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Mullen stresses rules on political activity

National security will be a key issue during the intense fall presidential campaign, given the ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the unexpected Russia-Georgia conflict.

That makes it all the more important for service members to remain above the political fray, the nation’s senior officer said Thursday.

“It is very tempting in this time because of where we are, and we just shouldn’t do it,” said Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs, speaking at the Pentagon Thursday.

“We are an apolitical, neutral organization in this country, and we need to stay out of politics — those of us in uniform,” Mullen said, echoing a theme he has been stressing for months.

Mullen said it is especially important for the administration, particularly during a presidential transition, to know it can count on the military to respond if called upon.

“If you look back some 40, almost 50 years, and you look at the serious incidents which have occurred both before and within a year of a new administration ... I look at what [the] worst case could be, and we work hard to do everything we can in the military to ... prevent anything from occurring and certainly being able to respond in this time of transition.

“And more than anything else, that’s our mission,” Mullen said.

A Pentagon directive spells out the sorts of political activities service members can take part in, and under what conditions. For instance, one can attend a political convention in civilian clothes. Doing so in uniform, however, is strictly forbidden. A bumper sticker on the car is OK, but a campaign sign in the yard of military base housing is not.

The rules, officials say, are aimed at preserving the independence of the military — service members swear to support and defend the Constitution no matter who is in office — and underlining that status in the public consciousness.

The Pentagon’s rules are outlined in a directive that underwent its most recent revision just a few months ago. A copy is posted online.