Posted on 11/24/2019 4:58:43 AM PST by EyesOfTX
There only one solution to this, and that his the firings of these men. – The New York Times reported on Saturday that both the Secretary of the Navy, Richard Spencer, and the Admiral serving as Commander of the Navy Seals, Collin Green, are in open defiance of their Commander-in-Chief, whose name is Donald J. Trump. If the story is true – which, of course, is always a pure crap shoot when it comes from the news fakers at the New York Times – then there really is only one possible proper outcome here, and that is for both men to be fired as soon as possible.
According to the Times report:
The secretary of the Navy and the admiral who leads the SEALs have threatened to resign or be fired if plans to expel a commando from the elite unit in a war crimes case are halted by President Trump, administration officials said Saturday.
The Navy is proceeding with the disciplinary plans against the commando, Chief Petty Officer Edward Gallagher, who counts Mr. Trump as one of his most vocal supporters. After reversing a demotion in recent days, the president suggested on Thursday that he would intervene again in the case, saying that the sailor should remain in the unit.
The threats by the Navy secretary, Richard V. Spencer, and the commander, Rear Adm. Collin Green, are a rare instance of pushback against Mr. Trump from members of the Defense Department. Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper and Gen. Mark Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, scrambled to come up with a face-saving compromise this past week in the hope that Mr. Trump could be persuaded to change his mind.
A “face-saving compromise,” huh? That’s what the top command at the Pentagon is all about now – saving face when their plans to railroad a man whose 1-rank demotion had been recently restored by their President?
Gallagher, for those not familiar with his case, had been accused of committing war crimes while serving in Iraq, and put through a long and very costly court-martial. The jury ultimately acquitted him of the alleged crimes, but cited him for – I kid you not – posing for a photo with the body of a dead terrorist fighter, and issued a demotion as punishment.
After the President restored his rank, the Navy brass announced early this past week that they were convening a review board to evaluate Gallagher’s fitness for remaining in the Seals. The President tweeted in response to that news:
“The Navy will NOT be taking away warfighter and Navy Seal Eddie Gallagher’s Trident pin. This case was handled very badly from the beginning. Get back to work!”
Based on leaks coming from disloyal jackasses at the Pentagon, the toadies at the Times characterize the Navy’s response to that tweet as follows:
One argument that officials said may be relied on is the assumption that a tweet does not constitute a formal presidential order. Mr. Esper and General Milley conveyed to the president that if he followed up that tweet with a direct order, there would be huge consequences: Mr. Trump would lose Mr. Spencer and Admiral Green, further infuriate his top military leadership and do untold damage to decades of military justice doctrine, according to administration officials.
Oh, so, by exercising his clear Constitutional authority to intervene in this ridiculous persecution of a Navy Seal by the Navy brass, the Commander-in-Chief would “infuriate his top military leadership” and “do untold damage to decades of military justice doctrine,” eh? What about when the leadership engages in open defiance of their chain of command because it is angry? Wouldn’t that be doing untold damage to the system?
That part about infuriating the military leadership, given that it no doubt comes from someone in that military leadership, sure sounds like an open threat, doesn’t it? Since when do the leaders in our military get to openly threaten the Commander-in-Chief?
If – and again, it is a big “IF” considering the corrupt source – this story is true, then it becomes just one more reason to be very concerned about the loyalties of the current leadership at the Pentagon. When added to the refusal by military leaders to properly deal with Alexander Vindman and his leaking activities at the National Security Council, it paints a very disturbing picture.
Appearing at a public event late Saturday, Secretary Spencer denied having threatened to resign, but not the other aspects of this very disturbing story.
Here’s a link to that video:
Spencer also noted that “I work at the pleasure of the President.” He sure doesn’t act like he believes that to be true. Perhaps the President should exercise his pleasure.
That is all.
[Edit: As I was compiling this piece, President Trump issued the tweet below.]
Donald J. Trump ✔ @realDonaldTrump Navy Seal Eddie Gallagher will be on @foxandfriends this morning at 7:30 A.M. Have no fear, all will end well for everyone!
11.2K 6:11 AM - Nov 24, 2019 Twitter Ads info and privacy 4,968 people are talking about this
These two senior commanders have gotten way too full of themselves. That happens all too often when large egos achieve high ranks. They start thinking their stuff doesn't stink.
