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Retired Gen. McChrystal: Trump's attacks on military service members are 'disturbing'
The Hill ^ | November 28, 2018 | Emily Birnbaum

Posted on 11/28/2018 9:21:20 AM PST by jazusamo

Retired Gen. Stanley McChrystal on Wednesday denounced President Trump's attacks on military service members, including the late Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and retired Adm. William McRaven, who oversaw the operation that killed Osama bin Laden.

"His discussions on Bill McRaven, as well as his previous discussions on John McCain and others have been something that’s deeply disturbing to a lot of thoughtful people,” McChrystal said on ABC's Powerhouse Politics podcast. “The fact that he would take on people in this vitriolic manner, I think is pretty upsetting to people."

"And the fact that he would be dismissive of the kinds of service that people like John McCain and others have given is also disturbing," McChrystal added. "I don’t think it builds up the kind of trust that military people depend upon."

The president earlier this month aggressively criticized McRaven, who over oversaw the 2011 operation that killed bin Laden. After McRaven called Trump's antagonistic relationship with the media a "threat to democracy," Trump accused him of political bias towards Democrats and suggested the U.S. took too long to hunt down bin Laden.

The McRaven controversy came as Trump has been fielding continued criticism over his relationship with the military, as his detractors slam his comments about prominent veterans, his decision to skip a visit to a World War I cemetery in France last month and the fact that Trump has not yet visited troops overseas.

McChrystal, who just released a new book called "Leaders: Myth and Reality" about prominent figures throughout history, told ABC that he does not agree with Trump's recent assertion that no one has been more "with" the military than he has. Trump has frequently pointed to administration's large budget for the military as a sign of his unflagging support.

“[Funding is] not the best metric of whether you support the military," McChrystal said. "The size of the defense budget is not a measure of patriotism or connection with those in service."

“I don’t think that President Trump has developed as deep — a real connection of trust — with the military as perhaps he thinks he has," he added.


TOPICS: Editorial; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: 201811; afghanistan; lifer; mcchrystal; mcchrystaltraitor; mcraven; mcraventraitor; obama; obamabuttboy; obamageneral; officer; presidenttrump; remf; rop; rulesofengagement; trump
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To: rstrahan

Retired Gen. Stanley McChrystal’s discussions have been something that’s deeply disturbing to a lot of thoughtful people. The fact that he would take on the President in this vitriolic manner, I think is pretty upsetting to people.


21 posted on 11/28/2018 9:34:23 AM PST by Vehmgericht
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To: jazusamo

Isn’t McChrystal on cnn regularly?


22 posted on 11/28/2018 9:34:27 AM PST by V_TWIN
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To: KavMan
WTF is with all these GENERALS being Liberals?

They're all government employees?

23 posted on 11/28/2018 9:34:37 AM PST by Menehune56 ("Let them hate so long as they fear" (Oderint Dum Metuant), Lucius Accius (170 BC - 86 BC))
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To: jazusamo

Trump talks too rough for this general?

There, folks, is the reason why we can’t win in Afghanistan.

“Trump said something mean about my friends!”

Sounds like a 10 year old girl.

This guy was a general.

Our enemies in Afghanistan are smiling about this.


24 posted on 11/28/2018 9:34:38 AM PST by blueunicorn6 ("A crack shot and a good dancer")
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To: jazusamo

Just another gun grabber with stars on his shoulder.

You can count on anyone who kissed Clinton’s and Obama’s ring for stars as being domestic enemies to the republic.


25 posted on 11/28/2018 9:34:41 AM PST by TADSLOS (Six out of seven dwarfs arenÂ’t happy.)
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To: jazusamo

Gen McChrystal flooded gays into the military.


26 posted on 11/28/2018 9:34:45 AM PST by DannyTN
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To: Future Snake Eater

Thanks for posting your personal experience and for your service.

There were many threads here about what you posted, especially his restrictive rules of engagement.


