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Old 02-25-2020, 05:38 AM
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Thumbs up 5 times the Navy SEAL admiral who oversaw the Osama bin Laden raid has lambasted Trum

5 times the Navy SEAL admiral who oversaw the Osama bin Laden raid has lambasted Trump
By: David Choi - Business Insider & Yahoo News - 02-24-20
Re: https://www.yahoo.com/news/5-times-n...184400205.html

Photo link: https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/lZ...728603daf06e5f
William McRaven, then head of US Special Operations Command, speaks to members of Special Operations Task Force-Southeast in Camp McCloskey, Logar province, Afghanistan, November 28, 2013.
By: US Army photo by Sgt. Jared Gehmann

* Retired US Navy Adm. William McRaven, former head of US Special Operations Command, has delivered fierce criticisms of President Donald Trump in several opinion columns.

* Here are a few of the criticisms McRaven has already leveled against Trump.

Retired US Navy Adm. William McRaven, former head of US Special Operations Command, has delivered fierce criticisms of President Donald Trump in several opinion columns published in The New York Times and Washington Post.

McRaven's 36-year military career was marked by several high-profile accomplishments, including his leadership role in Operation Neptune Spear, targeting al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden, in 2011.

He retired from the Navy in 2014 and became the chancellor of the University of Texas system in 2015. Two years later, he said he would leave that job, citing health concerns.

McRaven has taken issue with Trump's policies and demeanor throughout his presidency, writing several striking opinion columns and criticizing him in interviews. While it is not uncommon for retired military officers to speak for or against a sitting president, McRaven's comments have attracted significant attention due to his seniority and service.

Trump has responded by denigrating McRaven's military service and accusing him of being politically biased, calling the retired admiral a "Hillary Clinton fan" and an "Obama backer" during a Fox News interview in November.

"Wouldn't it have been nice if we got Osama bin Laden a lot sooner than that? Wouldn't it have been nice?" Trump said.

McRaven has said he "did not back Hillary Clinton or anyone else" during the 2016 presidential election and denied reports he was on the short list to be Clinton's vice presidential running mate.

Here are a few of McRaven's criticisms of Trump:

Trump's attacks against the media are "the greatest threat to democracy in my lifetime."

President Donald Trump points at CNN senior White House correspondent Jim Acosta.

Kevin Lamarque/Reuters

Weeks after Trump's inauguration, McRaven expressed concern over the president's continued attacks against the media.

"The president said the news media is the enemy of the American people," McRaven said in a speech at the University of Texas on February 21, 2017. "This sentiment may be the greatest threat to democracy in my lifetime."

His comments followed tweets by Trump that characterized several news outlets as "The FAKE NEWS media" and "the enemy of the American people."

McRaven majored in journalism at the University of Texas at Austin.

"You have embarrassed us in the eyes of our children."

REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

In a Washington Post opinion column in August 2018, McRaven criticized Trump and the White House's decision to revoke the security clearance of former CIA Director John Brennan.

Brennan, who was deeply critical of Trump, described the move as an effort to "suppress freedom of speech & punish critics."

The White House said its decision was based on Brennan's "erratic conduct and behavior" and that it questioned his "objectivity and credibility."

"Mr. Brennan's lying and recent conduct, characterized by increasingly frenzied commentary, is wholly inconsistent with access to the nation's most closely held secrets and facilitates the very aim of our adversaries, which is to sow division and chaos," the White House said at the time.

McRaven described Brennan as "one of the finest public servants" and dared the White House to revoke his own security clearance.

"I would consider it an honor if you would revoke my security clearance as well, so I can add my name to the list of men and women who have spoken up against your presidency," McRaven wrote.

"A good leader sets the example for others to follow," McRaven added. "A good leader always puts the welfare of others before himself or herself."

"Your leadership, however, has shown little of these qualities," McRaven wrote of Trump. "Through your actions, you have embarrassed us in the eyes of our children, humiliated us on the world stage and, worst of all, divided us as a nation."

Trump "may want to look at the examples of the two presidents that came before him."

President George W. Bush stands with firefighters on a burnt fire truck in front of the World Trade Center during a tour after the 9/11 attacks, September 14, 2001.

