Posted on 11/24/2019 2:10:40 PM PST by jazusamo
Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper asked for the resignation of Navy Secretary Richard V. Spencer on Sunday after losing confidence in him over his handling of the case of a Navy SEAL accused of war crimes in Iraq, the Pentagon said.
Spencer’s resignation came in the wake of the controversial case of Chief Petty Officer Edward Gallagher, a Navy SEAL who was accused of war crimes on a 2017 deployment. He was acquitted of murder but convicted in July of posing with the corpse of a captive.
Esper asked for Spencer’s resignation after learning that he had privately proposed to White House officials that if they did not interfere with proceedings against Gallagher, then Spencer would ensure that Gallagher was able to retire as a Navy SEAL, with his Trident insignia.
Spencer’s private proposal to the White House — which he did not share with Esper over the course of several conversations about the matter — contradicted his public position on the Gallagher case, chief Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Hoffman said in a statement.
Esper said in the statement that he was “deeply troubled by this conduct.”
“Unfortunately, as a result I have determined that Secretary Spencer no longer has my confidence to continue in his position," Esper said. "I wish Richard well.”
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
SECNAV is appointed by POTUS and confirmed by the Senate. Esper did not request Spencer’s resignation without consulting the White House. It was likely Trump’s staff that contacted SECDEF about the backdoor negotiations.
It's RADM Green's choice as to whether he will resign at this point. Esper has directed Green to stop any proceedings against Gallagher, and allow him to retire as a Navy Seal. It is an honor Chief Gallagher has earned. Green can swallow his giant ego and move on, or quit. I hope he chooses the later.
The Secretary of the Navy offers the Secretary of Defense that if the Secretary of the Navy is left to make their own decision on something concerning a third party then they will do something they think uis favorable towards that third party.
It suggests two things:
1. Otherwise what?; othewise what would the Secretary of the Navy do??
2. The Navy Secretary’s lack of respect for the authority of the Defense Secretary, as his authority can be bargained over.
If you are going to jump the chain of command, you must inform your immediate senior you are going over his head and why you are doing it.
Where do you see that? Esper wanted the review
Yep. It isn’t a good thing when the first the boss hears about it is in the newspapers.
Directly from the Pentagon Spokesman Jonathan Hoffman:
Esper has also ended the Navy's plans to hold a review board, which would recommend to the head of Naval Special Warfare Command whether to revoke Gallagher's SEAL trident, Hoffman said."Secretary Esper's position with regard to UCMJ [Uniform Code of Military Justice], disciplinary, and fitness for duty actions has always been that the process should be allowed to play itself out objectively and deliberately, in fairness to all parties," Hoffman said in the statement. "However, at this point, given the events of the last few days, Secretary Esper has directed that Gallagher retain his Trident pin."
At the point it was revealed the board was compromised, he had little choice. That, and he's doing it so POTUS doesn't have to, like a good SECDEF should (and SECNAV should have).
On principle I agree.
But you don’t start a fight with the military while going through an impeachment trial.
Now all the perfumed princes are going to be gunning for trump.
See “The Crowm”, s3e5, for an analysis of required number of 100% loyal troops necessary to effect a coup in Great Britain in 1966. The perfumed princes probably can’t do it and would have to play along with deep state operatives.
I just love happy endings
Fire every last swinging dick above the rank of captain at the Pentagon.
I hope the hell President Trump researches the background of the recommendation for replacement. A U.S. Ambassador? Have a bad taste in my mouth for people in that position.
Baloney. Ask the retired military on FR. This guy does not get fired without the President’s approval.
[SECNAV was hoping to give the illusion that Admiral Green was able to oppose Trump and disobey his orders, while in reality, the board was to be a kangaroo court. That is NOT acceptable.]
Thank you, Mr. President, for recognizing a true American hero!
Buh-Bye, Mr. Spencer. Did you forget who is Commander-in-Chief?
Perpetual KP!
Fact....
No, a deal wasn’t “made”. The Sec navy pitched the White House a childishly set up conspiratorial deal (Trump to pretend he was hands off, but in return he would rig the outcome). But if it makes you happy to think Espers found out about it at happy hour at a DC bar that Trump and Sec nav made a deal behind his back and so he charged in...and Trump had nothing to do with it... what do I care?
You’re being naive.
Chain of command. He knew better.
This whole thing has reminded me of the time the Air Traffic Controllers tried to strike and jack up President Reagan, who just fired their azzes!
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