1)Esper was right about the Insurrection Act; Trump knows this, but his “negotiating” style (read any of his books) is to throw it out there and let it stew and cause conversation
2)Navy was wrong to cancel contracts for Mass; Trump was right to say no.
3)Trump was right about military brass and military industrial complex liking war/conflict because it keeps them employed, relevant and producing/buying things
4)Trump is playing the role of the civilian commander in chief who will not allow us to get into useless conflicts/wars, etc., much to the chagrin of the MIComplex
5)There is no “flap” between Trump and the military. It is a made up talking point by the Democrats and never-trumpers for political and career gain and for things to return to the “way they were”.
That strategy doesn't work if your deputy immediately says 'don't listen to him, if he did that we'd all quit and he'd be fired'. My problem with Esper is that he ran to a microphone to announce that he disagreed with his boss and hint that he'd support taking down the President (which is the only possible outcome if the military refused to follow him). Even if Trump was just blowing smoke to try to back these foolish governors into actually protecting their citizens it was not Esper's place to announce that the military did not support him.
I’d rather think there is a link between #4 and #5.
#4, yes Trump is a civilian CinC but commanding the Armed Forces instead of the Armed Forces commanding hi. They don’t like that, meaning...
#5, the old guard (neo-conservatives) and opportunists of war are in a flap with POTUS and they think they can win because of public sentiment for piss-ants like Powell, McNoName and the complicit no-Trumps like Romney, etc.
As long as the seditious media gives these LOSERS ink, we will continue to fight against “anonymous” bullsh!t artists.
+1000
You have it right and the military will also not say so when they agree with the POTUS. They are definitely helping in the rounding up of Antifa/BLM scum and protecting the nation against many threats.
Esper was wrong to publicly disagree with the commander in chief regarding this issue there-by opening up speculation that the military would attempt to move on the president. McArthur was removed for the same thing, albeit McArthur wasn’t defense secretary.
AMEN to that!
I disagree only on your last point. The joint chiefs and upper brass I don’t think will follow an order to put down an inserection if Trump declares one. I think they will mutiny and I think Trump knows this and is not going to do anything until after the election.
The joint chiefs in history have swung to and fro from: Truman doubting them, Ike knowing what they were about thus they had not try and BS him, JFK really doubting them, LBJ ignoring them, Nixon being a CNC and giving marching orders, Ford kind of like we are not doing anything right now go play and do what you want, Carter holding them in disdain, Reagan being a CNC, but willing to listen to solid advice, BushI a total tool of the joint chiefs, Clinton hated them but used them and they used him, BushII did whatever they told him to do, same with Obama to a point, they knew he would let them continue the unending wars if they did the social experiments he wanted and expected Hillary to do the same and with Trump all that went away.
When the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs apologizes publicly for walking with the President in public, there is a huge problem. When the Sec Def disagrees with the President in public, there is a huge problem. Trust this retired Army Officer, there is a huge problem.