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How Trump is empowering the military -- and raising some eyebrows
cnn ^ | June 24, 2017 | Jeremy Diamond, CNN

Posted on 06/24/2017 12:18:58 PM PDT by mdittmar

Washington (CNN)In his first six months in office, President Donald Trump has overseen a steady transfer of powerfrom the White House to the Pentagon, handing off several warfighting authorities that previously rested in his hands -- and those of past presidents of both parties -- to the Pentagon and the commanders overseeing the US' military campaigns.

The moves are intended to empower the military at a tactical level, bolstering the US' intensifying fight against ISIS and al-Qaeda-linked terrorist groups to praise from several current and former military officials.
But those efforts have also raised concerns about whether Trump expects to face the same level of accountability for military decisions he has kicked down to the Pentagon and have drawn attention to the inherent risks of downsizing the White House's role in overseeing the US' escalating military campaign against ISIS and al-Qaeda and its offshoots.

(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: dod; isis; military; nationalsecurity; pentagon; second100days; trump; trump45; trumpdod
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Well,here's an old song I like;)

Ballad of the Green Berets - SSGT Barry Sadler [1966]

1 posted on 06/24/2017 12:18:58 PM PDT by mdittmar
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To: mdittmar

It’s awkward when you’re out in the field, terrorists start shooting at you, and you have to get special permission from the President himself before you are allowed to shoot back.

Especially if the President happens to be golfing, or vacationing in Bali.


2 posted on 06/24/2017 12:22:18 PM PDT by Cicero (Marcus Tullius)
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To: mdittmar

Screw CNN.


3 posted on 06/24/2017 12:23:05 PM PDT by Logical me
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To: Cicero
Aren't there accounts of LBJ approving bomb loads and targets?

I seem to recall one instance where the tail gunner of a B-52 had to get permission to fire from the White House.

4 posted on 06/24/2017 12:24:49 PM PDT by ealgeone
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To: mdittmar

America is going to suffer facial disfigurement fron all the “raised eyebrows” allegedly caused by our president.


5 posted on 06/24/2017 12:25:53 PM PDT by Walrus (Those who work should eat better than those who don't)
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To: mdittmar

What is CNN afraid of? That we will win a war?


6 posted on 06/24/2017 12:26:57 PM PDT by joshua c (To disrupt the system, we must disrupt our lives)
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To: Cicero

You should read the letters of George Washington,he had to put up with the same crap.


7 posted on 06/24/2017 12:28:35 PM PDT by mdittmar
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To: Cicero
It’s awkward when you’re out in the field, terrorists start shooting at you, and you have to get special permission from the President himself before you are allowed to shoot back.
Especially if the President happens to be golfing, or vacationing in Bali.

...or when the president who'd rather see 10 dead Americans than one dead muslim.

8 posted on 06/24/2017 12:30:38 PM PDT by Migraine (Diversity is great- -- until it happens to YOU.)
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To: Logical me

CNN: Enemy islamist facilitators.


9 posted on 06/24/2017 12:33:36 PM PDT by onedoug (KEK)
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To: ealgeone

“I seem to recall one instance where the tail gunner of a B-52 had to get permission to fire from the White House.”

I call BS


10 posted on 06/24/2017 12:38:28 PM PDT by DesertRhino (Dog is man's best friend, and moslems hate dogs. Add that up.)
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To: ealgeone

More common was the “Squad Leader in the Sky”. A Colonel would fly over an engagement in Nam and order individual squads around thus bypassing the Regiment, Battalion, Company and Platoon commanders. The results would as expected.

The claim that the Army never lost a battle with the VC or NVA is a lie. When troops wander around the forest for weeks encountering no VC and losing 100 troops to booby traps you just lost. Most of the field commanders were very poor. Mainly because they changed them frequently so that as many officers could get that all important Combat checkmark in their personnel file. Careers were far more important than winning. It’s very good that Trump wants to keep Washington out of tactical decisions.

I wish he would cashier all the Generals and other brass who persecuted the troops for defending themselves. Obama’s toadies in other words. If he did though there wouldn’t be many admirals or generals left.


11 posted on 06/24/2017 12:41:08 PM PDT by Seruzawa (FABOL)
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To: mdittmar

So the past 8 years under Obama, he transferred money to our enemies Iran’s and Cuba’s military , created ISIS, encouraged and allowed terrorists to come to the US snubbed our allies like Israel, ignored North Korea, mothballed our fleets, and armed Mexican rebels... and now this is has ended and eyebrows are raised... are they idiots or what?


12 posted on 06/24/2017 12:42:34 PM PDT by seastay
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To: mdittmar

I like seeing the military making most of the decisions on how to handle combat situations. I am sure there will be mistakes in the field but the mistakes wont be as bad as the one that are made from people that’s main concern is not tactical but strategic and a lot of times are far enough away from the realities that when the mess-ups happen they are real bad. we have seen to much micro managing of the military because of are reliance on modern communication systems being able to give the President and his direct subordinates a view of what’s going on in the field.


13 posted on 06/24/2017 12:45:22 PM PDT by PCPOET7 (in)
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To: mdittmar

only “raising eyebrows” of pajamaboi “pundits” and pearl-clutching armchair quarterbacks.

if obammy had done this, the enemedia would have been singing his genius to the heavens.


14 posted on 06/24/2017 12:46:06 PM PDT by catnipman ( Cat Nipman: Vote Republican in 2012 and only be called racist one more time!)
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To: mdittmar

It’s the right move by Trump. We will have a more efficient and responsive military as a result.

But the risk to Trump is that some General or Admiral’s big mistake will land in his lap and burn his fingers, perhaps badly.

But Trump seems to have a knack for choosing smart, capable team members wisely. Could we have done better than General Mattis?

I don’t think so.

Fingers crossed. Go for it Trump. Do it.


15 posted on 06/24/2017 12:53:02 PM PDT by InterceptPoint (Ted, you finally endorsed. About time.)
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To: mdittmar

Why have all those generals if you will not trust them to fight the war?


16 posted on 06/24/2017 12:55:03 PM PDT by Petrosius
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To: Cicero

Or if he’s “relaxing” at the bathhouse.


17 posted on 06/24/2017 12:56:36 PM PDT by Tucker39 (Known as the Father of modern agriculture)
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To: mdittmar

all about the fighting sons of the “Devil’s Brigade”


18 posted on 06/24/2017 1:01:44 PM PDT by SandRat (Duty, Honor, Country.)
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To: ealgeone
Aren't there accounts of LBJ approving bomb loads and targets?

Well, sort of. You are thinking about the best and the brightest...(drum roll)...Robert McNamara!

19 posted on 06/24/2017 1:03:29 PM PDT by stevem
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To: mdittmar

Only a “lowbrow” can have their eyebrows raised.

CNN,... get over yourself. The rest of us did years ago.


20 posted on 06/24/2017 1:12:05 PM PDT by DoughtyOne (Fourth estate? Ha! Our media has become the KCOTUS, the Kangaroo Court of the United States.)
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