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Trump Views Military as 'Tool For Massacres' Say Veteran
[Independent.UK] 'For Trump to just step in and undermine centuries worth of morale and discipline undercuts the very military that he's trying to command'US veterans decried Donald Trump's orders to restore an accused war criminal's rank in the Navy, saying the decision "sets a dangerous precedent" and suggests the commander-in-chief views the military "as a tool for massacres". Numerous veterans spoke out about the move to The Independent after Secretary of Defence Mark Esper confirmed he was ordered by the president to retain Navy SEAL Eddie Gallagher's status in the elite service, as well as his Trident pin, a prestigious special warfare insignia. "Ever since Donald Trump became president he's been tearing the military apart, putting troops in the difficult position of needing to choose between obedience to his unhinged orders, and staying true to our code of honour," said Alexander McCoy, a former Marine and political director of the veteran group Common Defence. "By pardoning war criminals because Fox News told him to, Trump showed he sees our military as a tool for massacres, not as the professional, honourable force we aspire to be." Gallagher, who was accused of killing Iraqi civilians and an unarmed Islamic State fighter, was acquitted in July of murder but found guilty of posing in a photograph with a war casualty. Mr Trump later intervened in the case, restoring Gallagher's rank to E-7, otherwise known as a chief petty officer, and demanding he be allowed to keep his Trident and retire at the rank and pay grade he earned before the allegations were brought against him. The defence secretary announced on Monday that Gallagher "will retain his Trident as the Commander in Chief directed and will retire at the end of this month", adding that the case "has dragged on for months" and "must end". In his statement, Mr Esper said the firing was not about Gallagher, but rather "Secretary Spencer and the chain of command". The president's demands could cause "significant long-term damage to the Naval Special Warfare community," according to James Waters, a former Navy SEAL platoon commander and White House staff member in the Bush administration, who told The Independent: "The only people who weigh in on whether a Navy SEAL deserves to keep his Trident are people who have their Trident." Aquaman too ? "Every SEAL knows he must 'earn your Trident every day' Wholly out of context and spouted here for semantic emphasis, like a grade school coach using mil-speak. even after officially qualifying - and the same standard should apply here," Mr Waters said. "Unless you've been through Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training and served in the Teams and know the specific facts related to a person's performance, you're not qualified to weigh in." He added: "This is vital to maintaining the high standards required to be effective in the Teams and on the battlefield. The absolute last thing the nation needs is to open the floodgates to outside interests determining who gets to wear and keep the Trident." I see now why it's difficult to vote for ex-soldiers.
Posted by: Dron66046 2019-11-25 |
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