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2019-10-30 Home Front: Politix
NSC Official Alex Vindman Testifies in Full Military Uniform, Despite Not Wearing One to Work Every Day
[Breitbart] National Security Council (NSC) official Alexander Vindman showed up to testify Tuesday as part of the Democrats’ closed-door impeachment inquiry into President Trump in full military uniform.

This is despite not wearing one to work every day at the NSC, according to several sources.

Although Vindman is a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army, he is serving an assignment at the NSC as the director for European Affairs. According to sources at the NSC, Vindman does not wear his uniform to work at the NSC, where the standard dress is business wear.

One source said he donned the uniform "just for show." The source pointed out that Vindman was ironically wearing a presidential service badge on his uniform ‐ as he testifies on his concerns about Trump’s handling of Ukraine policy.

Vindman’s opening statement, which was leaked to the New York Times the night before his testimony, showed he was concerned that Ukraine helping investigate former Vice President Joe Biden would jeopardize bipartisan U.S. support for Ukraine.

According to the Times, Vindman, who was born in Ukraine and is fluent in Ukrainian and Russia, may have served as an informal adviser to Ukrainian officials looking for advice on how to deal with Rudy Giuliani’s efforts to investigate corruption by Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden.

According to the paper: "His heritage gave Colonel Vindman, who is fluent in both Ukrainian and Russian, unique insight into Mr. Trump’s pressure campaign; on numerous occasions, Ukrainian officials sought him out for advice about how to deal with Mr. Giuliani."

John Yoo, a former Bush administration Justice Department official, said Monday evening on Fox News’ "Ingraham Angle" that he found it "astounding" that Vindman would be advising Ukrainian officials against Trump’s interests.

"You know, some people might call that espionage," Yoo said.

Some mainstream media journalists noted Vindman arrived in "full uniform" and criticized those who questioned Vindman’s loyalty to the U.S.

Related: Last Refuge - Seditious Conspiracy / Sketchy Witness – Schiff Blocks Questioning of NSC Staffer Alexander Vindman to Protect Him from Legal Exposure…
Posted by Besoeker 2019-10-30 02:27|| || Front Page|| [11143 views ]  Top

#1 Some mainstream media journalists noted Vindman arrived in "full uniform" and criticized those who questioned Vindman’s loyalty to the U.S.

I remember then this was uniform of baby killers for mainstream media journalists.
Posted by g(r)omgoru 2019-10-30 02:39||   2019-10-30 02:39|| Front Page Top

#2 Here's the military record of Lt. Col. Vindman, the soldier testifying at Trump's impeachment inquiry

Can anybody interpret - not sure if I read it correctly?
Posted by g(r)omgoru 2019-10-30 02:44||   2019-10-30 02:44|| Front Page Top

#3 While unseemly, the wearing of the uniform is not the issue. Please correct me if I am wrong, but voluntarily appearing before a partisan Democrat kangaroo court without military authorization and legal council is the issue.

Was he obligated to speak due to an official subpoena or at the direction of this chain of command...POTUS, NSC, Pentagon, State Department? What am I missing ?
Posted by Besoeker 2019-10-30 02:45||   2019-10-30 02:45|| Front Page Top

#4 I meant the record at the link Besoeker.
Posted by g(r)omgoru 2019-10-30 02:49||   2019-10-30 02:49|| Front Page Top

#5 Let me expand. Is this the record of an officer who ever commanded a military unit - in combat or even peace time?
Posted by g(r)omgoru 2019-10-30 02:56||   2019-10-30 02:56|| Front Page Top

#6 I don't see any flags (so to speak) with regard to his record, assignments, decorations, etc. Looks fairly standard. If you run across a copy of his Officer Record Brief (ORB), that might provide additional information (specific position held, leadership, command, etc.)

His loyalty, or lack thereof, to the Commander in Chief cannot be questioned. It would appear he has no plans for future service or promotions, possibly only retirement. Ranger Hall of Fame....probably a non-start.

Please don't take offense, but the Russian connection and FAO placement and multiple assignments bothers me a bit. Dead-end for an Infantry officer, Battalion, Brigade, promotion to General Officer (GO), division command.... or it once was.
Posted by Besoeker 2019-10-30 02:56||   2019-10-30 02:56|| Front Page Top

#7 You mean the Navy unit thingy ? They can get that I think. Even USAF and coast guard can.

Something about his eyes and his words tells me this guy is a deepState prop though.
Posted by Dron66046 2019-10-30 03:04||   2019-10-30 03:04|| Front Page Top

#8 We can't say he never showed courage under fire or didn't take shrapnel in a fight. That'd be uncharitable. All that doesn't give him the right to backstab his CinC though.
Posted by Dron66046 2019-10-30 03:07||   2019-10-30 03:07|| Front Page Top

#9 You know, this cannot be acceptable to any army. If encouraged, this will be a precedent for so much shit it will be impossible to keep disgruntled or greedy bastards from holding administrations to ransom.
Posted by Dron66046 2019-10-30 03:13||   2019-10-30 03:13|| Front Page Top

#10 No. I mean is he a real officer or a staff puke?
Because if he ever commanded anything except a secretarial pool, IMO, it would've been in his newspaper interview alongside the other boasts (in US military you can take all kinds of courses without being a part of that unit - means zip).
Posted by g(r)omgoru 2019-10-30 03:16||   2019-10-30 03:16|| Front Page Top

#11 Ref #7: Something about his eyes and his words tells me this guy is a deepState prop though.

Foreign Area Assignment (FAO) is (or was) voluntary. Leaders generally seek troop leading or leadership positions. He had all the tickets for a future Army leader, Airborne Ranger, CIB. His interests and objectives were obviously political in nature.
Posted by Besoeker 2019-10-30 03:20||   2019-10-30 03:20|| Front Page Top

#12 On a different issue entirely
"You know, some people might call that espionage," Yoo said.

