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LiberalArkie

(15,686 posts)
Mon Nov 19, 2018, 01:52 PM Nov 2018

I served under 8 commanders in chief. Trump doesn't grasp the role.

By Wesley K. Clark
November 19 at 9:00 AM

f all the roles of the presidency, commander in chief was perhaps the one that candidate Donald Trump most relished. His take-charge style, his hat and slogan, his command presence on the stage, his early experience at New York Military Academy and his boasting that “I know more about ISIS than the generals do” demonstrated his inclinations. And many Americans, including service members and veterans, believed that he would be a strong and effective commander in chief.

Yet as president, Trump’s actions and behavior have led service members and veterans to question whether he really understands who a commander in chief is, or what he does.

I served under eight presidents. I applied for West Point as President John F. Kennedy confronted the Soviets in Berlin, went to Vietnam under President Richard Nixon and came home on a stretcher, worked in the White House under President Gerald Ford, and eventually retired as NATO supreme allied commander under President Bill Clinton. I ran for the presidency myself out of deep concern as the ill-considered Iraq War unfolded under President George W. Bush. My heart is with the men and women in uniform, as well as our veterans. It is that affinity that brings me to these observations.

President Trump believes he honors and respects the military. He praises our men and women constantly. “I don’t think anybody’s been more with the military than I have, as a president,” he told Chris Wallace on “Fox News Sunday.” He has appointed numerous generals to serve in his administration (“I have generals that are great generals”) and gained pay raises and hikes in defense spending. He fired the VA chief. He has a snappy salute and appreciates a good military parade, like the one he saw in France last year. He wants to be loved, respected and admired, no doubt.

Snip

https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2018/11/19/i-served-under-commanders-chief-trump-doesnt-grasp-role/?utm_term=.cfd24f9307a1

16 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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I served under 8 commanders in chief. Trump doesn't grasp the role. (Original Post) LiberalArkie Nov 2018 OP
. Achilleaze Nov 2018 #1
He grabs the duforsure Nov 2018 #2
He is far, far, far too lenient. He might not grasp, but neither does he care. nolabear Nov 2018 #3
This is how I see it also. Clark is sugarcoating it.. dameatball Nov 2018 #16
K&R and bookmarked! smirkymonkey Nov 2018 #4
With all due respect to General Clark. usaf-vet Nov 2018 #5
That's pretty obvious. I plan to ask my officer brother and sister-in-law how they smirkymonkey Nov 2018 #8
Don't ask until after dessert, so you can get out of the house with a full belly! BamaRefugee Nov 2018 #10
LOL! smirkymonkey Nov 2018 #13
General Clark is wrong. The Jury is not still out JDC Nov 2018 #6
3-2-1 Wesley Clark will be getting an attack tweet from the orange maggot very soon. kimbutgar Nov 2018 #7
The jusry is still out? SpankMe Nov 2018 #9
The jury is still out. skypilot Nov 2018 #11
Gen. Clark is correct malaise Nov 2018 #12
Just thinking out loud here ... FakeNoose Nov 2018 #15
"He praises our men and women constantly." sarge43 Nov 2018 #14

duforsure

(11,882 posts)
2. He grabs the
Mon Nov 19, 2018, 02:10 PM
Nov 2018

Traditional russian role as a dictator, where he corrupts , and compromises people to serve only him , and not this country , while claiming he's making this country great again, all the opposite of the truth. All while he attacks institutions undermining this Democracy, then repeats his lies making America great again BS. The level of corruption is unbelievable , and the replacements of people not corrupt enough continue with more corruptible people for him to use shows his intentions. Only someone who hates this country , as I believe he really does, could do something like he's doing to us now, and on a daily basis. Just look at those murderous, criminal corrupt dictators he looks up to, and he idolizes .

nolabear

(41,915 posts)
3. He is far, far, far too lenient. He might not grasp, but neither does he care.
Mon Nov 19, 2018, 02:40 PM
Nov 2018

