Politics

[Wheels]

Who’s this referring to?

I was wrong. 138m views.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2004642794862961123

 

[VertigoBE]

Everyone knows Trump says bombastic shit leading into negotiations (or demands).. much of which is never actually intended.. what he wants to set the other party back on its heels at the beginning of the engagement and force them to fight to regain ground... if he doesnt get what he wants, then you have to be concerned about what his next actions might be (he is unpredictable in some ways, and extremely predictable in others)...

The US/Trump isnt going to take over or occupy Greenland.. and was never going to.. He is simply being an asshole (something he is exceptional at) in an effort to get Denmark to continue down the path it is already on..

What Trump wants (and has been extremely clear about) is for Denmark to take the defense of Greenland seriously as well as the defense of NATO (specifically the US and Canada) against russian missile, sub, and/or bomber attacks..

and he has gotten exactly that..

In the last year additional Danish naval forces (frigates and helos) have deployed to Greenland. Denmark has announced the intent to station fighters/interceptors in Greenland soon. Denmark committed to a $4B (USD) increase in spending on artic defense in Greenland (drones, naval vessels, and intercept missiles). Denmark has agreed to place its Artic Command headquarters in Greenland along with another new stand up unit that will be placed under the Joint Artic Command. Denmark is funding underseas communication cables that will physically connect Denmark and Greenland defense units. Denmark is also now planning joint training exercises with other NATO forces specific to the defense of Greenland.

Trump wants this to continue, and for Denmark to go further..

That said, where I think Trump would be more than happy to negotiate back to Greenland being available for the placement of US defense personnel and tools..

The US pulled back radar stations and other defense tools from Greenland when the cold war ended.. there is a bit of argument/debate as to whether or not everyone agreed that the threat no longer existed and that NATO was ok without those personnel and tools in place, or whether or not Europe would step up and start taking responsibility (something Europe clearly fell short on across almost all fronts in terms of defense once the cold war ended)..

Id bet that if Greenland simply responded by telling Trump "if you want over the horizon radar capability and you want missile intercept capability and sub intercept capability in Greenland you are welcome to re-occupy locations X, Y, and Z that you occupied for 40+ years post WW2. We'd love to see a few thousand US troops that would bolster our local economy, and we'd love to see the defense contracts that would service those defense tools that would also bolster our economy. Mr Trump, heres the deal.. you provide the people and the tools, and we'll provide the turf... we're in this together..".. he'd bite on that deal hook, line, and sinker..

and honestly, that sounds like a win-win for everyone... Denmark gets a lot of money.. the US gets improved defense.. and we're not talking about enough people or "stuff" to even cause a minor inconvenience to the residents of Greenland (Greenland has a total of about 57,000 people living there and a land mass of 836,000 square miles)..

I don't see how anyone could have had any other interpretation of Trump's remarks around Greenland than what you eloquently wrote out.

 

[Certus]

I was wrong. 138m views.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2004642794862961123

Thanks

 

[mdwest]

Not yet. Hegseth issued a formal letter of censure and began formal proceedings that could result in a reduction in his rank and thus a cut in retirement pay. He is currently a retired Navy Captain (O6).

I am not sure how this flies in whatever turns out to be the final judicial review. All the stupid video does is tell members of the service not to obey illegal orders. Sure there is political implication all over the thing, but the exact wording is what every soldier is expected to guard against. Just following orders has no longer been a refuge since Nuremburg.

It may even be, because he is a sitting senator, he is not actually subject to the UCMJ like other retirees.

This is another of these valueless distractions that i believe harms Hegseth and the administration. The video had zero impact. This action will make it a major news item for weeks. Even the Senate Armed Services Committee chair, Roger Wicker (R MS), believes such punishment is inappropriate and unwarranted. We'll see.

The far better COA (in my opinion) would have been to wait until Kelly is right at the height of his next campaign, and then drop social media bombs all over him for his behavior... remind people of his antics and ask them if thats really the best they can do in selecting a US senator...

at the end of the day its all about dollars... use his behavior to stiffle campaign contributions by reminding people over and over again of every negative thing he has done while in office...


