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Trump’s obsession with WW2 generals strikes sour note with historians
oan ^ | February 25, 2016 | Emily Flitter

Posted on 02/25/2016 4:56:21 PM PST by sparklite2

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Presidential candidate Donald Trump admires the late Douglas MacArthur and George Patton, both World War Two generals. They were winners, unpredictable, and not especially nice guys, he says in campaign speeches. But Trump's pledge to imitate their styles sets modern-day military experts on edge.

Born in 1946, a year after World War Two ended, Trump often praises MacArthur and Patton for the blunt ways he says they commanded respect. "George Patton was one of the roughest guys, he would talk rough to his men," Trump told an audience last week in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. "His men would die for him," Trump added. "We don't have that anymore." He said Patton would wipe out Islamic State without hesitation were he still in command.

But military historians and retired generals say Trump has an inflated view of the two military men and especially their relevance to an era of modern warfare when armies rely more on technology and when battle successes and failures and civilian casualties are communicated far more rapidly than when MacArthur and Patton commanded troops 70 years ago.

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


TOPICS: Military/Veterans
KEYWORDS: tdsincomingbigtime; trump
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To: DannyTN
These military "historians" might want to consider that by reason of relentless training and aggressive tactics, Patton's Third Army had the lowest casualty rate of any comparable combat unit. A lot of men died in WWII but fewer died for Patton than for a lot of other generals.
21 posted on 02/25/2016 5:04:13 PM PST by hinckley buzzard
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To: sparklite2

Hey, our generals these days kiss Obama’s ass and worry if they have enough homos and transgenders “manning” their combat brigades.


22 posted on 02/25/2016 5:04:33 PM PST by TTFlyer
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To: sparklite2

How many historians have a won a war? And some generals are nothing more than political opportunists who have to be replaced when the real fighting starts. I don’t respect their opinion just because they are retired generals.


23 posted on 02/25/2016 5:04:49 PM PST by Moonman62 (The US has become a government with a country, rather than a country with a government.)
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To: txnativegop

It’s so terrible to want to emulate men who just kept winning against formidable obstacles.


24 posted on 02/25/2016 5:04:50 PM PST by AmericanVictory (Should we be more like them or they more like we used to be?)
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To: sparklite2
 photo pattrump.jpg
25 posted on 02/25/2016 5:06:06 PM PST by rineaux (Take back America)
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To: Jim Robinson

Great comment.

These “historians” are leftwingers.


26 posted on 02/25/2016 5:06:12 PM PST by MarvinStinson
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To: sparklite2

As far as WWII commanders go, I’d rather have Erich von Manstein running the country.


27 posted on 02/25/2016 5:06:21 PM PST by Hoodat (Article 4, Section 4)
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To: traderrob6

Just answer the question. What is so hard?


28 posted on 02/25/2016 5:06:43 PM PST by central_va (I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn.)
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To: sparklite2

America knows how to deal with scum. The problem we have too much islam, DinDu, blm, GibsMeDat, leftist scum running America at this time.


29 posted on 02/25/2016 5:06:55 PM PST by soycd
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To: DannyTN

Trump aint worth a pimple on Patton’s ass. Draft Dodger.


30 posted on 02/25/2016 5:06:55 PM PST by Dead Dog
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To: sparklite2
But military historians and retired generals say Trump has an inflated view of the two military men and especially their relevance to an era of modern warfare when armies rely more on technology and when battle successes and failures and civilian casualties are communicated far more rapidly than when MacArthur and Patton commanded troops 70 years ago.

Inflated view of Patton and MacArthur? Are they serious?

The second part, Trump never said or implied such a thing.

31 posted on 02/25/2016 5:07:02 PM PST by sockhead
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To: sparklite2

Its never ending. If Trump likes bagels its probably racist. :-)


32 posted on 02/25/2016 5:07:20 PM PST by Georgia Girl 2 (The only purpose of a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you should never have dropped)
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To: equaviator; laplata

I said nothing about them being winners or losers, merely pointing out their personality traits.

Patton was at least honest about it.

As for Trump liking these guys : birds of a feather . . . LOL

Have a wonderful evening! :)


33 posted on 02/25/2016 5:07:33 PM PST by txnativegop (Tired of liberals, even a few in my own family.)
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To: laplata

After Korea, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghaniztan the military does not have leaders who know how to win anymore. They are just political butt kissers.


34 posted on 02/25/2016 5:08:04 PM PST by georgiarat (Obama, providing incompetence since Day One!)
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To: The Sons of Liberty; Diogenesis; sport; Don Corleone; Excuse_My_Bellicosity; xzins; BwanaNdege; ...

bmp


35 posted on 02/25/2016 5:08:30 PM PST by MarvinStinson
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To: sparklite2

Next they’ll say George Washington took far too many risks crossing the Delaware River without amphibious vehicles ! Opinions are like as...es. Egad.


36 posted on 02/25/2016 5:09:02 PM PST by major-pelham
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To: txnativegop
Trump wants to emulate MacArthur, a selfish, arrogant individual and Patton, who for all of his combat leadership skills, was a bombastic prima donna.

Grant was a drunk too, but like the other two, he got the job done.

37 posted on 02/25/2016 5:09:21 PM PST by hinckley buzzard
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To: JBW1949

yes it does, but WHAT KIND OF LEADER? (for emphasis not screaming)

Whom will Trump serve? you, the People of this country, or himself and his cronies (and we all have cronies to which we show favoritism)


38 posted on 02/25/2016 5:09:48 PM PST by txnativegop (Tired of liberals, even a few in my own family.)
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To: traderrob6

Interesting who his idols were.


39 posted on 02/25/2016 5:10:39 PM PST by altura (Cruz for our country)
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To: hinckley buzzard

Yes, and Grant’s administration was the primary reason for the 1913 Civil Service Act which has harmed our country very badly.


40 posted on 02/25/2016 5:10:51 PM PST by txnativegop (Tired of liberals, even a few in my own family.)
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