Hey Gen. McMaster, you ever dance with the devil in the pale moon light?

[DefenseLawyer]

I ask that of all my generals. I just like the sound of it.

[Phoenix61]

1. McMaster's statement was accurate

It just didn't address what the Post reported. Just a guess, he agreed to make a statement but refused to lie.

[DefenseLawyer]

2. That's some great spin

If you act with integrity, you don't have to spin.

[Phoenix61]

4. Military officers are exceptionally gifted at spin

I had no idea how political the military was until I worked for them for ten years. McMaster, cleverly IMO, found a way to follow orders and keep his integrity. He is active duty and refusing a direct order, with no cover, doesn't seem like a viable option. Bet he's putting his retirement package together.

[nycbos]

7. He would likely face a court martial if he refused a direct order.

[Phoenix61]

10. Yep,

He could say it was on the grounds he was being ordered to lie but if everyone else is lying he would be toast.

[geek tragedy]

11. Not if he was ordered to violate the UCMJ nt

[DefenseLawyer]

13. I was just following orders.

That has such a familiar ring to it.

[nycbos]

15. The problem is what Trump did wasn't illegal.

The President has the authority to declassify info.

I gather that will change as a result out this conversation. I told think the people who wrote those regulations ever thought we would have a president who was willing to put our security at risk because of boasting.

[nycbos]

5. I think the point is that is statement...

... was technically the truth. Sources and methods weren't discussed. The Post article never said they were. The information was revealed in away that the source could be traced.

The WH has been caught lying many times.

That is why McMaster chose his words VERY carefully.

[Phoenix61]

8. Exactly! nt

[DefenseLawyer]

9. Do you think he served his country by giving that carefully worded statement?

Giving political cover to the President by intentionally misleading the country, knowing full well what had actually happened? "Oh but I didn't lie, my statement was technically accurate". I'm not impressed.

[nycbos]

17. Being active duty puts him in a no win situation.

If he was a civilian he could up and quit.


I don't know if he has that option.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

12. He didn't lie but his intention was to mislead.

[MattP]

3. H.R. flushed his integrity down the toilet the story was not false

He should have stepped up to thr mic and resigned and he would have gone down in in history as a hero instead of a footnote

[lostnfound]

19. Let's wait and see. Maybe he's a mole.

Doesn't really have the resume for it but who knows. These are strange times.

[BumRushDaShow]

6. You need the clip

[WinkyDink]

14. He recently attended the Colin Powell School of Selling One's Integtity.

[Captain_New_York]

16. Let's not forget

Gen McMaster was active duty and could not turn down the NSA job without leaving the Army, he probably thought that it was better for the country to have at least one adult in the room than the barrel of monkeys ( my apologies to monkeys) currently swinging around the white house. Personally he was in a Lose/Lose situation, his motivation was more than likely to keep the country from destruction

Think about it, all military is not evil and many have sacrificed life, limb, mental health, family and finances to serve this country. Gen McMaster is one of them

BTW, this comes from the vantage point of an Paratrooper Enlisted Medic, Armor Officer, Son/Grandson of a long line of Officers & father of a West Point grad active duty officer. As any organization the military has faults and all members have their failings. Gen McMaster is not perfect in anyway; but, I would not attack his character

[DefenseLawyer]

18. Should I hum "God Bless America" while I read that?

Sorry, but playing "sacrifice of dead soldiers" card to defend a guy just because he's in the military doesn't fly with me. You either act with integrity or you don't. Yeah, he was in a tough spot. We've all been in tough spots. You either act with integrity or you don't. That's like to people that defend a cop that murders someone by saying "Police risk their lives every day". Yes, they do. That doesn't excuse on of them murdering someone.