27 posted on 11/28/2018 9:35:32 AM PST by jazusamo (Have You Donated to Keep Free Republic Up and Running?)
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To: jazusamo

Same old playbook. SomeonecattacksxTrump first and when Trump fires back suddenly Trump is the aggressor and how disturbing it is. SHEESH!!


28 posted on 11/28/2018 9:35:56 AM PST by vigilence (Vigilence)
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To: Bookshelf

Go and watch the movie: War Machine. It was the basic story of McChrystal and his ‘period/era’ in Afghanistan. It was a satire-type movie but you have to laugh over the characterization of McChrystal. A number of individuals have made the comment that since the war-period of the 1990s (Balkans, Iraq, Afghanistan)....that the Army has brought a number of leaders up who simply weren’t qualified for the rank.


29 posted on 11/28/2018 9:36:03 AM PST by pepsionice
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MAGA!

Let's Wrap This Baby Up, Folks!

Please bump the Freepathon or click above to donate or become a monthly donor!

30 posted on 11/28/2018 9:36:20 AM PST by jazusamo (Have You Donated to Keep Free Republic Up and Running?)
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To: jazusamo

Harris and Gillibrand - you can’t question the ethics of women
Comey - you can’t question the ethics of the FBI
Brennan - you can’t question the intelligence community
CNN- you can’t question the practices of media
Roberts - you can’t question the politics of the judiciary
McChrystal - you can’t question the ethics of military or its members

America is run by the deep state - which you can’t question.


31 posted on 11/28/2018 9:37:59 AM PST by PGR88
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To: jazusamo

Before I get accused of the same thing, I have the utmost respect for our retired and active duty military personnel. Anyone willing to make that sacrifice for our country is deserving of our respect.

BUT That service does NOT give you some special pass or privilege to be above criticism, reproach or entitle you to instant credibility on anything and everything.

Argue with McRaven about military strategy, no. But refuse to be cowed when he enters an arena that is outside his lane. HELL YA.


32 posted on 11/28/2018 9:38:44 AM PST by FlipWilson
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To: jazusamo

sit down, McChrystal. McRaven decided to become a political animal, which puts his service record in second seat, and opened the door for anyone to criticize his political opinions.


33 posted on 11/28/2018 9:39:11 AM PST by blueplum ( "...this moment is your moment: it belongs to you... " President Donald J. Trump, Jan 20, 2017)
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To: jazusamo
McChrystal, who just released a new book called "Leaders: Myth and Reality"...

And there is the entire reason for this non-story story; to push a book no one is going to read.

34 posted on 11/28/2018 9:40:23 AM PST by Flick Lives
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To: montag813
Isn’t this the guy who covered up Pat Tillman’s cause of death?

If I remember correctly you're right, or at least was accused of it.

35 posted on 11/28/2018 9:41:40 AM PST by jazusamo (Have You Donated to Keep Free Republic Up and Running?)
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To: jazusamo

I don’t remember Trump ever attacking a serving military officer. Only those who had retired and who were speaking as private citizens.


36 posted on 11/28/2018 9:41:52 AM PST by DoodleDawg
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To: RatRipper
Didn’t Truman attack McArthur?? Lincoln, McClellan??

Fired? Yes. Publically attacked? No.

37 posted on 11/28/2018 9:42:46 AM PST by DoodleDawg
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To: jazusamo

meh

The guy who couldn’t control his troops


38 posted on 11/28/2018 9:45:04 AM PST by Nifster (I see puppy dogs in the clouds)
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To: jazusamo

This just in: John McCain is still dead.


39 posted on 11/28/2018 9:45:45 AM PST by BenLurkin (The above is not a statement of fact. It is either satire or opinion. Or both.)
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To: jazusamo
Sounds like the General drank from the same well of elitist, pseudointellectual water as did the past Administration.

His use of the phrase, ". . . thoughtful people," implies that the current President is not "thoughtful" in the manner desired by Progressives; yet, facts on the ground seem to dispute his premise. That must just gall such a "thoughtful" General who failed to achieve missions to improve the critical conditions America faced during his time of duty.

40 posted on 11/28/2018 9:46:37 AM PST by loveliberty2 (`)
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