Should the military always be loyal to the government?

[Eki]

There's a TV documentary that claims that during the Cold War, Finnish military had secret connections to the West without the Finnish politicians knowing about them. Sounds quite fishy considering the The Agreement of Friendship, Cooperation, and Mutual Assistance, which said that Finland would resist armed attacks against the Soviet Union through Finland. Do you think the Soviets could have trusted the Finnish military if push had come to shove? I doubt it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finno-S...Treaty_of_1948

Under the treaty, which was signed on April 6, 1948, the Soviets sought to deter Western or Allied Powers from attacking the Soviet Union through Finnish territory, and the Finns sought to increase Finland's political independence from the Soviet Union. It thus ensured Finland's survival as a liberal democracy in close proximity to strategic Soviet regions, such as the Kola Peninsula and the old capital Leningrad.
Under the pact, Finland was obliged to resist armed attacks by "Germany or its allies" (in reality interpreted as the United States and allies) against Finland, or against the Soviet Union through Finland. If necessary, Finland was to ask for Soviet military aid to do so. The agreement also recognized Finland's desire to remain outside great-power conflicts, allowing the country to adopt a policy of neutrality in the Cold War.

Although the Finnish officers are not allowed to take part in the politics, they have traditionally come from upper or middle class families with anti-communist and anti-Soviet attitudes, so it's not hard to imagine where their loyalty would have been.

[AAReagles]

Well, aside from WWII, you guys remained pretty much neutral, so I don't see any reason to screw it up.

You guys still are not part of NATO, right? That's a good start there.

[anthonyvop]

US military oath.

I, (NAME), 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.

As you see for the US military you swear an oath to the Constitution 1st then the chain of command 2nd.

[Eki]

The Finnish military oath doesn't say anything about the Constitution, but says about "defending the inviolability of the fatherland, her legal system of government and the legal authority of the realm." So, based on that the Finnish military should have resisted any forces invading the Finnish territory, be they NATO/American or Soviet:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oath_of...ilitary_oath_2

"I, N. N. promise and affirm before the allmighty and all-knowing God (in affirmation: by my honour and by my conscience) that I am a trustworthy and faithful citizen of the realm of Finland. I want to serve my country honestly and, to my best ability, seek and pursue her edification and advantage. I want everywhere and in every situation, during the peace and during the war, defend the inviolability of my fatherland, her legal system of government and the legal authority of the realm. If I perceive or gain knowledge of activity to overthrow the legal authority or to subvert the system of government of the country, I want to report it to the authorities without delay. The troop to which I belong and my place in it I will not desert in any situation, but so long as I have strength in me, I will completely fulfill the task I have received. I promise to act properly and uprightly, obey my superiors, comply with the laws and decrees and keep the service secrets trusted in me. I want to be fortright and helpful to my fellow servicemen. Never will I due to kinship, friendship, envy, hatred or fear nor because of gifts or any other reason act contrary to my duty in service. If I be given a position of superiority, I want to be rightful to my subordinates, to take care of their wellbeing, acquire information on their wishes, to be their councillor and guide and, for my own self, set them a good and encouraging example. All this I want to fulfil according to my honour and my conscience.

[Tazio]

Eki the only way that Catch 22 could be reconciled is:
For every antagonist a Finn kills in that scenario.
He would simply have to blow away an equal number of Finns! :

[Roamy]

No they shouldn't - Ours should blow the sh!t out of the white house

[Tazio]

No they shouldn't - Ours should blow the sh!t out of the white house

......................
I was thinking the exact same thing
when dubaya was prez.......................................Except he was never there

[Jag_Warrior]

Should the military always be loyal to the government?

One would hope, especially if it's a democratically elected government. Unlike my pal Roamy, I'm generally not in favor of military dictatorships. Just like cockroaches, once they get in, it's hard as hell to ever get them out again.

[donKey jote]

Should the military always be loyal to the government?
err yes, except when the democratically elected government is too religious
(ask the turks )

[Bob Riebe]

No they shouldn't - Ours should blow the sh!t out of the white house

Wrong area, snuffing the Congress and Seanate would be more effective.