Michael Flynn
Robert Harward has turned down the offer from Trump to be national security adviser.
"But according to an individual familiar with Harward's thinking, the former Navy SEAL who served on the National Security Council under President George W. Bush turned down the Trump offer because he did not receive sufficient assurances about staffing and autonomy. Specifically, the source said Harward wanted commitments that the National Security Council would be fully in charge of security matters, not Trump's political advisers. And he wanted to be able to select his own staff."
http://www.politico.com/story/2017/02/robert-harward-national-security-adviser-trump-balks-235120
"A friend of Harward's said he was reluctant to take the job because the White House seems so chaotic. Harward called the offer a "s*** sandwich," the friend said."
http://www.cnn.com/2017/02/16/politics/harward-says-no-to-national-security-adviser-role/index.html
drummerboy said:
great, the competent guys are running away. Always a good sign.
Wikileaks has 81 documents on Harward. One interesting fact from the first couple of docs is that he practices yoga.
Some comments on the earlier discussion of motivation and stigmas of military volunteers:
(1) Every American citizen, including drummerboy, is responsible for the deaths caused by US armed forces. Those pulling the trigger, dropping the bombs, firing artillery, navigating the drones, etc. could not carry out their missions without the troops who support them, or without the orders of the President, without the funds approved by Congress, without the voters who elected them, or without the taxpayers who provided the funds.
The only people who are exempt from responsibility are those refusing to pay their Federal income tax.
(2) Only a small minority of recruits choose combat or related skills when they volunteer. Most choose skills that are in demand in the civilian economy. Volunteers who expect to be involved in killing are very rare.
(3) The military offers many attractive benefits, including free medical coverage, a housing allowance, discounts for food and clothing, educational benefits and retirement after 20 years. When all the benefits are taken into account, pay rates are fairly competitive with the civilian economy, especially for non-college graduates. Officers do better than enlisted personnel.
The package of benefits, not killing or warfare, is the main incentive for enlisting.
(4) Among military personnel, anti-war sentiments are higher than in the civilian world. Like wedjet, I was an antiwar draftee during Vietnam. What is not commonly known is that antiwar dissent is (and was) allowed in the military, including petitions, circulation of flyers, demonstrations and working on "underground newsletters" -- as long as the dissent is legal and is expressed off-duty, off-post, out-of-uniform and stateside. Military personnel always have the right to petition members of Congress or the Inspector General.
This DoD Directive (and its earlier version) was in effect during the Vietnam and Iraq wars. I assume it's still in effect: http://www.militaryatheists.org/regs/DODD1325-6pv1996.pdf
During my two-year tour, I participated in numerous antiwar activities as described above, openly and legally, without any repercussions. I had excellent relations with my superiors, received all available promotions, was selected for several special assignments and received an honorable discharge.
As a result of my personal experience, I have always regarded the military and its personnel with the highest regard and never held it responsible for the unnecessary and unjust wars that it has been ordered to carry out.
These links may be of interest:
http://www.sirnosir.com/the_film/synopsis.html
http://www.nytimes.com/1971/03/14/archives/jane-fonda-antiwar-show-staged-near-fort-bragg.html
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/gis-petition-congress-to-end-iraq-war/
"you guys"? who's "you guys"? It was the fever swamp that freaked over that one.
terp said:
Remember the good ole days when you guys freaked out about this?
last time I looked the great President Trump has this diplomacy thing down pat. that Obama guy just couldnt cut it. right Terp?
There's nothing wrong with Trump seeking better relations with Russia. It's just that given the rumors of his business dealings there, and his complete lack of transparency about it, no one knows whether his overtures toward Russia are because it's good for the U.S. or good for the bottom line of the Trump Organization.
paulsurovell said:
Some comments on the earlier discussion of motivation and stigmas of military volunteers:
(1) Every American citizen, including drummerboy, is responsible for the deaths caused by US armed forces. Those pulling the trigger, dropping the bombs, firing artillery, navigating the drones, etc. could not carry out their missions without the troops who support them, or without the orders of the President, without the funds approved by Congress, without the voters who elected them, or without the taxpayers who provided the funds.
The only people who are exempt from responsibility are those refusing to pay their Federal income tax.
So, Trump.
Who else?
I really have to disagree with this super-simplistic look at "responsibility".
There are degrees of responsibility. My withholding taxes from the government will do nothing to prevent them from spending money. All it is a conscience cleanser for the guilty.
Refusing to carry a gun, on the other hand, is a real resistance.
paulsurovell said:
Some comments on the earlier discussion of motivation and stigmas of military volunteers:
(1) Every American citizen, including drummerboy, is responsible for the deaths caused by US armed forces. Those pulling the trigger, dropping the bombs, firing artillery, navigating the drones, etc. could not carry out their missions without the troops who support them, or without the orders of the President, without the funds approved by Congress, without the voters who elected them, or without the taxpayers who provided the funds.
The only people who are exempt from responsibility are those refusing to pay their Federal income tax.
Just curious...If those who are in the "boots on the ground" in the military are "mindless killers", what does that make the person(s) who ordered, approved, or oversaw the killing?
well, it doesn't make them good people, certainly.
