You Don't Know Your Function as a Member of the Military

The basic difference between the military and law enforcement is quite simple.  The military protects the country from outsiders and law enforcement protects the people inside the country.  But that is not always the case as we have seen many times in dictatorial countries where the military is used to suppress their own citizens.  As obvious as it is, most military as well as law enforcement personnel don't realize that they are citizens of their country too.  So when the military acquiesces to suppress the citizens, they, in fact, suppress themselves.  Military loyalty belongs to the people only; never to the government.  If your oath is to the head of state then your life is in the hands of only one man.  Hitler purged many in his military even after they swore an oath to him.  Stalin purged nearly all of his first line commanders out of sheer paranoia.  Obama is purging many of the US military top brass, not by killing them like Hitler and Stalin, but by cashiering them out of the service; those who he feels don't or will not go along with his Progressive plans for the future.  Whatever that is.
One must never forget that the only allegiance that protects a military person is his allegiance to his country, not an individual.  For once that individual loses favor, whether killed or deposed, then you lose favor in the eye of the new ruler.  How can the new power trust you if your allegiance was to the one he killed or overthrew?  My basic premise is that if anyone asks you to pledge allegiance to himself, kill him immediately; as sooner or later he will kill you, have you killed or directly cause your death.  Usually death by torture.
(U.S. Navy '51-'55.  Korea & China Service Medals.)