If we assume they reduce him to even an E1, does anyone really think that harms him financially in any way? He's a former astronaut that at one time was pulling up to $100K per speaking engagement (he made $1.7M in the two years prior to becoming a senator alone), that according to Forbes has a net worth of $34M.. his O6 retirement pay is pocket change compared to his other income streams.. he also has book royalties, an aerospace company that he has a significant stake in, and a number of other things that provide him very handsome paychecks regularly..

Theyre just trying to embarrass and humiliate him... and all they are accomplishing is pissing people off (and not just democrats)...

 

[Brent in Az]

I was wrong. 138m views.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2004642794862961123

I hope that guy has someone watching his back.

 

[Mekaniks]

The far better COA (in my opinion) would have been to wait until Kelly is right at the height of his next campaign, and then drop social media bombs all over him for his behavior... remind people of his antics and ask them if thats really the best they can do in selecting a US senator...

at the end of the day its all about dollars... use his behavior to stiffle campaign contributions by reminding people over and over again of every negative thing he has done while in office...


If we assume they reduce him to even an E1, does anyone really think that harms him financially in any way? He's a former astronaut that at one time was pulling up to $100K per speaking engagement (he made $1.7M in the two years prior to becoming a senator alone), that according to Forbes has a net worth of $34M.. his O6 retirement pay is pocket change compared to his other income streams.. he also has book royalties, an aerospace company that he has a significant stake in, and a number of other things that provide him very handsome paychecks regularly..

Theyre just trying to embarrass and humiliate him... and all they are accomplishing is pissing people off (and not just democrats)...

Here is Kelly’s response from social media…

 

[Brent in Az]

Here is Kelly’s response from social media…

View attachment 737107

Ok

I find that last paragraph full of the typical Democrat hypocrisy that so defines them.

The Democrat party and their social media lapdogs do/did everything they can to censure Donald Trump and his supporters.

Go pound sand Kelly. You don't like it now that it's being done to you?

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

I for one, stand with Mark Kelly.

 

[Hunt anything]

I don't see how anyone could have had any other interpretation of Trump's remarks around Greenland than what you eloquently wrote out.

You must remember the Trump haters only hear what they want to hear and take EVERY word he says literally.
Personally I’m not a Trump the man fan but many of his policies I like and some I don’t and have learned to somewhat decipher what the hell he’s’ talking about.

 

[Hunt anything]

I for one, stand with Mark Kelly.

Kinda on the fence with this one;
1) everyone should already know they don’t have to follow an unlawful order.
But
2) they seemed to be telling every soldier, airman, sailor, marine and coast guardsmen from E1 on up they can be their own JAG and declare an order they don’t like as unlawful.

 

[barryk]

This should help make a New York property owner feel secure.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2008031475057439076

Unbelievable.

 

[mdwest]

Here is Kelly’s response from social media…

View attachment 737107

Thats exactly how I expected him to respond..

And... Frankly.. thats a major WIN for Kelly.. D's will rally to him (no matter how centrist or left they are).. independents will stand by him, and centrist R's will either support him on this or will remain neutral... only the hard right will stand opposed..

He plays the victim card (even though it was he that originally went on the offensive, and what he doesnt like is Trumps counter offensive), and he reminds everyone about why he is a public figure in the first place (NASA, NAVY, etc.. been a servant his entire life).. and reminds everyone of how hes suffered for his service his entire life with everything from being "shot at" to having a wife get shot, etc..

I personally have no use for Kelly at all.. I didnt care for him long before he decided to do the illegal orders BS.. but.. he's playing his cards very well here.. and the Trump Administration isnt really doing anything other than ensuring that Kelly gets re-elected..

 

[skydiver386]

2) they seemed to be telling every soldier, airman, sailor, marine and coast guardsmen from E1 on up they can be their own JAG and declare an order they don’t like as unlawful.

This is exactly what they were doing. Because they differ with the current CIC, they felt free to encourage disobedience within the ranks.

If Republicans had done this EXACT thing when a Democrat was in the White House, do you think similar action wouldn't be taken against them?

 

[Hunt anything]

This is exactly what they were doing. Because they differ with the current CIC, they felt free to encourage disobedience within the ranks.

If Republicans had done this EXACT thing when a Democrat was in the White House, do you think similar action wouldn't be taken against them?

Unfortunately the double standard is so commonplace it’s to be expected.