But they're actually more mindful than the soldiers, obviously.
It's all bad.
Norman_Bates said:
Just curious...If those who are in the "boots on the ground" in the military are "mindless killers", what does that make the person(s) who ordered, approved, or oversaw the killing?
Reality is "fake news."
Jingoism is patriotism.
White nationalism is mainstream.
Billionaires are populists.
The national GOP is a group of cowards, hoping to cash in while risking civility and democracy.
Oligarchs are giddy. Wall Street guys are touching themselves, hoping to prey.
The GOP is the only group that can put a stop to the Crazy. They abso-fcuking-lutely know how serious this is and how much damage the lunatic can do, guided by right wing nationalists.
LOST said:
paulsurovell said:
Some comments on the earlier discussion of motivation and stigmas of military volunteers:
(1) Every American citizen, including drummerboy, is responsible for the deaths caused by US armed forces. Those pulling the trigger, dropping the bombs, firing artillery, navigating the drones, etc. could not carry out their missions without the troops who support them, or without the orders of the President, without the funds approved by Congress, without the voters who elected them, or without the taxpayers who provided the funds.
The only people who are exempt from responsibility are those refusing to pay their Federal income tax.
So, Trump.
Who else?
paulsurovell said:
LOST said:
paulsurovell said:
Some comments on the earlier discussion of motivation and stigmas of military volunteers:
(1) Every American citizen, including drummerboy, is responsible for the deaths caused by US armed forces. Those pulling the trigger, dropping the bombs, firing artillery, navigating the drones, etc. could not carry out their missions without the troops who support them, or without the orders of the President, without the funds approved by Congress, without the voters who elected them, or without the taxpayers who provided the funds.
The only people who are exempt from responsibility are those refusing to pay their Federal income tax.
So, Trump.
Who else?
http://nwtrcc.org/
That's a weird organization. Have you seen their annual report? Administrative pay accounts for about 50% of expenditure. The amount the two-person staff paid themselves in 2015 was actually $3000 more than the amount of individual contributions for that year, which means the whole operation was run on grants from other foundations. While I'm sure they do very important work and are wonderful people, I could never donate to them, because all you're effectively doing is writing the Coordinator a personal check.
ridski said:Well that's true. They pay the coordinator $20K and a social media consultant $9K and everyone else is a volunteer. It's a pretty small operation.
paulsurovell said:
LOST said:
paulsurovell said:
Some comments on the earlier discussion of motivation and stigmas of military volunteers:
(1) Every American citizen, including drummerboy, is responsible for the deaths caused by US armed forces. Those pulling the trigger, dropping the bombs, firing artillery, navigating the drones, etc. could not carry out their missions without the troops who support them, or without the orders of the President, without the funds approved by Congress, without the voters who elected them, or without the taxpayers who provided the funds.
The only people who are exempt from responsibility are those refusing to pay their Federal income tax.
So, Trump.
Who else?
http://nwtrcc.org/
That's a weird organization. Have you seen their annual report? Administrative pay accounts for about 50% of expenditure. The amount the two-person staff paid themselves in 2015 was actually $3000 more than the amount of individual contributions for that year, which means the whole operation was run on grants from other foundations. While I'm sure they do very important work and are wonderful people, I could never donate to them, because all you're effectively doing is writing the Coordinator a personal check.
Gen. Petraeus has backed away as well. This ship is beginning to take some real water. Trump's End is Beginning.
From the source of sources: The New York Post:
http://nypost.com/2017/02/18/petraeus-no-longer-a-candidate-to-replace-flynn/
Best Regards,
Ron Carter
Petraeus would have been problematic even if the Dear Leader was not nuts because of the mishandling of documents. Too bad, though. I could sleep well with Petraeus in charge of NSC.
Yeah, Petraeus seems to be a competent technocrat, though you gotta think what the hell led him to the messing with those secrets.
we've read that it's Kellogg who's the current favourite... can't find the reference now, but apparently it was tweeted....
Yep
drummerboy said:
"you guys"? who's "you guys"? It was the fever swamp that freaked over that one.
terp said:
Remember the good ole days when you guys freaked out about this?
well, that was an answer not worth waiting for.
"yep" what?
terp said:
Yep
drummerboy said:
"you guys"? who's "you guys"? It was the fever swamp that freaked over that one.
terp said:
Remember the good ole days when you guys freaked out about this?
Because you feel you're safer believing Greenwald/Putin instead of ... common sense?
hokay. Throw your lot in with whoever.
terp said:
These Russian conspiracy theories are the stuff of fever swamps.
Featured Events
-
Stephen Whitty Presents - Hometown Movie Stars: The Celebrated Actors Of CHS
May 6, 2024 at 7:00pm
Rentals
Advertisement
DB, you'd be surprised.... a lot can be disguised in 'diplomacy' and the pretty play of polite words. We hide much in our military history of supporting Mother England (the Breaker Morant stories) and also supporting you, supporting whoever appears to give us the greater economic edge in Asia. (Our history with Indonesia, west Papua, the Cocos/Keeling Islands, Malaysia, Singapore and most recently with Nauru and the Solomons are quite speckled despite superficially 'friendly' training)