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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWhy is Trump meddling with the jailed Special Forces?
Could he be currying favor with the soldiers as he begins building his Palace Guard? I KNOW, where is my tinfoil hat..but I am wondering why he would even care.....what's in it for him?
..."Late last week, President Trump pardoned two service members and reversed the demotion of a third, each of whom was accused of war crimes."
https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2019/11/19/trump-pardons-people-accused-war-crimes-because-he-thinks-war-should-be-savage/
Deb
(3,742 posts)2naSalit
(86,056 posts)Erik Prince's pals. I suppose he has assembled a "private army" with the help of that mercenary leader.
Claritie Pixie
(2,199 posts)He pardoned these men for a reason; they owe him now and he will expect loyalty in whatever he asks them to do.
You're not crazy for thinking this way.
bobGandolf
(871 posts)I'm not the only one whose ears perked up.
NightWatcher
(39,343 posts)That's who he's messaging.
beachbumbob
(9,263 posts)military off. The really do take war crimes seriously
JHB
(37,131 posts)Last edited Wed Nov 20, 2019, 09:39 AM - Edit history (1)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mathew_L._GolsteynKilling of Alleged Afghan bomb-maker
In 2010 Golsteyn was part of Operation Moshtarak, a campaign to liberate the town of Marjah, Helmand Province, from the Taliban. In February, a bomb killed two Marines who had been working under Golsteyn's command. Golsteyn and his team searched the nearby village for the bomb-maker, whom they believed was a local named Rasoul. A tribal leader alleged that Rasoul was a member of the Taliban. According to the Army, the leader did not want Rasoul released and feared that if he was released that he would kill the tribal leader. According to an interview with the CIA in 2011, Golsteyn claimed that another soldier had later taken the alleged bomb-maker off base, and then shot and killed him. Golsteyn said that he later helped burn the body. After this revelation, the Army investigated the case, but closed it with no charges in 2013.[9]
In November 2016, Golsteyn was a guest on a Fox news show. Asked by host Bret Baier if he had killed the suspected bomb-maker, Golsteyn responded "yes". Golstyen's admission led to the Army reopening the case.[9]
Who was president when it happened? At the time of the initial investigation? At the time it was re-opened?
Wingnuts have held Golsteyn up as an example of how Democrats in general and Obama specifically persecute All-American Heroes(tm) Doing Their Duty(tm). It thumps the same drum Republicans have been beating since Vietnam, about how "chickenshit gummint byoooreacrats stabbed us in the back/made us fight with one arm tied behind our back". This crowd also isn't too keen on the idea of Americans being prosecuted for war crimes under any circumstances, no matter what was done.
In other words, once again Trump plays to his base and in his own mind gets another dig at Obama.
Freedomofspeech
(4,218 posts)I had unfriended her on facebook years ago before this all came out because she was always spewing garbage about President Obama. These evil men should have never been pardoned....trump is telling the world that war crimes are just dandy.
Ilsa
(61,675 posts)with removing the trident designation from those SEALs that they know are guilty, whether trump intervenes or not. It looks like the Navy is trying to police their own, no matter what trump wants.
the armed services would react negatively to his meddling in their affairs.
cynatnite
(31,011 posts)I'm guessing he's doing it for his rabid base.
UTUSN
(70,496 posts)NCLefty
(3,678 posts)And this doesn't curry favor with any good (honorable) soldiers. It should piss them off to no end. More bad actors will do horrible things now and the entire military will be smeared with it.
pecosbob
(7,511 posts)JustABozoOnThisBus
(23,283 posts)He looks at a Special Forces soldier, and sees himself. It's like a mirror of his young, vigorous, self.
If it weren't for some bone spurs, you wouldn't believe what a special soldier he would have been.
This from a former, very un-special, army draftee.
bobGandolf
(871 posts)thanks, brought a big smile to my face.
GoCubsGo
(32,061 posts)https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/insurgents-lobbied-trump-for-war-crimes-pardons-with-little-pentagon-involvement-officials-say/2019/11/21/b6a0c62e-0c75-11ea-bd9d-c628fd48b3a0_story.html
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/trump-is-sabotaging-his-military/2019/11/21/6b46199e-0cad-11ea-97ac-a7ccc8dd1ebc_story.html
NewJeffCT
(56,827 posts)She's an NYU professor and a leading expert on authoritarianism
Link to tweet
?s=20
Authoritarian leaders love to issue pardons and amnesties (Mussolini 1925, Pinochet 1978, Trump 2017-) because it ties pardoned people to them, frees up more criminals to serve them, and sends the message that lawlessness is valued.