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Home Front: Politix
Marine Corps commander: Using troops at southern border an 'unacceptable risk' to readiness
2019-03-22
[The Hill] Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Robert Neller has warned Pentagon leaders that President Trump’s deployment of active-duty troops to the U.S.-Mexico border and transferring Defense Department funds to support the administration’s border security efforts is creating "unacceptable risk" to the service’s combat readiness.

Neller's is the strongest warning yet from a military leader about the dangers Trump’s border security efforts pose to military readiness.

In two memos sent March 18 and March 19, first obtained by the Los Angeles Times, Neller said that he has canceled or reduced planned military training in at least five countries as well as delayed badly needed base repairs due to Trump’s "unplanned/unbudgeted" border deployment last fall and emergency declaration funding efforts.

The Marine Corps will not be able to participate in planned training exercises in Indonesia, Scotland and Mongolia, and will reduce participation in joint Australian and South Korean exercises, Neller wrote to Navy Secretary Richard Spencer and acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan.
Posted by:Besoeker

#16  On behalf of his employers -- the citizens of the United States -- I accept his resignation.
Posted by: charger   2019-03-22 21:06  

#15  Hell yes. Retire or, no just leave.

At least he won the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal...
Posted by: Woodrow   2019-03-22 19:58  

#14  General, either you Salute and Execute (the orders), or resign. A swamp denizen or Obama holdover for CMC - time for him to be cashiered out if he doesn't retire on his own.
Posted by: Injun Bucket8891   2019-03-22 19:11  

#13  Robert Blake Neller: He assumed his current assignment on September 24, 2015.

All you need to know.
Posted by: Ulolutch Omeamp6391   2019-03-22 16:47  

#12  Amen at #11.
Posted by: Besoeker   2019-03-22 16:34  

#11  Poppycock. At the individual, platoon company and even battalion staff level that are a wide range of individual and collective tasks that can be exercised and honed doing border security, perimeter defense planning, patrolling and small unit tactics. This is myopic and reflects an unwillingness to disconnect from prior and large scale commitments. The President, the Commander in Chief, has stated, in his assessment that this is a National Emergency. That should be all you need to know General to pull your head out of your ass and move out to the objective!
Posted by: NoMoreBS   2019-03-22 16:22  

#10  Well it seems training abroad is harming the marines ability to defend America.
Posted by: Bright Pebbles   2019-03-22 12:18  

#9  Depends on what you're getting ready for, doesn't it?
Posted by: Abu Uluque   2019-03-22 11:19  

#8  De hell?
Posted by: swksvolFF   2019-03-22 10:39  

#7  You can train wherever you are. You don't just need to go to exotic locations to play with expensive toys to have good training.

You have failed, general.
Posted by: DarthVader   2019-03-22 10:26  

#6  Does seem it could provide an excellant training opportunity for creative leadership. Oh, and bust the drug mules and anyone involved in sex trafficking and put them in Guantanimo for awhile as possible spies/terrorists and we'll see a massive drop off in the crossings.
Posted by: rjschwarz   2019-03-22 10:13  

#5  Babylon Bee material here for sure.
Posted by: Besoeker   2019-03-22 09:17  

#4  Chesty Puller he ain't.
Posted by: Chereting Pelosi1889   2019-03-22 08:37  

#3  He seems to have lost sight that "Defend the US border" is marine job#1.


Have you got an accountant running the Marines?
Posted by: Bright Pebbles   2019-03-22 07:57  

#2  You exist to protect the homeland. Millions of invaders have cross the border. You have failed. Why do you exist?
Posted by: Procopius2k   2019-03-22 07:48  

#1  Er huh.... Exercises in Scotland and Mongolia ?

"Improvise, adapt, and overcome" General. Follow orders and drive on!
Or is time you drop your retirement paperwork ?

Posted by: Besoeker   2019-03-22 05:49  

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