Trump's bad marriage with the military has finally exploded

[Zorro]

Opinion by David Ignatius

Reconciling Donald Trump’s self-promoting “Art of the Deal” with the military’s reserved code of loyalty and service was always a stretch. In Trump’s early months in the White House, though, the two cultures seemed to coexist without much damage.

But the fabric began to fray by mid-2017. Trump increasingly treated the military as props in the reality-TV show of his presidency. He wanted them for parades and victory celebrations, not the anguish of combat. He seemed to take his strategic guidance from Fox News more than his commanders. The generals and admirals kept their mouths shut, but the resentment was building.

The bad marriage exploded this week, when former senior staff members told Jeffrey Goldberg of the Atlantic of their shock at Trump’s crude comments about combat and loss — and his reported characterization of fallen warriors as “suckers” and “losers.” The quotes were anonymous, but it has been an open secret in Washington that many prominent retired four-stars have regarded Trump with growing horror as he assaulted the traditions of discipline and professionalism that are bedrocks of military life.

The first open break point came in June, after former military leaders watched Trump try to use the military to put down protests for racial justice. Retired Adm. Mike Mullen, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, denounced Trump for “politicizing the men and women of our armed forces.” Retired Gen. Jim Mattis, the former defense secretary, called Trump “the first president in my lifetime who does not try to unite the American people.” Retired Gen. John F. Kelly, a former Trump White House chief of staff, said he agreed with Mattis.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/09/05/trumps-bad-marriage-with-military-has-finally-exploded/

[SheltieLover]

1. K&R!

[Wellstone ruled]

2. Here they come,

Reporters are going to come out of the woodwork with story after story.

Going to get very interesting,so get your fav Beverage and Snacks ready.

[johnnyfins]

8. Let's hope so

They should be flooding the zone with these stories. True ones of course. Make him have to spend so much time defending himself that he won't be able to even turn on his horseshit firehose.

[Wellstone ruled]

10. Caught a video of the Speaker's

interview on early MSNBC today. She lead a Delegation at the same time to the same Cemetery and like she said do not criticize fellow Politicians on Foreign Soil. But,she corroborated everything that was reported thus far. Like she said,Melanoma was with her Sugar Daddy in Paris. And the President lied about the phone call back to the states.

[Faux pas]

3. Kickin' with gusto!

[Thekaspervote]

4. Thank you! It's our job to help keep this story front and center!!

[Blue Owl]

5. Get the restraining order and divorce paperwork filed ASAP

Bye Don!

[regnaD kciN]

6. This breakdown has taken place with military leaders and ex-leaders...

It remains to be seen whether it has percolated down to the rank-and-file soldier, sailor, airman, or cadet.

[MRDAWG]

7. Until the sources testify before the House..................

this story is going to die.

[warmfeet]

9. The magats married a scumbag.

Many of them will do anything possible to deny this fact, to even embrace this fact. They are all scumbags - match made in hell. Anyone that still supports this asshole is equally guilty. Fuck them all.

[Marcuse]

11. Irreconcilable differences. Emotional abuse.

“I wouldn’t go to war with you people,” Trump told the assembled brass.
Addressing the room, the commander in chief barked, “You’re a bunch of dopes and babies.”
For a president known for verbiage he euphemistically called “locker room talk,” this was the gravest insult he could have delivered to these people, in this sacred space. The flag officers in the room were shocked. Some staff began looking down at their papers, rearranging folders, almost wishing themselves out of the room. A few considered walking out. They tried not to reveal their revulsion on their faces, but questions raced through their minds. “How does the commander in chief say that?” one thought. “What would our worst adversaries think if they knew he said this?”

[link:https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/youre-a-bunch-of-dopes-and-babies-inside-trumps-stunning-tirade-against-generals/2020/01/16/d6dbb8a6-387e-11ea-bb7b-265f4554af6d_story.html|

[mahatmakanejeeves]

12. Trump has a long history of disparaging military service

Trump has a long history of disparaging military service

Long before the president’s views of the military would emerge as a flash point in his 2020 reelection campaign, Trump had an extensive track record of incendiary and disparaging remarks about veterans and military service.

By Michael Kranish

{probably paywalled}