Retired general calls Trump's 30-day ISIS order 'sophomoric'

[niyad]

Retired general calls Trump's 30-day ISIS order 'sophomoric'

By Leinz Vales, CNN


Retired Army Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling served for 37 years in the Army
He is a national security, intelligence and terrorism analyst for CNN

(CNN)A retired army general is slamming Donald Trump's remarks that as President he will ask the US military to come up with a plan within one month to defeat ISIS. "I had to ask myself, what the hell does he think we've been trying to do for the last 14 years in terms of al Qaeda?" Retired Army Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling told Anderson Cooper on AC360 on Tuesday. At a rally in Greenville, North Carolina, Trump said that on day one of his presidency, he would convene his top generals and give what he called a "simple instruction" to in 30 days submit to the Oval Office "a plan for soundly and quickly defeating ISIS."

The former commanding general decried Trump, calling his orders "simplistic" and insulting to individuals working to defeat ISIS. "It shows a complete lack of understanding of the threat and the ways to fight it," Hertling said. "It's a sophomoric approach to elements of national security policy because if he's just calling in the military, he's missing the point that there are several other elements of national security that will help defeat ISIS."

Hertling argued that the US has made some good advances against ISIS. Democrats have highlighted statements Trump has made about military leaders in the past, most notably criticizing him for saying in November 2015, "I know more about ISIS than the generals do, believe me." Hillary Clinton brought up the line in July, saying, "No, Donald, you don't."

Trump's comments came on the same day his campaign released a letter signed by 88 retired military leaders endorsing his presidential candidacy, including four four-star generals and 14 three-star flag officers. 88 former military leaders write letter backing Donald Trump for President. Hertling said he was surprised by the letter praising Trump. "I didn't recognize many of those names as being there in the fight with me over the last 16 years," Hertling said. "There aren't a whole lot of names in the fight against al Qaeda or several of the other forces."
He said most of the names on the list are Navy admirals who were not on the ground during the war against terror.

. . . .

http://www.cnn.com/2016/09/07/politics/mark-hertling-trump-30-day-isis-plan/

[tonyt53]

1. Navy admirals. Who'd a thunk it.

[niyad]

4. I like what hertling said about them--clearly, no love lost. . .

[Satch59]

2. Saw him yesterday and he was great...

He should be on every show...and he's right, Trump's "orders" are insulting. Who is he to come in with no knowledge of military actions and then take the rein and say "jump" to military generals...

I so hope Trump gets some real questions from the vets tonight...I want to see him squirm.

[Whiskeytide]

3. The phrase "...30 days submit to the Oval Office...

... 'a plan for soundly and quickly defeating ISIS' " is Trumpish for "We're gonna drop nukes on them". His supporters certainly understand it.

[niyad]

5. without a doubt

[Hong Kong Cavalier]

9. Bingo.

He's stated numerous times he's wanted to use them.

[Hortensis]

6. Now, I would have said "preschoolic."

Trump is far too ignorant and megalomaniacal to begin to understand the knowledge of true professionals, like some of our neighbors on the subject but far worse.

[mopinko]

7. but wait a minute

why wont he be calling in the generals to share his wealth of knowledge, and explain the plan to them?

[niyad]

10. so he has someone to blame when his plan blows up, of course.

[mopinko]

12. of course.

why didnt i think of that. need to up my game here.

"i get more and more cynical the older i get, but it's never enough to keep up."

[niyad]

13. your last line sums it up perfectly

[mopinko]

14. i'm pretty old, too.

[niyad]

15. so am I--and I started out cynical, and still cannot keep up.

[awoke_in_2003]

23. "it's never enough to keep up"

Depressing, isn't it?

[mopinko]

25. yes, yes it is.

and not just politics.

[yellowcanine]

8. If Trump "knows more than the generals" about ISIS, why doesn't he give THEM the plan?

[niyad]

11. so he has someone to blame when his plan blows up, of course.

[Gothmog]

16. Trump is an idiot

[NewJeffCT]

17. Trump supporters

"Yay, he's not a freshman anymore!"

[niyad]

18. what comes before pre-school?

[awoke_in_2003]

24. That's about right. nt

[Spitfire of ATJ]

19. We have far too many generals....

Some of them got the rank as a reward for getting contracts.

[niyad]

20. sadly, so very true.

[malthaussen]

21. My plan: drop Trump on them.

They'll be begging for peace within hours.

-- Mal

[niyad]

27. by far the most sensible plan I have heard, and guaranteed results!! not to mention--his hair will

be out of our hair!

[malthaussen]

29. It's a horrible war crime...

... but sometimes the end justifies the means.

-- Mal

[niyad]

30. you are quite correct. I had not thought about the war crimes aspect. perhaps the ICC will

forgive us in this one instance.

[leimen]

22. Retired general calls trump's 30-day ISIS 'spohmoric'

I served under LTG hertling in USAREUR this is an educated and thoughtful man. He is not a nut. He knows what he is talking about. Listen to him mr. Trump

[Sunlei]

26. imagine where America will be with another Republican- impulsive juvenile warmonger in the WH.

[niyad]

28. this time, it might really be the end times.