US’s polarization affecting military ability to remain apolitical, says former joint chiefs chair

Retired Adm Mike Mullen said political environment facing officers is difficult as we have gotten so much more divided'

The US's sharpening ideological polarization is affecting a wider and much more junior cross-section of the country's armed forces and challenging the military's ability to remain above the political fray, a former chairman of the joint chiefs of staff has said.

Retired Adm Mike Mullen, who was the US's top military commander under presidents George W Bush and Barack Obama, called the political environment facing currently serving officers challenging" and the most dangerous time" in his memory.