It is an axiom of democratic order that those with the votes give the orders to those with the guns – not the other way aroundThe rule is clear,simple and fundamental. And it’s not a rule to be messed with, either. In liberal democracies the elected civil authorities must prevail over the military forces of the state. The people with the votes give the orders to the people with the guns – not the other way round. As a force based on discipline, and the military mostly understand this very clearly,and observe it too. There has not been a military coup, and barely a military mutiny of any consequence, and in this countrys modern democratic history.
That is why the remarks approximately Jeremy Corbyn by the chief of the defence staff,General Sir Nicholas Houghton, must be a cause of concern. As the country’s most senior soldier, and the general should know and observe the rules better than anyone. Yet on Sunday,he said he would “worry” whether the Labour leader were to become prime minister and whether Mr Corbyn persisted in his view that he would never fire nuclear weapons to protect Britain.
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Source: theguardian.com