Posted on 12/12/2016 9:45:31 PM PST by ErikJohnsky
Center for Security Policy President Frank Gaffney, a frequent guest on Breitbart News Daily, has come out strongly against the nomination of Exxon-Mobil chairman Rex Tillerson for Secretary of State. In his own Secure Freedom Minute podcast, Gaffney saw Tillerson’s nomination as President-elect Donald Trump’s first serious misstep, due to his business and personal connections with Russian President Vladimir Putin:
Donald Trump has lined up an impressive array of demonstrably capable people to fill the senior ranks of his administration. His instincts have served him well, until now.
In the face of a political firestorm fanned by reports that the U.S. intelligence community is convinced Vladimir Putin’s Russia interfered in the recent presidential election campaign, Mr. Trump is considering making Exxon-Mobil chairman Rex Tillerson his Secretary of State. While Mr. Tillerson is clearly an extraordinary executive, his business dealings and personal ties with Putin would make him a real liability for the President-elect.
Three Republican Senators – John McCain, Lindsey Graham and Marco Rubio – have already expressed concerns about a Tillerson nomination. That’s enough to sink it. More will doubtless pile on.
At this time especially, Mr. Trump needs a Secretary of State unencumbered by any perceived pro-Kremlin alignment. So does our country.
(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...
Why are conservatives such busybodies these days?
John McCain, Lindsey Graham and Marco Rubio – have already expressed concerns about a Tillerson nomination.
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My, my, seems the gang of eight buddies are at it again. Reason enough to like Tillerson for me when these three idiots are against him. I’ll go with Trump’s instincts any day over McCain, Graham, and Rubio.
We contained the Soviet Union for 4 decades based on a strategy that was first articulated in Dean Acheson's Long Telegram. The Soviet Union imploded for many reasons. We didn't "beat" the Soviet Union or Russia.
Our objective was not to make only America the lone influential world power. If that is the criterion, then we failed. China is certainly rivaling the US in global economic and military power. We viewed the threat of Communism to ourselves and our allies as the reason for containing the imperialistic and totalitarian ambitions of the Soviets and liberating the many people that they oppressed.
It seems like Trump might not have a problem with there being another world power; not very Reagan-like.
Trump is dealing with the existing reality. Russia and China are world powers. They are not going away. We had relations with both during the Cold War, including under Ronald Reagan.
Gaffney is Joe Biden, or some Democrat progIslam; he's a patriot hero, and if he's against Tillerson, so am I.
Gaffney is a pundit and sometime politically appointed government employee, not a hero. Gaffney began his government career in the 1970s, working as an aide in the office of Democratic Senator Henry M. Jackson, under Richard Perle. From August 1983 until November 1987, Gaffney held the position of Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear Forces and Arms Control Policy in the Reagan Administration, again serving under Perle.
In April 1987, Gaffney was nominated to the position of Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs. He served as the acting Assistant Secretary for seven months. During this time, despite his official post, he was excluded by senior Reagan administration officials from the then-ongoing arms control talks with the Soviet Union. Gaffney was ultimately forced out of the Pentagon; The Washington Post observed at the time that within four days of Frank Carlucci's appointment as Secretary of Defense, "Gaffney's belongings were boxed and he was gone". Following his departure from government, he immediately set about criticizing Ronald Reagan's pursuit of an arms control agreement with the USSR.
Putin enables Muslim Islam terror all over, especially when he's helping Iran build a nuke.
Putin is not an enabler of radical Muslim terrorists. Have you ever heard of the Chechen Republic? Or the First and Second Chechen Wars? Russia has a Muslim problem. It is far more vulnerable to Islamic motivated attacks. Muslims make up 10-15% of the population.
Russia is selling multiple nuclear reactors to Iran, which is not a good thing. Of course, the US was in the process of selling nuclear reactors to the Shah prior to his removal. The Russians have always sought to have political influence in Iran beginning with its support of the Tudeh party in Iran. It was one of the reasons we helped to overthrow Mosaddegh and install the Shah. The Soviet Union sought to expand their influence in the region after WWII.
Rex Tillerson as SecState poses no great threat to our country. He will work for the President and implement Trump's policies. He is not some autonomous actor who determines what our foreign policy will be throughout the world. He will do the President's bidding like any other Cabinet Officer. If he does not, Trump will fire him since he serves at the discretion of the President.
I totally agree on both counts. Tillerson and Bolton.
Mobile-Exxon has mandatory retirement at 65. Rex has about a year left. If he leaves before that date, the business ties with Putin end.
Personally, I do not think it is a bad thing to be on good terms with Russia.
Rex gave a very good speech to the Economic Club in DC. Opened my eyes to the energy needs of nations and what is happening around the world. Rex is a wise pick.
Bolton is a neon-con. A world class businessman like Rex, prefers a peaceful world. You think only of Putin’s influence on him, not that he could have a stronger influence on Putin.
Excellent point. I believe Russia has issues with Islamic terrorism as well.
If McCain and Graham are against this guy then I’m all for him.
Exactly! Very smarmy globalists!
George F. Kennan wrote the Long Telegram.
mass murdering KGB dirtbag like Putin
Worse than Reagan’s buddy Gorbachev?
Frank Gaffney is stuck in 1985.
Right. Gaffney is stuck back before Reagan made peace with the Soviets. Reagan got along with Gorbachev. Why is it wrong to try to get along with the Russians today?
Are you sure you are talking about Russia? Have you been sleeping these past 7 + years... Everything you typed is a picture frame over our present uniparty administration. When you poke the bear you better have a plan A, B, and C to win. The bear nation takes no prisoners.
Probably a little above my pay grade, but I disagree. First of all, Lindsay, McCain and Rubio have been wrong about everything all the time. Their “concern” alone would make me favor Tillerson. Second, I don’t understand this desire to continue with the Cold War. We had a problem with the Soviets because they wanted to spread socialism all over the world. Reagan tossed them onto the dustbin of history. Now, we have Russia, which is a major world power, but doesn’t really have any particular designs on the world other than regular maximization of their power and influence and wealth the same as every other country in the world. I don’t see a problem with it. Are they as free and democratic as we are? No, but they never have been, so we’re not going to change that.
Trump would be smart to have an alliance with Russia to check China...seems to be what he’s heading toward.
SPOT ON and if McLame and Gramnesty hate this pick, I’m all for him!
More pants-wetting by the #NeverTrumpers
Tillerson is NOT tied to Putin, and he is one of the few few in the world who can challenge Lavrov intellectually. Lavrov is twice as smart as Putin and half again as wily. And four times smarter and three times wilier than any of the other people whose names were bandied about as Secretary of State.
While Russia is not our enemy like Hillary, 0bama McCain and Graham claim, they are not our friend either, and will only respect strength from our President and Secretary of State. Having dealt with them successfully as a businessman, he (Tillerson) knows their trick and is smart enough to counter them.
Is that why Netanyahu and Putin seem to get along these days? And why would you knock Russia for keeping out the nuslim refugees? Damn smart if you ask me.
If Gaffney is on the same side as McCain and Graham, then he might want to rethink what he’s saying.
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