General Clark make the same mistake so many do. They focus on his lack of knowledge or his leadership shortcomings as though if he could he would do better. If he was smarter, less clumsy or old or inexperienced. I don’t believe that for a minute. He doesn’t give a flying fuck about the troops, the generals, anything other than how he looks, how he can use them to “win”, not in any real way but moment to moment. It’s hard for people who can’t imagine being that kind of warped creature to fathom it, and it gives him ridiculous power to do the heretofore unimaginable.

dameatball

(7,380 posts)
16. This is how I see it also. Clark is sugarcoating it..
Mon Nov 19, 2018, 04:48 PM
Nov 2018

When I read this, I wondered why he bothered to write it.

usaf-vet

(6,094 posts)
5. With all due respect to General Clark.
Mon Nov 19, 2018, 03:42 PM
Nov 2018

Trump doesn't give a rat's a$$ about our active duty military and veterans.

He only want to use them as a political prop (see unnecessary Mexican border deployment).

He also wants them as onstage backdrops for his political rants.

He is a malignant narcissists who thinks the world revolves around him.

He doesn't deserve to be the CiC.

 

smirkymonkey

(63,221 posts)
8. That's pretty obvious. I plan to ask my officer brother and sister-in-law how they
Mon Nov 19, 2018, 03:55 PM
Nov 2018

feel about this over the Thanksgiving holiday. Not sure how they will respond, but I am pretty sure my brother doesn't like Trump.

JDC

(10,084 posts)
6. General Clark is wrong. The Jury is not still out
Mon Nov 19, 2018, 03:50 PM
Nov 2018

Trump is an unmitigated disaster and a zero at leadership. Period.

SpankMe

(2,937 posts)
9. The jusry is still out?
Mon Nov 19, 2018, 04:02 PM
Nov 2018

From the article: "In his campaign, Trump promised that only he knew how to lead America. In the field of national security the jury is still out."

The jury isn't still out. The jury is in. Way in. They've rendered their verdict, have been thanked by the judge, have been dismissed and have received their checks for their jury service in the mail. That ship has sailed long ago.

The verdict was: Guilty. Guilty of corruption, incompetence and mind-numbing stupidity. Guilty of causing cracks in America's foundational values and institutions. Guilty of being the world's nastiest asshole. Guilty of being a Supreme Motherfucker.

I respect Gen Clark's editorial. But I really hate that after all that's happened, he still leaves room for further analysis of Trump's behavior ("the jury is still out" ) as if any redemption or reversal of the damage is possible. No further hesitation or delay is needed on the judgement of Trump's "service" to the country. No jury is still out. It's in, and it's bad. Just say so, General. Don't hedge your words out of fear of the conservatives. Say what you really mean to. We really need you to.

skypilot

(8,848 posts)
11. The jury is still out.
Mon Nov 19, 2018, 04:19 PM
Nov 2018

Five of the worst words he could have ended this editorial with. My mouth dropped open when I read them.

FakeNoose

(32,356 posts)
15. Just thinking out loud here ...
Mon Nov 19, 2018, 04:39 PM
Nov 2018

... did Gen. Clark ever say a complimentary thing about Obama when HE was President? I can't remember, but that's just me. It doesn't seem that he did, even when Bin Laden was taken. It seems Clark is bending over backwards trying to find some fool thing to compliment Cheeto on, even when there's nothing!

"The jury's still out." What!?!

sarge43

(28,939 posts)
14. "He praises our men and women constantly."
Mon Nov 19, 2018, 04:34 PM
Nov 2018

Sir, with all due respect, have you been paying attention?

Moron has trashed Gold Star families, POWs, combat PTSD victims and a Navy Seal who conducted a deadly dangerous and successful covert op.

He's bragged that STDs were his Vietnam. "I...went to Vietnam ... and came home on a stretcher." You call that praise for your service, sir?

He wanted to put a pill popping ass kissing careerist in charge of the VA.

On the centennial of the end of WWI, he couldn't even drag his ass to Arlington to honor the first Unknown. A soldier or marine who paid the highest price; he died alone, even his name was lost. In case you missed his 'explanation', he was busy making phone calls. Would you have accepted that lame ass excuse from a subordinate?

Again with all due respect, around the Day Room we wouldn't call the above praise; we'd call it chicken shit.

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