on the Senate floor honoring General Mark Milley’s military career as his tenure as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff ended on September 30. In his remarks, Durbin spoke highly of General Milley’s service, particularly as he admirably led during a politically tumultuous period.
“I heard the parting words of another military leader who has served our Nation with wisdom, courage, and unwavering devotion: General Mark Milley, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. In his farewell address, General Milley spoke of those in uniform who have died defending our freedoms, of many who have shed blood and sacrificed limbs in that cause, and of broken-hearted Gold Star families who have lost loved ones,”Durbin began.
Durbin emphasized that General Milley’s military philosophy centered on upholding democracy and allegiance to the Constitution rather than politics.
“Then he [General Milley] said that the United States military exists forone purpose, in his words, – ‘to defend democracy.’ Our military, he said, ‘is unique among the world’s militaries,’” Durbin said. “Why? Because, in General Milley’s powerful words, and I quote him, ‘We don’t take an oath to a country. We don’t take an oath to a tribe, to a religion, to a king or queen, or a tyrant or a dictator. And we don’t take an oath to a wannabe dictator.’”
“We take an oath, he said, to the Constitution, to the ideals and values of democracy. That, he said, is our ‘moral North Star,’” Durbin continued.
Durbin highlighted General Milley’s outstanding dedication to the country, serving in uniform for 43 years. General Milley was a combat infantry man and Green Beret, and he served five years in combat zones, including in Iraq and Afghanistan. He was appointed Chairman of the Joint Chiefs by former President Trump and continued in the post under President Biden. During his tenure as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, he led efforts to help Ukraine defend itself against Russia’s unprovoked attacks, and unite NATO by making the critical security alliance stronger than ever. While leading the nation’s military, he withstood political influence, serving as a check to President Trump’s misguided demands of the military.
“But his greatest test may have been containing the impulses of a former President who did not understand the role of the military, and I have to offer, I don’t think he understands the Constitution – a president who reportedly wanted to use troops, American soldiers, to suppress legitimate demonstrations by the public in exercises in their right to speech, and who prized loyalty to himself over loyalty to our Constitution,” said Durbin.
Concluding his remarks, Durbin expressed his hope that his Senate colleagues would approach their oath to the Constitution with the same devotion and vigor as General Milley.
Durbin concluded, “As members of this Senate, we take an oath to protect and defend not a party or a president, but the ideals and values of our Constitution. May we all honor that oath with the same dignity, courage, and strength of character as General Milley.”
Video of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here.
Audio of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here.
Footage of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here for TV Stations.
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