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| -Land of the Free | |
| Trump Views Military as 'Tool For Massacres' Say Veteran | |
| 2019-11-25 | |
| [Independent.UK] 'For Trump to just step in and undermine centuries worth of morale and discipline undercuts the very military that he's trying to command' US veterans decried Donald Trump's orders to restore an accused war criminal's rank in the Navy, saying the decision "sets a dangerous precedent" and suggests the commander-in-chief views the military "as a tool for massacres". Numerous veterans spoke out about the move to The Independent after Secretary of Defence Mark Esper confirmed he was ordered by the president to retain Navy SEAL Eddie Gallagher's status in the elite service, as well as his Trident pin, a prestigious special warfare insignia. "Ever since Donald Trump became president he's been tearing the military apart, putting troops in the difficult position of needing to choose between obedience to his unhinged orders, and staying true to our code of honour," said Alexander McCoy, a former Marine and political director of the veteran group Common Defence. "By pardoning war criminals because Fox News told him to, Trump showed he sees our military as a tool for massacres, not as the professional, honourable force we aspire to be." Gallagher, who was accused of killing Iraqi civilians and an unarmed Islamic State fighter, was acquitted in July of murder but found guilty of posing in a photograph with a war casualty. Mr Trump later intervened in the case, restoring Gallagher's rank to E-7, otherwise known as a chief petty officer, and demanding he be allowed to keep his Trident and retire at the rank and pay grade he earned before the allegations were brought against him. The defence secretary announced on Monday that Gallagher "will retain his Trident as the Commander in Chief directed and will retire at the end of this month", adding that the case "has dragged on for months" and "must end". In his statement, Mr Esper said the firing was not about Gallagher, but rather "Secretary Spencer and the chain of command". The president's demands could cause "significant long-term damage to the Naval Special Warfare community," according to James Waters, a former Navy SEAL platoon commander and White House staff member in the Bush administration, who told The Independent: "The only people who weigh in on whether a Navy SEAL deserves to keep his Trident are people who have their Trident." Aquaman too ? "Every SEAL knows he must 'earn your Trident every day' Wholly out of context and spouted here for semantic emphasis, like a grade school coach using mil-speak. even after officially qualifying - and the same standard should apply here," Mr Waters said. "Unless you've been through Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training and served in the Teams and know the specific facts related to a person's performance, you're not qualified to weigh in." He added: "This is vital to maintaining the high standards required to be effective in the Teams and on the battlefield. The absolute last thing the nation needs is to open the floodgates to outside interests determining who gets to wear and keep the Trident." I see now why it's difficult to vote for ex-soldiers.
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| Posted by:Dron66046 |
| #11 NPR makes me puke in my mouth. Any time I her it in an uber I ask the too turn it off. Unless they are talking about the killer rabbits. |
| Posted by: chris 2019-11-25 21:40 |
| #10 Common Defense was founded in 2016 by veterans who oppose Trump’s corrupt agenda of hate. So it's like five guys? Just turned on the radio. An NPR call-in talk show on the Gallagher thing. Some guy is bitterly ranting about how Trump, a civilian, has no business telling the military how to run their business. Jeez Louise! Never mind that he is the Commander in Chief. Did you morons sleep thru 9th grade Civics class? *CLICK* |
| Posted by: SteveS 2019-11-25 21:09 |
| #9 From their website: Common Defense was founded in 2016 by veterans who oppose Trump’s corrupt agenda of hate. Together we will reclaim our democracy and build a truly grassroots movement to fight for our future. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2019-11-25 20:15 |
| #8 Shut up, Blue Falcon. |
| Posted by: DarthVader 2019-11-25 19:45 |
| #7 F off. Nonsense like this. In The Independent. Jesus. |
| Posted by: Lex 2019-11-25 17:10 |
| #6 Yeah, tell me more about 'Common Defense'. |
| Posted by: Mullah Richard 2019-11-25 16:39 |
| #5 Two words: Bowe Bergdahl. |
| Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2019-11-25 16:34 |
| #4 When did alMasdar News buy The Independent.co.uk? |
| Posted by: Unaitle Panda6599 2019-11-25 16:31 |
| #3 I don't know ONE veteran who says that. Not ONE. |
| Posted by: Glenmore 2019-11-25 16:17 |
| #2 When you're fighting ISIS and the Taliban, I support massacres too. |
| Posted by: chris 2019-11-25 16:13 |
| #1 That's Alexander McCoy right there. Having a fan moment with a cut-out of a cut-out. |
| Posted by: Dron66046 2019-11-25 16:03 |