Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Former defense chiefs call for congressional hearings on Trump’s firing of senior military leaders
Associated Press ^ | 2/27/25 | Lolita C. Baldor

Posted on 03/02/2025 4:55:16 AM PST by Libloather

WASHINGTON (AP) — Five former secretaries of defense are calling on Congress to hold immediate hearings on President Donald Trump’s recent firings of the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and several other senior military leaders, according to a letter obtained by The Associated Press.

The five men — who represented Republican and Democratic administrations over the past three decades — said the dismissals were alarming, raised “troubling questions about the administration’s desire to politicize the military” and removed legal constraints on the president’s power.

Late last week, Trump fired Air Force Gen. CQ Brown Jr. as chairman of the Joint Chiefs. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth followed that by firing Adm. Lisa Franchetti, chief of naval operations; Gen. Jim Slife, vice chief of the Air Force; and the judge advocates general for the military services.

Hegseth has defended the firing of Brown, saying that other presidents made changes in military personnel and that Trump deserves to pick his own team. Hegseth said he fired the JAGs because he didn’t think they were “well-suited” to provide recommendations when lawful orders are given.

The letter — signed by William Perry, Leon Panetta, Chuck Hagel, Jim Mattis and Lloyd Austin — said there were no real justifications for the firings because several of the officers had been nominated by Trump for previous positions. And it said they had exemplary careers, including operational and combat experience.

“We, like many Americans — including many troops — are therefore left to conclude that these leaders are being fired for purely partisan reasons,” said the letter, adding that “we’re not asking members of Congress to do us a favor; we’re asking them to do their jobs.”

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


TOPICS: Conspiracy; Local News; Military/Veterans; Travel
KEYWORDS: bloodmoney; chevron; chuckhagel; courtmartialthem; deutschebank; fired; followthemoney; foreignagents; foreignlobbyists; hambrechtandquist; hearings; huntersaccomplices; incitingsedition; interference; jimmattis; leaders; leonpanetta; lloydaustin; lolitabaldor; military; militarycontractors; pineislandcapital; sabotage; undermining; williamperry
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-70 next last
To: Libloather

They are still using the Democrat playbook. Find something they can use and then attack. They were certainly quiet when Obmama was doing it so what is their real objection?

Perhaps they are losing their ability to control things.

If it has not already happen cancel their security clearance and ban any military personal to communicate with them.


21 posted on 03/02/2025 5:19:11 AM PST by CIB-173RDABN (I’ll take a wait and see...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Libloather
It's chilling and appalling the people who thi o they are important t because they once held a job that was important.

holding an important job in my book, doesn't make you any less a socialist, communist or a$$-hole of a person.

22 posted on 03/02/2025 5:19:32 AM PST by Ikeon ( Why don't they, do what they say? Say what they mean? One thing leads to another. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Libloather

Are they planning on calling Obama first?


23 posted on 03/02/2025 5:23:18 AM PST by Mouton (There is a new sheriff and deputy in town now!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Libloather

Someone send them a dictionary ... and bookmark the page with ‘mandate’!


24 posted on 03/02/2025 5:24:04 AM PST by SMARTY (In politics, stupidity is not a handicap. Napoleon Bonaparte I)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: CIB-173RDABN

I agree with revoking their security clearances, but I see no valid reason to ban military members from communicating with them.


25 posted on 03/02/2025 5:26:59 AM PST by rackatoot
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: Libloather

Yes. Let’s start with why Harry Truman fired Douglas MacArthur.

Seriously, these clowns can go pound sand. Trump can fire ANYONE he wants under his command. If they thought a lawsuit would work they would have filed a lawsuit. Calling for a hearing is like pissing into hurricane force winds.


26 posted on 03/02/2025 5:31:32 AM PST by LeonardFMason
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Libloather

From WIKI:

The Armed Services Committee and the Foreign Relations Committee of the U.S. Senate held a joint inquiry into the military situation and the circumstances surrounding MacArthur’s relief, and concluded that “the removal of General MacArthur was within the constitutional powers of the President but the circumstances were a shock to national pride”.[1] In having MacArthur relieved for failing to “respect the authority of the President” by privately communicating with Congress, Truman upheld the president’s role as preeminent.


27 posted on 03/02/2025 5:32:25 AM PST by sasquatch (Do NOT forget Ashli Babbit! c/o piytar)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: LeonardFMason

You beat me by one minute!


28 posted on 03/02/2025 5:33:24 AM PST by sasquatch (Do NOT forget Ashli Babbit! c/o piytar)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: Libloather

Haven’t they learned yet that a bunch of failure signing a letter is just asking for trouble? Ask how those 51 intell guys are doing.


29 posted on 03/02/2025 5:34:25 AM PST by McGavin999 ( A sense of humor is a sign of intelligence, leftists have no sense of humor, therefore……)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: sasquatch

Closer to 2


30 posted on 03/02/2025 5:34:39 AM PST by sasquatch (Do NOT forget Ashli Babbit! c/o piytar)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: Libloather

Pull their security clearances.


31 posted on 03/02/2025 5:35:19 AM PST by McGavin999 ( A sense of humor is a sign of intelligence, leftists have no sense of humor, therefore……)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: sasquatch

See 28. It’s early.


32 posted on 03/02/2025 5:35:59 AM PST by sasquatch (Do NOT forget Ashli Babbit! c/o piytar)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: Libloather

Two words- “General MacArthur.”


33 posted on 03/02/2025 5:38:21 AM PST by fini
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SMARTY

Even better....send them the Constitution. Ask them to find the section where their opinions on this issue matter.


34 posted on 03/02/2025 5:38:45 AM PST by ealgeone
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: Libloather

Darth Covid: Lloyd Austin, the SecDef who went AWOL.


35 posted on 03/02/2025 5:41:26 AM PST by Theophilus (covfefe)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dforest

Double standard, you suppose?

If LIEberals did not have a double standard, they would have not standard at all!


36 posted on 03/02/2025 5:45:36 AM PST by Taxman (MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! SUPPORT THE FAIRTAX!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Libloather
Five former secretaries of defense... ...performed a Kabuki dance...
37 posted on 03/02/2025 5:46:42 AM PST by philman_36 (Pride breakfasted with plenty, dined with poverty and supped with infamy. Benjamin Franklin)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Libloather

The Military Industrial Complex is not happy!

BTW, does anyone remember this type of outcry when Obama gutted the military of war-fighters?


38 posted on 03/02/2025 5:47:33 AM PST by PTBAA
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Libloather

Obama purges 197 officers in 5 years - https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/4278322/posts


39 posted on 03/02/2025 5:47:41 AM PST by Pollard (Zone 6b)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Leaning Right

Amen, “the pleasure of the President” is justification a plenty!


40 posted on 03/02/2025 5:50:09 AM PST by Theophilus (covfefe)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-70 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson