n 1992, General Colin Powell, chairman of the Joint Chiefs, awarded the prize for the "best strategy essay" at the National Defense University to Lt Col Charles Dunlap for "The Origins of the American Military Coup of 2012." His cautionary tale imagined an incapable civilian governent creating a vacuum that drew a competent military into a coup disastrous for democracy.

The military , of course, is bound to uphold the constitution. But Dunlop wrote, "The catastrophe that ooccurred on our watch took place because we failed to speak out against policies we knew were wrong. It's too late for me to do any more. But it's not for you."

(via Irish Eyes)