One of the most highly decorated former US Army generals blasts Trump

Athanasius68 · Jan 2, 2019

Tangmo said:
Gen. McCaffrey spoke for armed forces generals and admirals active duty and retired when he said, "President Trump seems for whatever reason to be under the sway of Putin." McCaffrey said Potus Trump is a "danger to the national security."

The departure of James Mattis has marked Trump as passing the point of no return with the military chiefs and theater commanders to include the retired ones. Trump dismisses his own cabinet and Pentagon advisers and counsellors in favor of secret meetings with Putin and Kim Jong Un. Trump admires and responds to foreign tyrants such as Erdogan too among others. Trump does this while he sh!ts on our allies across the globe. Now he wants to turn the ME over to Putin and the ayatollahs in Tehran. Trump's failed dealings with Kim are a disaster while Trump talks about US troops out of SK -- which has implications for US troops in Japan; then there's the South China Sea. Yet Nato remains paramount at Pentagon and to the national security community with UK first and foremost among equals.

Trump's "other people" you reference without naming names are the tyrants and dictators of the world while Trump dismisses his own countrymen and women who are eminently qualified, capable and experienced in the national security and defense of the United States. Trump runs out the principal figures in respect of national sovereignty, stability, and global security and stability. Trump cancels the security clearances of principal figures after his secret meeting with Putin in Helsinki.

The most important strategic factor in Moscow and Beijing is to separate the US from its allies which is exactly what Trump is working at feverishly. Allies globally are a US institution of national security. Allies as an institution are foundational to the US national defense in the modern world. Separating the US from its allies is unacceptable in the absolute to the Pentagon and the national security community. This is true no matter who does it singularly, by serendipity, by happenstance or by intent and coordinated design. And while it is the line Trump cannot cross, Trump has one foot over the line at the present time.

Erdogan is president of Turkey, which is a member of NATO and thus an ally of the USA. One can certainly be suspicious of him and perhaps wish to keep a distance.
But not while claiming the USA is standing strong by its allies. Trump was after all savaged for suggesting NATO is obsolete. Perhaps an argument can be made that Turkey ought no longer be a NATO ally. I have yet to hear elected officials from any NATO country ever make it, however.

As far as the other advisors, I was referring to those folks in the State Dept or NAtional security Council who have the relevent portfolio as well.

Tangmo · Jan 2, 2019

Athanasius68 said:
Erdogan is president of Turkey, which is a member of NATO and thus an ally of the USA. One can certainly be suspicious of him and perhaps wish to keep a distance.
But not while claiming the USA is standing strong by its allies. Trump was after all savaged for suggesting NATO is obsolete. Perhaps an argument can be made that Turkey ought no longer be a NATO ally. I have yet to hear elected officials from any NATO country ever make it, however.

As far as the other advisors, I was referring to those folks in the State Dept or NAtional security Council who have the relevent portfolio as well.

As to Turkey and Erdogan he and the elites and people of Turkey know which side their pita bread is buttered on...

Turkey Shoots Down Russian Air Force Su-24 Fighter Plane in 2015

Russian Air Force Su-24 shot out of the sky over Turkey in 2015 by Turkish Air Force pilot in the US F-16 Fighting Falcon Viper jet fighter. One Russian pilot was killed and the other injured. Some people say Putin swore he'd have Turkey for Christmas and New Year but there was no Russian response except for Putin soaking his balls in icewater. No one expects Turkey to ever challenge a US military aircraft or UAV. US and Turkey are Nato allies.

Turkish Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon Viper

Turkey now manufactures locally the USAF F-16 Fighting Falcon Viper under contract to its US Government ally and Boeing.

Russian Su-24 Fencer flying boxcar of the 1970s Soviet type shot down entering Turkish air space in 2015 after Turkey had issued repeated warnings to Russia to cease entering Turkish air space. Russian fighters were habitually entering Turkish air space even if it was by a few km over the border then back out again. This time the Su-24 went in and down instead of in and out as per.

Turkey will not fight against its ally the United States. The Turkish military and the population know it would be insanity to try. Only Russia and the Russia Fanboys would be willing to fight the US directly yet nothing Moscow does constitutes a casus belli against American armed forces. Neither does anyone in his right mind believe a Russian Army of so many conscripts would want to go up against the all volunteer armed forces of the United States. Pentagon's Global Rapid Strike Force itself would shoo 'em away before the rest of our guys and gals arrived.

As to your second paragraph comments, Trump's most influential advisors on national security are the tyrant leaders of governments that are hostile to the United States. Gen. McCaffrey was only the first among many four star flag officers to say Trump is "under the sway of Putin" which makes Trump "dangerous to the United States." The people you refer to can't get get as much as a moment with trump in the toilet.

Thoreau72 · Jan 2, 2019

Rogue Valley said:
Congressional complicity (with the exception of Russia's Congressmen - Rep. Dana Rohrabacher [defeated] and Sen. Rand Paul) in regards to Syria was no secret. Congressmen of both parties felt strongly that a US military presence in Syria was needed to check ISIS, Russia, and Iran in the ME.

Some have yes, in order to generate/preserve greater security for the homeland.

In order for their stock portfolio to be profitable.

Tangmo · Jan 5, 2019

Thoreau72 said:
Most politicians are pathological liars, or nearly so.

There was never any congressional discussion about getting involved in Syria, so why should there be any discussion about leaving? The federal government is dysfunctional, if the standard is constitutional governance.

The irony is that all the "peaceniks" have now become chicken hawks.

The armed forces oath is to the Constitution, i.e., "We the People." The armed forces defend the American people and their way of life.

It is this bond the retired four-stars have as their basis to communicate directly with the people. Gen. McCaffrey is the most prominent among many with many more speaking up and out. Their contribution is welcome and it is invaluable.

Thoreau72 · Jan 6, 2019

Tangmo said:
The armed forces oath is to the Constitution, i.e., "We the People." The armed forces defend the American people and their way of life.

It is this bond the retired four-stars have as their basis to communicate directly with the people. Gen. McCaffrey is the most prominent among many with many more speaking up and out. Their contribution is welcome and it is invaluable.

We will agree to disagree.

My favorite Marine of all time is Smedley Butler, because he told the truth. There are exceptions, but for the most part war IS a racket. The Global War On Terror is a racket more than anything.

Honest military officers don't get promoted. Conscientious military officers are marginalized. Ike was right. McCaffrey was a drug czar and never lost the uniform. He advocates for war brought under fraud.