[ad_1]
He quarreled with the war heroes and relatives of the deceased soldiers, sparked controversy by dodging the observance of the memory and was accused of using the troops to advance his political goals. He said that he knew more about ISIS than the generals.
This controversy, like past clashes between the president and military heroes, was triggered by Trump's perception that he was attacked unfairly, apparently by a politically motivated critic.
"Of course, we should have captured Osama bin Laden long before us," said Trump, dropping military planners behind one of the most dangerous and daring special forces operations in recent military history.
His answer was characteristic for several reasons.
First, it reflected his obsession with his predecessor and his apparent belief that anyone who worked in a previous administration – even as a non-partisan military officer – is somehow suspect.
Secondly, he emphasized how the president saw almost every problem in terms of its impact on his image and prestige. Trump's first instinct when he is criticized is not to move on or lose sight of him, even out of respect for the sacrifice of a great soldier, but to consider criticism as being motivated by political animosity.
This episode recalls how the president tramples the protocols in his daily rituals. The idea that another recent commander-in-chief might attack a military hero such as McRaven, respected in Washington by the partisans, is unthinkable.
& # 39; Terrible and disgusting & # 39;
For someone like McRaven, who has spent a long career serving the presidents of both parties and stifling supporters' impulses, Trump's licks had to be a blow even if he had him – even criticized the president.
"The president has gone from the issue, which was about press freedom, to the insult of a four-star retiree," said retired Lieutenant General Mark Hertling, CNN's military analyst.
"It was really dreadful and disgusting for the president to describe it that way," Hertling told CNN.
McRaven made it clear in a statement to CNN that he had not supported Clinton in 2016, although he stated that he admired Obama's leadership and the Former president George W. Bush, who he also held in a leadership position.
Although Trump's remarks may seem inappropriate to many people, he had learned early in the 2016 Republican primary that he was not paying the political price for such comments.
Many political observers have predicted that Trump's attack on McCain, who he said was not a war hero, as the navy pilot of the time had been captured in Vietnam , would mean the end of his hopes at the White House. But instead Trump went from strength to strength.
In a tweet, the Republican Party said that McRaven had been on the list of Clinton's vice presidential candidates in 2016 and had criticized the president.
"This is not an apolitical character," the tweet said.
A more difficult question is whether the president's behavior undermines his credibility as commander-in-chief, who could at any time be accused of sending troops to fight or even die in a national crisis.
Leon Panetta, director of the CIA and secretary of defense under Obama, issued a very strong statement calling this question into question on Monday.
"The president's statement accusing McRaven of not having procured bin Laden earlier is obviously ridiculous," Panetta said. "This demonstrates a profound lack of understanding of the functioning of our armed forces and intelligence agencies and undermines the very status of the president as commander-in-chief."
Given that tradition and the constitutional role force the military to take precedence over civilian leaders in the country, it is unlikely that the public will condemn Trump's criticism by serving officers.
Former officers often try to avoid being dragged publicly into the fray, though they are more free to refer to feelings that permeate the army.
Retired Army General Stanley McChrystal, who lost his position as commander of US forces in Afghanistan after some of his colleagues and himself were quoted, mocking Vice President Joe Biden and Dr. 39 other civilian officials in 2010, said Monday in CNN's "Newsroom" the ground needs confidence in his commander-in-chief and what he stands for.
"We have some things we want and ask the leaders," McChrystal said.
"And to a certain extent, there must be trust in the leader's core values - we must be able to believe enough in what this leader represents to be comfortable following them, sometimes to our death. "
Annoying moments
Trump often claims that no one has been more military than him and claims to have pulled the country's armed forces out of a funding crisis.
And in many ways, he has kept his promises of being military.
It has garnered a massive $ 700 billion bill, which will result in new fleets of ships, planes, submarines, missiles and helicopters, as well as the largest military pay increase in eight years, though 39, he says that it is the first pay rise of the troops in a decade is wrong.
Trump's affection for the army is emotional and political. He seems to see the troops embodying the qualities of power and masculinity that he admires.
Trump has often praised the merits of his hero, General George Patton. It may not be a coincidence that the classic Hollywood biopic of the war hero opens with a glowing speech by star George C. Scott, who delivers an almost Trumpian monologue in front of a huge American flag. .
"Americans love the winners and will not tolerate the losers," said Scott.
Trump attended the New York Military Academy at the New York Military Academy, where he learned, according to biographer Michael D & # 39; Antonio, that "life is survival" and that & # 39; He showed on the sports field that he would do anything to win.
[ad_2]
Source link
