Concern grows within military about Trump's proposed parade
Source: MSN/CNN
There is growing concern within the US military about the costs of President Donald Trump's proposed military parade and the disruption it could cause.
If Trump insists on a military parade through Washington involving thousands of troops, armored vehicles, missiles and other heavy weapons the event could disrupt crucial military training schedules, according to a defense official directly familiar with the initial planning efforts.
There are also concerns over the cost of the event, and a second defense official tells CNN that the Pentagon is considering seeking out private donations to offset some of the non-military costs of the event. The donations could not cover military salaries or the cost of moving equipment but they could be used to pay for other aspects of the parade.
There are no firm cost estimates until President Trump orders the military to stage a specific event, but very preliminary estimates suggest the cost could run between $3 million and $50 million, the first official said, emphasizing that nothing is certain at this point. There is no money currently allocated for a parade in the defense budget. Budget director Mick Mulvaney said Wednesday that he has seen estimates that a military parade could cost $10 million to $30 million.
Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/concern-grows-within-military-about-trumps-proposed-parade/ar-BBJfAQ8
It is actually a brilliant move on the Trump administration's part. They can get thousands of members of the military to stand at attention and salute Trump as a brilliant military leader at tax payer expense, thus avoiding the optics of empty crowds. Likewise, the opposition party will be portrayed 24/7 on Fox News as being anti-military causing members of the military and their families to fall in line behind Trump and Republicans because opposition to Trump will be seen as synonymous as being against members of the military.
Think of how the NFL player's protests against Trump and brutality were re-framed by Fox News and Trump as hating the U.S. Using the military as a prop will allow Trump to hide behind them and Fox News to spin any opposition as hating members of the military. Trump can call into Fox and Friends where he can rip on folks like Tammy Duckworth for her failure to understand the sacrifices of members of the military.
Perhaps Trump can even get white nationalists to show solidarity by wearing matching brown shirts as they line the parade route.
TheCowsCameHome
(40,168 posts)the one where the Trump cabal is perp-walked before a federal judge.
Angry Dragon
(36,693 posts)Frustratedlady
(16,254 posts)I don't know about the rest of you, but I'll darned well be celebrating...may even invest in some fireworks and champagne.
Angry Dragon
(36,693 posts)TEB
(12,840 posts)tiptonic
(765 posts)Something about this smells. Why would a draft dodging slug, like comrade Benedict donald, want so many troops in DC? Maybe to please Pootie or just to make himself, feel macho. 'Something ain't right' to use a old southern saying.
Grammy23
(5,810 posts)That applies here, too.
He aint right. Yep. That pretty much describes tRump.
mahina
(17,640 posts)While hes at it.
The Cheeto Bennito, the Tangerine Idi Amin is a moron.
SunSeeker
(51,550 posts)He couldn't order the public to show up. So now he is ordering the military to show up for a parade for him. Because he can.
keithbvadu2
(36,746 posts)Trump does not want to salute the military.
He wants the world to see the military salute him.
Link to tweet
?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fw
Nitram
(22,781 posts)Docreed2003
(16,858 posts)One every 63 mins....but lets throw Trump a parade!
TomCADem
(17,387 posts)You have to admit that it is a pretty gangsta move on Trump's part to propose slashing benefits to veterans, then force the military to march through the streets and salute him like a Generalismo. It is sort of like him chasing after pornstars, then having Melania Trump issue press releases dismissing news of the affairs as fake news.
https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/politics/2017/06/14/trump-budget-proposal-slash-benefits-veterans-dead-arrival-congress/395765001/
Veterans advocates say a proposal from the Trump administration that would dramatically cut monthly stipends to individual veterans is "dead on arrival" in Congress.
Although President Donald Trump's proposed budget plan for the 2018 fiscal year would increase spending across the Department of Veterans Affairs, the proposal would also slash individual unemployment benefits for disabled veterans by more than $40.8 billion over 10 years.
The cuts could mean a reduction of as much as $22,000 per year for some eligible veterans, advocates say.
Individual unemployment benefits are paid to veterans who are disabled as a result of military service and can't work.
George II
(67,782 posts)left-of-center2012
(34,195 posts)Leghorn21
(13,524 posts)bills this week, he could easily afford a military parade...too bad it didnt work out for him, eh.
Mountain Mule
(1,002 posts)I can hear him now - cussing out Trump on all counts. My Dad used to hate military parades. Said they were a waste of time and resources.
jrthin
(4,835 posts)Mc Mike
(9,114 posts)coz he's trying to get promoted to Commandante.
MountCleaners
(1,148 posts)Like North Korea...
McCamy Taylor
(19,240 posts)Remember, Trump told Republicans their only hope was if "something happened." What better way for him to make something happen than to put our military men and women in harms way?
workinclasszero
(28,270 posts)CRK7376
(2,199 posts)family will not be at anything related to Trump. Love to see him frog marched with his bonespurs leading the way off into the sunset with his orange hair....disgrace to our country.
cynatnite
(31,011 posts)That's marching. When I was in basic training we marched in parades. They would bus us to a few local parades and we marched. We did review before post command and marched. Any military person worth their salt will tell you the only benefit is learning how to march and getting better at it.
There is zero value, other than marching, in having a military parade such as what tRump wants. In fact, I'd bet that all those missiles, tanks, and trucks he wants to use will do more damage to the streets than what the parade itself would cost.
Basically, this is pointless and expensive.