Political Opinions

The Game Of Empire, CHAPTER SEVEN.

Lieutenant General Cesare Gatto, Imperial Marine Corps, effectively ruling the Patrician System in Admiral Magnusson's absence, says that he:

is an Imperial Navy officer;

obeys orders;

is loyal to the Empire and to Technic civilization;

believes that Magnusson will provide the necessary kind of government;

is not in the business of expressing political opinions.

Of course he has just expressed a political opinion! It is his duty to obey lawful orders. If his immediate superiors rebel, then he needs to contact their superiors. But we know about doubletalk and even about doublethink. 

(Poul Anderson's Technic History is a much pleasanter read than George Orwell's 1984 but the latter is not meant to be pleasant. Dystopias are warnings.)