Here's some good advice for smart freepers...
Posted on 09/03/2015 10:03:40 PM PDT by Steelfish
Donald Trump: I Will Know The Difference Between Hamas And Hezbollah 'When It's Appropriate'
4 September Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump did not take kindly in a radio interview on Thursday to being asked to identify the affiliations of various militant leaders in the Middle East, saying the host was asking “a gotcha question”.
Discussing Islamist extremism, conservative talk-radio host Hugh Hewitt told Trump he was looking for the next president to identify the leaders of major militant groups, naming the heads of Islamic State, Hezbollah, al-Qaida and its Nusra Front wing in Syria.
“Do you know the players without a scorecard yet, Donald Trump?” asked Hewitt, who will co-moderate the next official Republican presidential debate on 16 September in California.
“No, you know, I’ll tell you honestly, I think by the time we get to office, they’ll all be changed. They’ll be all gone,” Trump replied.
“The names you just mentioned, they probably won’t even be there in six months or a year,” he added.
Hassan Nasrallah has headed Hezbollah since 1992.
Hewitt pushed Trump on the question, asking him: “So the difference between Hezbollah and Hamas does not matter to you yet, but it will?”
Trump replied: “It will when it’s appropriate. I will know more about it than you know, and believe me, it won’t take me long.”
The billionaire real estate mogul has risen to the top of the polls in a crowded Republican field more than a year before the November 2016 election.
When Hewitt said these were not meant as “gotcha” questions, Trump responded: “Well, it sounded like gotcha. You’re asking me names that, I think it’s somewhat ridiculous, but that’s OK. Go ahead, let’s go.”
(Excerpt) Read more at theguardian.com ...
Why is your candidate totally unprepared to protect this country, if he got a 3:00 AM phone call? If Hillary said this you’d be howling.
I have a long time to make my decision and since I live in the Pacific Northwest what I think probably won’t come into play until maybe the general election...maybe. It’s been pretty much left coast here for a long time.
I would give someone a pass who missed Julani, but the other three, Zawahiri, Nasrallah, and Baghdadi, is a must know for anybody who considers themselves informed on the news. Anybody who has read newspapers for the last 15 years and did not suffer from dementia should know these names. It would be like a candidate in 1968 not knowing who Ho Chi Minh was or saying they never heard of that Nasser fellow. They would have been laughed out of the race.
I spent most of my life in my own business...the construction business. Wishful thinking is one thing, reality is another..
Me Too.. So true.. Thats WHY? I’m for Ted Cruz.. exactly why..
Trump may be able to DO “some things” IF was Emperor.. He’s not..
That pesky old Constitution has not been abrogated.. YET..
Under TRUMP maybe..
He wants to rebuild the military as a big stick and wants a great Military person to advise.
Its early inthe campain. Outside of Cruz, who in the race is 100% up to speed in that area, one of the GOPe ones?
Fair I suppose but certainly not honest.
The same gotcha quiz thing was done to W if everyone will remember. The media is horrible.
Here's some good advice for smart freepers...
People steeped in the national political punditry love to pretend that their database is the gate to Mecca. We’ve elected a string of gatekeepers. How’d that work out?
Most children left a fortune squander it. You’re very soon to be in an extreme minority Nick.
I like Cruz but I’m worried about his ability to prevail with a congress that he has thoroughly pissed off. Maybe that isn’t impossible...but something that occurred to me.
Also, does he have the power to inspire? I don’t know yet.
Disgusting as he is, Obama inspired a lot of people. It’s an important ingredient.
I liked Walker but maybe he isn’t ready for the big leagues yet.
Wanting to know if he knows the difference between Hezbollah and Hamas is a gotcha question? Not by a long shot. I can understand about not knowing some of the more obscure groups and their leaders, but not knowing the difference between Hamas and Hezbollah, not knowing what the Quds force in Iran is, and making some ridiculous comment about all of the players being different in 6 months (when the leaders of many of these groups have been there for years) does reveal a significant lack of knowledge about the Middle East and Islamic terrorism. And his unwillingness to address that shortcoming directly made him sound positively Obama-esque.
I don't expect any candidate to know everything about everything. But I do expect them to be honest about where they are lacking, and at least be able to articulate a reasonable plan of action for getting up to speed. And the Middle East is one of the most important foreign policy messes that a new president will need to be ready to handle.
If Donald wants credibility on these issues, he is going to have to do better than just say he will look for the next Douglas MacArthur...
It's nothing t brag about. And certainly not a reason to vote for someone as president.
You’re very soon to be in an extreme minority Nick.
What minority is that? Because they may not want to stick their heads out and say it, but a lot of Republicans are never going to vote for a liberal Democrat liar in a primary. When the real stuff happens it will be much different for Trump, if he is still in the race.
"Donny, you're out of your element!"
You can’t have a secure country without having a secure border.
On that simple, but most important question,Trump seems to be the only one who “Gets” it.
Of course he is not in the pocket of the cheap labor lobby like Bush, Rubio and Walker.
This thread has deteriorated into troll heaven..
When have “conservatives” been TROLLS on Free Republic?...
Conservatives VETTING their OWN CANDIDATES... HARSHLY...
Have you lost your senses?...
Been that way here for at least 16+ years I know of...
Maybe YOU should start your OWN liberal website..
Trump is like the Eagles.
What’s important when the 3 am calls comes in is whether the guy getting the call has the right values, so that he’ll make the right decision.
Obama and Hillary knew all about Benghazi and what was going on there - they didn’t make the right decision because they’re anti-american.
So I would feel quite comfortable having Trump answer that call... or Cruz, or Carson, or Walker and several others.
On that simple, but most important question,Trump seems to be the only one who “Gets” it.
In Your little world that might be true..
I notice you failed to mention Ted Cruz.. on purpose..
Ted has been saying these things before TRUMP even became a republican.. you know.... IF he is..
It’s half-pint stuff.
And Hugh only knows it for specific shows like this b
He is not that well versed and knowledgeable himself.
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