Could he felt the walls closing and struck out?
Posted by g(r)omgoru 2019-10-30 03:26||   2019-10-30 03:26|| Front Page Top

#13 Troop leadership ? What a waste of such chubby cheeks. The man needs his fancy soap every morning !
Posted by Dron66046 2019-10-30 03:26||   2019-10-30 03:26|| Front Page Top

#14 Sorry, "fancy soap" won't get that off.
Posted by Besoeker 2019-10-30 03:30||   2019-10-30 03:30|| Front Page Top

#15 Can anybody interpret - not sure if I read it correctly?

It says he earned a jump badge and a Ranger tab, these are not trivial. In his current state he looks like a doughy pogue.
Posted by Fat Bob Javish1936 2019-10-30 03:53||   2019-10-30 03:53|| Front Page Top

#16 Your guide on the ribbons. Note that the stuff below the purple heart are generally for good performance for a tour at rank level (sort of like a gold star handed out by your teacher).
Posted by Procopius2k 2019-10-30 08:03||   2019-10-30 08:03|| Front Page Top

#17 Perspective of a life-long civilian: He used the uniform as a prop, to color the weight of his "testimony," which is a disgrace. The whole sh*tshow is being choreographed and I'm sure wardrobe told him to wear it.
Posted by M. Murcek 2019-10-30 08:06||   2019-10-30 08:06|| Front Page Top

#18 Get you. Wish I could say we don't have the type in Israel - but, of course, we do.
Posted by g(r)omgoru 2019-10-30 08:10||   2019-10-30 08:10|| Front Page Top

#19 #18 intended for P2k, but fits MM as well.
Posted by g(r)omgoru 2019-10-30 08:11||   2019-10-30 08:11|| Front Page Top

#20 Bingo at table #17. 'Porky the Pig' face betrays the effort however.
Posted by Besoeker 2019-10-30 08:12||   2019-10-30 08:12|| Front Page Top

#21 Let me know when he throws his medals over the White House fence...
Snark O'The Day
Posted by Raj 2019-10-30 08:47||   2019-10-30 08:47|| Front Page Top

#22 Raj engages and destroys multiples targets.
Posted by Raj 2019-10-30 09:48||   2019-10-30 09:48|| Front Page Top

#23 Sorry, #22 was me.
Posted by Matt 2019-10-30 09:54||   2019-10-30 09:54|| Front Page Top

#24 Wasn't Oliver North criticized for doing this for the Iran-Contra hearings?
Posted by charger 2019-10-30 11:17||   2019-10-30 11:17|| Front Page Top

#25 ^ Heads: we win.
Tails: you lose.
Posted by Lex 2019-10-30 11:31||   2019-10-30 11:31|| Front Page Top

#26 So the uniform of an FAO is really not an issue. They wear suits during their normal workday in an effort to lower the visibility and not be defined by the uniform. The FAOs traditionally work at embassies, state department buildings and other 3 letter agencies that all have desired attire policies. This is nothing new. His wearing the uniform to testify at congress is also appropriate. He should be in uniform when testifying. So far so good.

His public second guessing a sitting president while monitoring a phone conversation is a crime. He released TS communication in an office to a coworker. He should, at the very least lose his TS clearance. There is a process for FAOs if they hear a diplomat go off script. He was to report it using classified channels. He also has the IG to take it to. None of which he did, because he knew he would get hammered for bringing personal opinions to a national strategic conversation between two presidents.
His own statement admits he put the Ukraine's better interest above that of the president and the United States when he commented on any investigation could get congress to act against the Ukraine. This means to me his loyalty or concerns for Ukraine influenced his performance and he had really no true knowledge of what the president was asking the Ukrainian president for, except what he heard at the water cooler or on MSNBC. We have a term for him and its called going native. His country or effort and his programs became more important than our national security. He might have, or still, love America, but he failed our nation. He forgot what side of the conversation he represents, and now his disgrace to the uniform and our nation is all over the news for all to see. In the FAO world he will be used as an example of what not to be.
Posted by 49 Pan 2019-10-30 12:05||   2019-10-30 12:05|| Front Page Top

#27 In the FAO world he will be used as an example of what not to be.

Ouch. The rest of 49 Pan’s thoughts on the subject are scathing, but that final sentence ties up his judgement of our Lt. Colonel with a beautiful bow.
Posted by trailing wife 2019-10-30 12:51||   2019-10-30 12:51|| Front Page Top

#28 

Yeah. Except that Nora Roberts on CBS News last night was breathlessly hailing his testimony as a "bombshell" and the "last nail in the coffin" when all he really had to say is that he disagrees with Trump so he leaked. The news is not the news anymore. Nora Roberts is like a carnival barker at the shitshow.
Posted by Abu Uluque 2019-10-30 14:31||   2019-10-30 14:31|| Front Page Top

#29 See Donald Sensing's comments on Lt. Col. Vindman. http://senseofevents.blogspot.com/2019/10/lt-col-vindman-is-tool.html#links
As 49 Pan said, at the least this tool should lose his security clearance and be dismissed from the NSC. He went to Congress in direct violation of orders from the White House. He should be court-martialed just for that alone. He won't be, of course, but should be.
Posted by Rambler in Virginia 2019-10-30 17:08||   2019-10-30 17:08|| Front Page Top

#30 Clearly gunning for a cushy six-figure gig on cable as an "analyst"
Posted by Lex 2019-10-30 19:13||   2019-10-30 19:13|| Front Page Top

#31 My mother always refered to "these" Army types as "wrap leggins"...

Sort of a Marines wife insult.
Posted by crazyhorse 2019-10-30 19:41||   2019-10-30 19:41|| Front Page Top

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