Whether the CINC is right or wrong to intervene in this case is irrelevant. These two officers have set a terrible example and should be severely reprimanded. Otherwise they are telling everyone in uniform "Hey, don't like what your leadership is doing? Go make noise outside and see if you can put pressure on them." That will break down discipline and respect.
The entire narrative again, is like theS STATE Dept, with it’s rules going ahead of the President, and making their own policy. Same with the FBI,, or the former Justice Dept public servants. The Navy should be able to make the recommendations they think would be best, but the President, needs to be able to pardon whomsoever he feels he has the desire to do, with not much explanation. God forgives a LOT of people I would NEVER consider forgiving.
They seem to want to be fired. I’m guessing the Deep State put them up to this, so a hasty or angry dismissal by Trump can be spun as “disrespect to our military leaders” by an opposition that desperately needs to open another front in the war they are losing. Trump seems to be wise to their game and isn’t taking the bait.
Defy a lawful order of the CINC? Go ahead. Mutiny, do we still keelhaul?
Obama purged 197 officers in 5 years:
https://www.investors.com/politics/editorials/197-military-officers-purged-by-obama/
There’s a long history of generals having to be put in their place by civilian leadership. Some that come to mind without Googling; Andrew Jackson, Lincoln, Roosevelt, Churchill, Truman, others. However, they all prevailed. And, it’s imperative that Trump not allow himself to be bullied or threatened by his senior leadership Admirals/generals. De Gaulle had to essentially disband the French Foreign Legion for insurrection and attempted coup. We must honor and respect our military but at the same time keep a watchful eye on its senior leadership. Same with CIA, FBI, State Dept, etc, etc....
Don't let this insubordination fester on and on....it will only provide round-the-clock, unending feasts for the vicious pirhanas in the enemedia.
Leni
It bears repeating often. The reason we vote for a presidential candidate: judges and generals. The president picks federal judges and general officers. Vote wisely.
MSNBC? I was going to say CNN. Six of one half dozen of the other, but either way this REAR Admiral needs to retire.
Maybe President Trump should demote the Admiral, take his trident, and retire him.
If so, they should be stripped of rank immediately and court marshaled.
President Truman demonstrated this when he fired McArthur. He should have, and he did. Truman was one of America's greatest Presidents. He was attacked relentlessly while in office. His greatness was recognized universally only in retrospect.
So be it with Trump.
His greatness surpasses that of Truman.
Hussein did what Clinton did and Carter did. He purged the military of officers whose thoughts were not “correct.” Leftists fear the military. Always. They know they have to have it but they fear it and being a top officer in a leftist regime is a fragile thing, even if you toady up to the rulers and do all their dirty work for them. The Reds in the USSR always feared the military and had two parallel armies to check each other and NKVD/KGB people all through them but they still betrayed the Reds in the end. They are right to fear the military but it makes an officer’s career and even life dangerous.
I’M NOT SURE THIS PROSECUTION IS AS RIDICULOUS AS IT SEEMS. Why did they acquit the man of every crime but taking a photo with a dead combatant? Why did this trial take so long and cost so much? How did this guy have such a long career if he was such a monster? Did this guy just snap one day? if so he needs treatment not prosecution. too many unanswered questions to even think about an opinion of Edward Gallagher.
The military in the United States does not need to follow the orders if the Commander in Chief? A very quick lesson should be taught here.
Both of these guys have been exposed for what they are. Even if they give the president a break and don’t resign(s), why keep them around to do more damage? It’s similar to Lt. POS Vindman still showing up for work (subverting the president and constitution). What the heck kind of bizarro universe is DC?
As Admiral Ernest King stated at the beginning of WW II, “When the shit hits the fan, that’s when they hire the SOBs.”
Trump has no choice other than to fire them.
“If the story is true – which, of course, is always a pure crap shoot when it comes from the news fakers at the New York Times – then there really is only one possible proper outcome here, and that is for both men to be fired as soon as possible.”
https://twitter.com/secnav76: I would like to further state that in no way, shape, or form did I ever threaten to resign. That has been incorrectly reported in the press. I serve at the pleasure of the President.
I am calling FAKE NEWS on this story
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