Doug Mills/AP

During a CNN interview in June, McRaven admitted he and Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush "didn't agree ... on every issue."

But McRaven said that despite their differences, the two presidents displayed intrinsic qualities that kept him from questioning their character.

"They were men of great integrity and great character and were always trying to do what was right for the nation," McRaven said.

McRaven contrasted those presidents with Trump, who he hoped would take on some of values of previous commanders-in-chief.

"And my hope and my prayers continue to be that President Trump will see that integrity and character and doing what is right for the nation," McRaven said.

McRaven added that he believed Trump "tries to do" what he believes is right for the country but that "he may want to look at the examples of the two presidents that came before him."

America is "under attack from the president."

In a New York Times opinion column, titled "Our Republic Is Under Attack From the President," published on October 17, McRaven warned that Trump's policies were a stain on the US and its values.

In the column, McRaven recounted an instance this month in which a retired four-star general gave a candid assessment of the president.

"One retired four-star general, grabbed my arm, shook me and shouted, 'I don't like the Democrats, but Trump is destroying the Republic,'" McRaven wrote. "Those words echoed with me throughout the week."

McRaven pointed out what he said were examples of the US neglecting its duty to be the "the protectors of the less fortunate."

"If our promises are meaningless, how will our allies ever trust us? If we can't have faith in our nation's principles, why would the men and women of this nation join the military," McRaven wrote. "And if they don't join, who will protect us? If we are not the champions of the good and the right, then who will follow us? And if no one follows us — where will the world end up?"

"Good men and women don't last long."

Nicholas Kamm/Reuters

In another opinion column published in The Washington Post on February 21, McRaven criticized the Trump administration's decision to fire former acting Director of National Intelligence Joe Maguire.

Maguire, a retired US Navy vice admiral, served in the military for 36 years, much of it as a Navy SEAL. He officially resigned as the acting intelligence chief after Trump reportedly berated him in the Oval Office and made clear that he would choose an alternative official to replace him.

"I have known Joe for more than 40 years. There is no better officer, no better man and no greater patriot," McRaven wrote in his column.

In a briefing with lawmakers, Shelby Pierson, Maguire's aide and head of the DNI's election security unit, revealed that Russia was interfering ahead of the 2020 presidential election, according to a New York Times report. Pierson reportedly told members of the House Intelligence Committee on February 13 that Russia is trying to secure Trump's re-election.

According to multiple news reports, Trump grew incensed at Maguire over the intelligence briefing, out of concern that Democrats would weaponize the information against him.

"The president chose Maguire," McRaven wrote in his column. "And, like most of these good men and women, he came in with the intent to do his very best, to follow the rules, to follow the law and to follow what was morally right."

"But, of course, in this administration, good men and women don't last long," McRaven added. "Joe was dismissed for doing his job: overseeing the dissemination of intelligence to elected officials who needed that information to do their jobs."

(Here's the link from the original post on Business Insider)
Re: https://www.businessinsider.com/will...edium=referral

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Personal note: Trump is walking on glass right now making remarks about our Generals in our service ranks. The man has never stepped on a field of warfare. Flat-footed personal like him just can manage this type of action - but he can play golf with flat feet.
His mouth overloads his ass when criticizing our military leaders. For that he looses the respect of his Generals and in turn sends alarming signals throughout the military establishments. Our supreme leader Trump has never been where these leaders and their men have been. Without our Military Leaders in the Field and their troops - nothing could be accomplished. It would be best to leave well enough alone and start working to prevent future conflicts. We have to put these fire storms out and bring our people home (alive) and not in caskets.

I also heard PI is giving us the boot and China is taking over our ports and land-bases.
I can see Trump didn't too much to prevent loosing those bases.

Boats
__________________
Boats

O Almighty Lord God, who neither slumberest nor sleepest; Protect and assist, we beseech thee, all those who at home or abroad, by land, by sea, or in the air, are serving this country, that they, being armed with thy defence, may be preserved evermore in all perils; and being filled with wisdom and girded with strength, may do their duty to thy honour and glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

"IN GOD WE TRUST"
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