The emphasis on “ethics” is because leaks generally refer to unclassified information. Military and intelligence secrets are classified and there are already legal penalties, especially for military men, on those who compromise those items. They are criminal acts.

But the kind of stuff that is driving Trump crazy, is of a political nature, not national security. It may be bad manners, or unprofessional to leak these things, and it may get you disciplined, fired or even blackballed, but you won’t go to jail.

No, as much as I’d like to think this is some sinister Big Brother directive, it probably is just a routine warning to the staff to keep their mouth shut and not blab about what’s going on at the office. And it was probably written just so the boss could say he had “taken steps” to solve the problem.

IOW, this is no big deal.

The first three sentences, across two paragraphs, are pablum. Then the sudden shift to the pointed “I want to focus on the essence of ethical conduct: doing what is right at all times, regardless of the circumstances or whether anyone is watching.”

Still general, but then there’s the signal to get ready: “we must train and prepare ourselves and our subordinates. Our prior reflection and our choice…will reinforce what we stand for, so we remain morally strong especially in the face of adversity.”

Is adversity a’ comin’?

The wrap-up is a bit stilted, but I think the central statement is the reference to their “willingness to take the Oath of Office…”.

I skipped over that as seemingly boilerplate, but I was drawn back to it. Doesn’t the military Oath of Office stipulate obedience to the President?

I, _____, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.

OK, fealty to the Chief…but wait, no, that’s the enlisted Oath of Enlistment.

The officer’s Oath of Office:

I, _____ (SSAN), having been appointed an officer in the _____ (Military Branch) of the United States, as indicated above in the grade of _____ do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign or domestic, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservations or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office upon which I am about to enter; So help me God.

(per military.com; also, identical to the wikipedia version)

Huh.

From SECDEF Mattis, a few days ago:

https://news.usni.org/2017/08/04/document-secdef-mattis-pentagon-memo-ethics

Is this letter real? Is this unusual from the Secretary of Defense? What’s between those lines?

I wonder how many lives will be snuffed out thanks to the bastards that put this cretin in office?

Anyone care to hazard a guess?

“And as I said, they will be met with fire, fury and frankly, power, the likes of which this world has never seen before.”

Personally, I think we will be astronomically lucky to keep the toll to less than 100,000…

For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose Seoul?