President Trump: Making America Great Again...

[Jeff Lebowski]

this doesn’t make sense brother, unless the argument is that their resignations are evidence of their character being flawed in such a way that their counsel on withdrawal should be dismissed. which seems like a dumb one.

True. But that wasn’t my argument. Two separate issues.

[Jeff Lebowski]

The logic in your position is faulty. Through your criticism you intimate that Mattis shouldn't leave, because it is far more dangerous for him to leave due to the fact he was reportedly the only adult left in the room. Further compounding the issue is the fact that his departure has left a vacuum which will like be filled by a toady.

The sad truth is being the only adult in the room wasn't enough and never was going to be enough to make any kind of difference what so ever. Why then would Mattis stay and what's more why would you want Mattis to stay—so that you can sleep at night buoyed by the pretence that at least someone was keeping Trump in check?

Criticizing Mattis for resigning is ridiculous. The only action Mattis had left and that offered any kind of chance of making any kind of impact was to walk away. At the very least it should indicate to voters who voted for him really did make a bad choice—he isn't draining the swamp ... at this point he doesn't even know where or what the damm swamp is.

I don’t buy your argument that Mattis was completely powerless and ineffective.

[old_gregg]

True. But that wasn’t my argument. Two separate issues.

then i don’t get your point about why youre dismissing their judgment. there’s probably a case to be made on the merits but there’s more nuance than walter’s logic gates are apparently comprehending. but i’m sure the graphic pics of dead kids will follow shortly.

[old_gregg]

I don’t buy your argument that Mattis was completely powerless and ineffective.

his resignation seems to suggest that he feels at least powerful and ineffective enough that it’s not worth his time to be there. that seems true if the facts really are as absurd as they seem (no consultation with advisors other than a hostile dictator and a tweet announcement)

[YOhio]

Here is my problem with these resignations and why I am dismissive of McGurk and Mattis: I keep hearing that Mattis resigning is a disaster because "he is the last adult left in the Trump administration". That is definitely a frightening proposition. But if that is true, why in the hell is he resigning?

To make a point that Trump is an idiot? Is that even debatable at this point?
To make sure their careers aren't tainted?
Do they honestly think Trump is going to change his behavior because they resigned?
Are we better off now that Mattis has resigned? Is America in a more secure position?

So you quit to make a point. Now a trump toady can take your spot. Thanks for nothing.

Dude. They quit because their job f***ing sucked and the boss is an idiot who doesn't listen. Everyone has a point at which they throw their hands up in the air and say good luck.

[Walter Sobchak]

Though the United States shouldn't be in Syria, it has been for the past half-dozen years and has created alliances and allies during that time period.

Lol. We need to stay in Syria{/Iraq/Afghanistan} because we've already been there for 2, 4, {6, 8, 10, 15,} N years. Great logic!

Oh noes, we are leaving Syria. Whatever will become of Syria? Answer: a return to the status quo is likely... but more importantly, a welcome return of American troops to their families. Until Congress wants to put their own skin in the game and authorize use of force in Syria, I don't fucking care what happens in Syria. It's not our government's business to decide what is best for Syrian citizens (believe it or not). President Obama (and his SoS Kerry) fucked up on this; President Trump is cleaning up the mess. #MAGA

Donald Trump contravened the NatSec establishment and via Twitter announced an immediate departure of the United States from Syria.
Experts, including the Secretary of Defense and Special Presidential Envoy for the Global Coalition to Counter ISIS, have said that abruptly leaving Syria will have myriad negative consequences for our allies and the United States. These experts are so committed to that position that they refused to play part and have resigned from their jobs.

[...]

But I don't take lightly the fact that one of the most respected SecDef's in my lifetime resigned his position in opposition. Similarly, I think it's meaningful that the Brett McGurk resigned his position for similar reasons. He's been in the thick of the ISIS battle for the past few years and understands the threat more than any of us on the board. These men put their names and livelihood on the line because, based on their experience, disagree with Trump's policy. They have eyes on the ground and skin in the game.

Now, based on your posts here, you've seemed to dismiss all of the above in support of the policy that we shouldn't be in Syria anymore and have ignored the potential consequences that could result from an immediate pullout. You've been dismissive of McGurk and Mattis, ignoring their experience and viewpoints, in furtherance of the view that we simply shouldn't be in Syria. I simply say that they have a valuable viewpoint that should be considered.

Mattis, McGurk, and the many other Generals that you seem to have such a hard-on for have been wrong for about two decades. How many generals resigned rather than contravene Congress and assent to the orders to put troops on the ground in Syria? A big fat fucking zero.

Not only did Mattis deserve to be ignored and overruled because of his Syria blind spot; Mattis deserved to be fired. He resigned instead, in disgrace. The more resignations... the better. It saves President Trump the effort of canning their asses himself, freeing him up to actually reverse their mistakes.

