Pentagon caught flat-footed on Trump's transsexual ban

[TomCADem]

Source: MSN/Associated Press

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump abruptly declared a ban on transgender troops serving anywhere in the U.S. military, catching the Pentagon flat-footed and unable to explain what it called Trump's "guidance." His proclamation, on Twitter rather than any formal announcement, drew bipartisan denunciations and threw currently serving transgender soldiers into limbo.

"Please be advised that the United States Government will not accept or allow Transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the U.S. Military," the commander in chief tweeted Wednesday.

Trump wrote that he had consulted with "my generals and military experts," but he did not mention Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, the retired Marine general who less than one month ago told the military service chiefs to spend another six months weighing the costs and benefits of allowing transgender individuals to enlist. At the time, Mattis said this "does not presuppose the outcome of the review," but Trump's tweets appeared to have done just that.

The Pentagon has refused to release any data on the number of transgender people currently serving. A Rand Corp. study has estimated the number at between 1,320 and 6,630 out of 1.3 million active-duty troops.

Read more: http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/pentagon-caught-flat-footed-on-trumps-transsexual-ban/ar-AAoTCxn

[RKP5637]

1. The guy is off his rocker. What's next! Is this country powerless to control this ass? n/t

[MGKrebs]

5. Our power is in our elections.

Multiple systems failed this time. Russian interference, Comey acting funny, popular vote overridden by electoral college...
We're not supposed to be able to get a lunatic like this in this office. But if/once we do, it's very, very hard to remove him or restrain him except through another election.

I keep saying though- he's crazy and he's not going to get better, so he'll keep doing crazy things and maybe enough Repubs will react to that before something disastrous happens. I wouldn't bet anything of value on that though.

[RKP5637]

8. I think a growing number of republicans are finally realizing this guy is off his rocker.

Once they can't use him anymore, they will likely turn on him. I hope there are a few republicans left that value country over Trump.

[Sunlei]

2. he probably promised those religious people anti-gay stuff when they were laying hands on him &

praising him.

He 'IS' whomever is 'in his face' that day, if its a nazi, trumps a nazi that day...if its a gay hater..trumps a gay hater.

what did you promise those radical religious people Mr. Trump? or was there a gay hater on the "list of generals" the Republican party gave you?

[exboyfil]

3. I have to question why Mattis hasn't got out in front of this

It is highly irresponsible of him to not give guidance to his Department or publicly explain what is going on.

Actually in a perfect world he would come out and kneecap the Commander in Chief and explain the standard process for determining and promulgating DoD policy to the US citizens. Of course we do not live in such a world.

[DFW]

4. If the Pentagon was in the dark

Then Trump is truly bonkers. You do NOT announce a major change in policy for the U.S. Military like this BEFORE informing the U.S. Military.

If Trump wants to pride himself as someone who does not do business as usual, that's one thing. But The Unabomber didn't do "business as usual," either, and we didn't make HIM president.

[mpcamb]

11. I hope they find a quick means of retaliation for that embarrassment.

[sandensea]

6. Flat-footed - like Cheeto during the draft?

[world wide wally]

7. Don't forget that he is totally lying about consulting with any generals.

Who were they?
When was this meeting?
When has he ever told the truth about anything?

Tune in tomorrow for the walk back.

[Lucinda]

9. ...

[politicat]

10. Heller, Flake, Hatch, Gardner and Ernst came out in opposition.

Those five supporting anything remotely resembling transgender rights is like meeting a leprechaun in a crocodile themed bar in Indiana. (Not *absolutely impossible in every metaverse* but so far in this one, only appears in fiction.) They make their money by LGBT bashing. And they're okay with transpeople taking a bullet in service of the national defense.

This is like trying to resegregate the armed forces in 1953. It's not only not going to work, it's going to cost a metric fuckton more to implement than just evolving.

(I admit, my head canon is that Two Scoops wanted to attack another country, and in those 9 minutes, somebody managed to talk him down to this bullshit. Because he's flailing, the way most narcissists flail when they're out too far, in too deep, and going down. Anyone whose lived through a narcissistic crisis recognizes this, and knows it is dangerous, but also knows it's the beginning of the end.)

[Judi Lynn]

12. Joint Chiefs: No Transgender Policy Changes Until Trump Clarifies Tweets

JUL 27 2017, 11:37 AM ET
Joint Chiefs: No Transgender Policy Changes Until Trump Clarifies Tweets
by COURTNEY KUBE and ANDREW RAFFERTY


WASHINGTON — The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on Thursday advised that the U.S. military will not make any changes to its transgender policy until President Donald Trump clarifies what he meant in a series of surprise tweets.

“I know there are questions about yesterday’s announcement on the transgender policy by the president. There will be no modifications to the current policy until the president’s direction has been received by the secretary of defense and the secretary has issued implementation guidance,” Joe Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said in a memo to military leaders.

“In the meantime, we will continue to treat all of our personnel with respect,” Dunford added.

Pentagon leaders were left scrambling Wednesday after tweets from the president announcing a ban on transgender people serving in the armed forces. The tweets seemed to indicated a reversal of the transgender military ban lifted more than a year ago under President Barack Obama.

More:
http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/joint-chiefs-no-transgender-policy-changes-until-trump-clarifies-tweets-n787076

[RobinA]

13. Is This Even

legit? Can the President "announce" something and it just happens? If so is it because of the Commander in Chief thing? Would he be able to announce that no transgender people can fly on airplanes? Gain federal employment?

[forgotmylogin]

14. He thinks he's The Wiz.

Changing the color of the Emerald City on the fly...