 

[barryk]

The Pentagon has cut Senator Mark Kelly's retirement pay, as punishment for his illegal orders video

Good...maybe other people in positions of elected power and influence will learn to keep their mouths shut and temper their comments that can have a chaotic effect on military morale. Used to be common sense....now we have to teach this? Reason why these senators and congressmen were not given a "heads up" on 'Operation Absolute Resolve'. And another thing.....we need some kind of litmus test that proves you love this country before you can hold any kind of elected position...bastards.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

Kinda on the fence with this one;
1) everyone should already know they don’t have to follow an unlawful order.
But
2) they seemed to be telling every soldier, airman, sailor, marine and coast guardsmen from E1 on up they can be their own JAG and declare an order they don’t like as unlawful.

Regarding #1, many professions have a continuing education requirement. For example, I am a registered professional engineer and I have to take quite a few hours of continuing education courses, including one course on ethics, rules and regulation. Little or nothing changes year to year, but I have to take a course and a test. With the turnover in the military, particularly in the enlisted ranks, I see nothing wrong with military veterans that are currently serving in Congress, to remind the troops about unlawful orders.

Regarding #2, that is your opinion and you are certainly entitled to it. I don't see it that way. Don't instructors in basic training tell recruits this very same message?

I voted for Trump, multiple times. So don't write me off as a Trump hater. I'm just very disappointed in his childish behavior. I very much doubt that I would vote for Mark Kelly. However, I don't think he did anything wrong and given his military record and service, he's earn my respect.

 

[Betterinthebush]

Kinda on the fence with this one;
1) everyone should already know they don’t have to follow an unlawful order.
But
2) they seemed to be telling every soldier, airman, sailor, marine and coast guardsmen from E1 on up they can be their own JAG and declare an order they don’t like as unlawful.

In the Marines we called the shitbirds that are always standing outside the C.O.’s office with the Marine waiting on the First Sergeant to be brought in for office hours, giving “legal” advice “sea lawyers”. Seems like there was an attempt to graduate a whole fleet full of them with Kelly’s comments.

Did Kelly have the right to say what he said? Yes. But, an officer should know better than to place doubt in an idiot private’s brain. What he did was reckless and endangered the integrity of the chain of command. An officer (at least a good one) doesn’t conduct himself in a manner like that.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

Good...maybe other people in positions of elected power and influence will learn to keep their mouths shut and temper their comments that can have a chaotic effect on military morale. Used to be common sense....now we have to teach this? Reason why these senators and congressmen were not given a "heads up" on 'Operation Absolute Resolve'. And another thing.....we need some kind of litmus test that proves you love this country before you can hold any kind of elected position...bastards.

"Good...maybe other people in positions of elected power and influence will learn to keep their mouths shut and temper their comments that can have a chaotic effect on military morale."

Does this apply to Trump as well?


And another thing.....we need some kind of litmus test that proves you love this country before you can hold any kind of elected position...bastards.

Kelly's service records suggests a strong love of country. What has Trump done or Hegseth for that matter that comes anywhere close to this. Heck, Sen Duckworth gave two legs (which I think is more than an arm and a leg). I don't like her politics, but I respect her.

 

[Red Leg]

Good...maybe other people in positions of elected power and influence will learn to keep their mouths shut and temper their comments that can have a chaotic effect on military morale. Used to be common sense....now we have to teach this? Reason why these senators and congressmen were not given a "heads up" on 'Operation Absolute Resolve'. And another thing.....we need some kind of litmus test that proves you love this country before you can hold any kind of elected position...bastards.

In the Marines we called the shitbirds that are always standing outside the C.O.’s office with the Marine waiting on the First Sergeant to be brought in for office hours, giving “legal” advice “sea lawyers”. Seems like there was an attempt to graduate a whole fleet full of them with Kelly’s comments.

Did Kelly have the right to say what he said? Yes. But, an officer should know better than to place doubt in an idiot private’s brain. What he did was reckless and endangered the integrity of the chain of command. An officer (at least a good one) doesn’t conduct himself in a manner like that.

How about this officer who many on the right praised? Isn't this a direct challenge to good order and discipline and undermines trust in the chain of command? Many on the right were outraged he was charged under UCMJ.

 

[skydiver386]

How about this officer who many on the right praised? Isn't this a direct challenge to good order and discipline and undermines trust in the chain of command? Many on the right were outraged he was charged under UCMJ.

He got spanked for it just as he should have. Partisan Politics has no place in the Military.