Mattis Marks End of the Global War on Terror

He is an artifact of a failed war policy and his departure was a long time coming.

[...]

What remains is that once-neocon, now progressive catch-all: we need to stay in Syria to preserve American credibility. While pundits can still get away with this line, the rest of the globe already knows the empire has no clothes. Since 2001, the United States has spent some $6 trillion on its wars, and killed multiple 9/11s worth of American troops and foreign civilians. The U.S. has tortured, still maintains its gulag at Guantanamo, and, worst of all credibility-wise, has lost on every front. Afghanistan after 17 years of war festers. Nothing was accomplished with Iraq. Libya is a failed state. Syria is the source of a refugee crisis whose long-term effects on Europe are still being played out. We are the “indispensable nation” only in our own minds.

[...]

So why does the U.S. have troops in Syria? Anyone? Bueller? Mattis?

America’s presence in Syria, like Jim Mattis himself, is an artifact of another era, the failed GWOT. As a Marine, Mattis served in ground combat leadership roles in Gulf Wars I and II, and also in Afghanistan. He ran United States Central Command from 2010 to 2013, the final years of The Surge in Iraq and American withdrawal afterwards. There is no doubt why he supported the American military presence in Syria, and why he resigned to protest Trump’s decision to end it: Mattis knew nothing else. His entire career was built around the strategy of the GWOT, the core of which was to never question GWOT strategy. Mattis didn’t need a reason to stay in Syria; being in Syria was the reason.

So why didn’t Trump listen to his generals? Maybe because the bulk of their advice has been dead wrong for 17 years.

[Walter Sobchak]

After Syria, Trump Should Clean Out His National Security Bureaucracy

They're undermining his positions and pursuing their own agendas. John Bolton should be the first to go.

[...]

Trump should use Secretary Mattis’s departure as an opportunity to refashion his national security team. Who is to succeed Mattis at the Pentagon? Deputy Secretary Patrick Shanahan appears to have the inside track. But former Navy secretary and senator Jim Webb deserves consideration. Or perhaps it’s time for a second round for former senator Chuck Hagel, who opposed the Gulf war and backed dialog with Iran. Defense needs someone willing to challenge the Pentagon’s thinking and practices. Best would be a civilian who won’t be captured by the bureaucracy, one who understands that he or she faces a tough fight against advocates of perpetual war.

Next to go should be Bolton. There are many potential replacements who believe in a more restrained role for America. One who has been mentioned as a potential national security advisor in the past is retired Army colonel and respected security analyst Douglas Macgregor.

Equally important, though somewhat less urgent, is finding a new secretary of state. Although Pompeo has not so ostentatiously undermined his boss, he appears to oppose every effort by the president to end a war, drop a security commitment, or ease a conflict. Pompeo’s enthusiasm for negotiation with Kim Jong-un and Vladimir Putin is clearly lagging. While the secretary might not engage in open sabotage, his determination to take a confrontational approach everywhere except when explicitly ordered to do otherwise badly undermines Trump’s policies.

Who to appoint? Perhaps Tennessee’s John Duncan, the last Republican congressman who opposed the Iraq war and who retired this year after decades of patriotic service. There are a handful of active legislators who could serve with distinction as well, though their departures would be a significant loss on Capitol Hill: Senator Rand Paul and Representatives Justin Amash and Walter Jones, for instance.

Once the top officials have been replaced, the process should continue downwards. Those appointed don’t need to be thoroughgoing Trumpists, of whom there are few. Rather, the president needs people generally supportive of his vision of a less embattled and entangled America: subordinates, not insubordinates. Then he will be less likely to find himself in embarrassing positions where his appointees create their own aggressive policies contrary to his expressed desires.

Trump has finally insisted on being Trump, but Syria must only be the start. He needs to fill his administration with allies, not adversaries. Only then will his “America First” policy actually put America first.

#MAGA

[YOhio]

Walter those articles look very good and I am definitely going to read them.

[Uncle Ted]

That SoB Drumpf is now offending witches...




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[YOhio]

Well wiccan ya do?

[frank ryan]

Walter those articles look very good and I am definitely going to read them.

Walter has ordered some of McNaughton’s Trump paintings for his office.

[BlueK]

Now Trump cares about government overspending. It is funny how he made a comment this week about federal employees being mostly democrats. I don't think he does this if he didn't have that idea. LOL.

https://www.cnn.com/2018/12/29/polit...eze/index.html

[Uncle Ted]

I have been on vacation and haven’t been paying attention... what is the update on this?




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[Moliere]

Predicting that things will happen before 12/31 is never a good idea. They never happen

[Blueintheface]

Well wiccan ya do?

Heh