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 ...
I’m sure President Trump gives two schittts about these dinosaurs.
You remember correctly. And if I recall correctly Obama fired about 200 officers.
The letter — signed by William Perry, Leon Panetta, Chuck Hagel, Jim Mattis and Lloyd Austin ...
Yeah, like Speaker Johnson is going to listen to these commies.
If anyone politicized the military it was Obama/Biden and they’re the ones that fired some good leaders like Flynn!
Deep state protectors and eternal conflict propagandists
Mike Johnson is not going to hold hearings on Trump. Not happening.
You remember correctly. And if I recall correctly Obama fired about 200 officers.
It’s a big mistake for people to usually assume people that disagree with us or are our enemies are weak.
My uncle fought at the Bulge and saidd the germans wwere tough as nails.
That doesn’t mean they weren’t the bad guys.
It just means that bad guys can be tough.
It’s smarter to know that going into a fight than to think otherwise.
I agree. tough guys can be communists and socialists...and whatever.
Ironically, this is an article from the AP that demonstrates exactly why it no longer is welcome in the Oval Office or on Air Force 1.
Even funnier, is the author’s name: Lolita Baldor - which I assume is the shortened form of “Baldordash.”
Please assure me none of them currently have security clearances.
No, let’s have hearing into Obama’s mass firings of officers for reasons that were never entirely clear.
When I was in Officers were transferred or reassigned all of the time. The commander gets to pick his team. This is malarkey.
recall the soldiers in that group and court martial them. Tell Hagel to F. off.
The former defense secretaries are all hacks. They never put America first. Sorry to any Mattis fans.
Shut up! Obama fired over 400 officers his first term. STFU already. President Trump is just making our military great again.
No clearance for you!
might be a clue in that.
Obammy did the same thing
He got rid of conservative generals and replaced them with woke mookabookers.
The ones Trump is axing.
The “former defense chiefs” should be investigated for their perfidy (and sedition?). How is it said: show me the person and I will show you the crime?
Gentlemen!
We must protect our Phony Baloney jobs!
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