Senate Armed Services on collision course with Trump over Confederate names

[highplainsdem]

Source: Roll Call

The Senate Armed Services Committee on Wednesday voted to require the Pentagon to rename military bases and other assets named after Confederate generals, a move that puts the Republican-led panel on a collision course with the White House.

The committee adopted an amendment to the annual Pentagon policy bill that gives the Defense Department three years to remove the names of Confederate generals from U.S. military assets, according to a source familiar with the closed-door proceedings.

The language, adopted by voice vote as President Donald Trump preemptively threatened to veto any defense bill that did just that, affects massive bases like Fort Bragg in North Carolina and Fort Benning in Georgia. But it also goes further and includes everything from ships to streets on Defense Department property.

Massachusetts Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren offered the provision, which she previewed on Twitter.

-snip-

Read more: https://www.rollcall.com/2020/06/10/senate-armed-services-on-collision-course-with-trump-over-confederate-names/

[OAITW r.2.0]

1. Interesting. Repugs letting this legislation pass to Senate vote?

Hmmmm....I will need to find out who voted on this legislation. Moscow Mitch must be pissed....

[TomSlick]

2. Not to be too cynical - but

This was a committee vote. I'm betting it doesn't pass the Senate.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

7. Even so, the committees are always majority whichever party is in the majority,

which means at least one or two Republicans had to vote in favor.

And not all Republicans are from the South. At least some of them might still recall they were originally the party of Lincoln.

[TomSlick]

11. Understood. I hope I am incorrect.

You are correct that not all Republicans are like those in my part of the country (e.g. Tom Cotton). I am not optimistic but I am at least now curious to see the result. Thank you for the glimmer of hope.

[keithbvadu2]

3. If they do it, it should be methodically and slowly.

If they do it, it should be methodically and slowly.

This would be huge undertaking from any admin standpoint.

It's not just a sign at the gate.

Maybe one base every two or three years.

It has to be recognized by many thousands of entities around the world, not just America.

[Ford_Prefect]

4. Good, one more opportunity to spend federal money employing folks to help with the changes.

I agree they need not be hasty as long as they are thorough. They have done this kind of thing before and are likely more efficient than you credit them.

Military posts are identified by a number of designations depending on the location, the activities taking place, the units housed there, and in relation t other bases in the command and region. The public name is only one term which applies.

In the not so distant past there were a string of units and locations which were combined, downsized, reconfigured and even closed. The military had plenty of practice during that period and discovered how to do it well even against public resistance.

These names are not part of our glorious military past in the way Bunker Hill, Iwo Jima and Normandy are. There have been and are many officers and other ranks who have questioned why these names persisted and how they were chosen. I have heard some of that history and while it may have made sense to those who were in charge at the time, the times have now changed. Consider that even 10 years ago to suggest a name change such as this for even one of those bases would have brought a thunderous outcry from veterans and "southern" patriot groups, not to mention GOP politicians of every rank, and the fringe Right-Wing.

The other reason to move forward with dispatch is that it is time to do it. Beginning Now.

I doubt that the committee would suggest a 3 year plan if they had any doubts about accomplishing it. As I mentioned above, they have been down this road a bit before.

[lastlib]

5. I want to see them name a base for John McCain--

Just to see Cockwomble's head go BOOM!

Camp Beauregard? no.
Camp McCain? YES!!

There's not an American alive who could raise an objection to this. (I said an American! Russian assets can STFU, Donnie.)

[world wide wally]

6. Maybe next, they'll be naming them after Nazi generals

[grumpyduck]

8. Good, keep alienating people, asshole!

Keep it up. Pleeeeeeease keep it up. At this rate soon you won't have any supporters... er... asskissers besides Moscow Mitch, Herr Miller, and Wilhelm von Barr.

[electric_blue68]

9. I had no idea that...

...there were American bases named after Confederates!

Just..... wow.... blergggghh!

[NotHardly]

10. Please proceed.