I think it's very good that Trump visited the troops in Iraq. I just think he should have done it two years ago. Or last year. Or any time before now. But it's at least good that he did it. What isn't good is anyone making a big deal out of him doing what is supposed to be done and that all other presidents did since the Iraq War began.
But yes, it's good that he's there. What's not good is lying to the troops about them getting pay raises for the first time in ten years, when the truth is that they've gotten one every year for almost the past 30 years. (One has to figure they know that and know they were lied to.) What's also not good is posting a video of his official Twitter account that revealed a picture of him with covert U.S. Navy SEAL Team Five deployed there, putting lives at risk. Also not good is turning his troop visit into a campaign rally. Not good too is coming to Iraq and not meeting with any Iraqi officials. And not good is being cavalier about the government being shut down and not concerned when it will re-open so that people can actually get paid, just so he can get his big, beautiful all. Or artistic slat structure. Or beaded curtain. Or whatever it is now - that Mexico was supposed to pay for. And which he's not going to get. Not good too is not a single word from Trump about there now being a second immigrant child who died in U.S. custody. And as a bonus Not Good from the Trump family is that although there is a White House directive that no one is to take a vacation while the government is shut down, Ivanka and Jared Kushner were seen ignoring this and leaving on vacation. Or to put it another way, we can let Charlie Sykes, a well-regarded radio host and contributing editor of The Weekly Standard -- and a regular contributor to MSNBC -- have his say on MSNBC's Hardball last night. "I wish he had done it earlier. I wish they did not have to shame him into doing it. But after a weekend of being alone in the White House, being petty and petulant...Unfortunately, at this moment where you could have presidential grace and leadership on display, he chose to be petty and petulant as well. I mean, standing in front of troops describing America's commitment as being "suckers" is really deeply offensive when you think about it. Not only did he lie to the troops and politicize the event -- lie to the troops about the salary increases -- but to describe American commitments as being suckers. I mean, you just step back and reflect on the crass transactionalism of a President of the United States who would imply that men and women who have served their country in the Middle East, perhaps given their lives, were suckers. And I mean, this is the tone deafness that he has. So to your point, yes, I think there are a lot of Americans who are more than willing to draw down, but he way it is being done: the betrayal of our allies, the lack of a process, the lack of consultation with the military, the lack of respect for somebody like General James Mattis, and that performance today. ...Yes, the pictures are wonderful, and maybe that's all that people will take away from it, but I think it was an unfortunate event on top of a series of unfortunate events" But yes, it's good that Trump finally went to visit the troops in Iraq after two years, because he was forced to.
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AuthorRobert J. Elisberg is a political commentator, screenwriter, novelist, tech writer and also some other things that I just tend to keep forgetting. Feedspot Badge of Honor
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