Trump administration removes experts from Defense Policy Board

[sabra]

Source: CNN

(CNN)Several high profile members of the Defense Policy Board were removed on Wednesday by the Trump administration, in yet another purge of longstanding foreign policy experts and national security establishment figures in the final days of the Trump era, according to three defense officials.

Members who were suddenly removed include former Secretaries of State Madeleine Albright and Henry Kissinger, former ranking member of the House Intelligence committee Jane Harman and former House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, two of the officials said.

The Defense Policy Board is an outside advisory group of former high profile national security officials who "provide the Secretary of Defense and the Deputy Secretary of Defense, independent, informed advice and opinions concerning matters of defense policy in response to specific tasks from the Secretary of Defense, the Deputy Secretary of Defense," according to their website.

"As part of long-considered changes, we can confirm that several members of the Department's Defense Policy Board have been removed. We are extremely grateful for their dedicated service, commitment, and contributions to our national security. Future announcements for new members of the board will be made soon," the third official said.

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/26/politics/trump-administration-defense-policy-board/index.html?utm_term=link&utm_source=twCNNp&utm_content=2020-11-26T18%3A38%3A02&utm_medium=social

[mahatmakanejeeves]

1. How active a role were they playing? Were they ex-officio members?

I don't know, but Kissinger's got to be getting way up there.

Full disclosure: so am I, though Kissinger has a head start.

[CottonBear]

2. Holy cow! They're axing Kissinger and Cantor.

They’re going full facist. 😳

[Mike 03]

8. Can you believe it?

Especially Kissinger...

[muriel_volestrangler]

40. Kissinger didn't like Trump's China policy

(sorry about the source, which is pro-Trump, but I think this points to why Trump would want to push him out just to "show him who's boss" - from a month ago):

The Pentagon’s Defense Policy Board, an influential advisory panel of former officials, is dominated by experts who do not reflect the hard-line policies toward China put into place under President Trump, according to analysts.

Chief among those on the board with views that clash with Mr. Trump is former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, architect of the conciliatory U.S. policies that argued in favor of unfettered economic and diplomatic engagement with the communist regime.

The Kissinger policy has been rejected by the Trump administration, which regards China as the United States’ chief strategic competitor and rival.

Mr. Kissinger, 97, did not take part in two recent meetings of the policy board, but his influence is said to remain strong among Pentagon leaders and others in the Trump administration.

https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/oct/21/donald-trump-henry-kissinger-clash-on-china/

[matt819]

3. That's just so fucking pointless

Biden will name his own appointments in about 54 days. What’s the point? Oh, yeah, his entire 4 years had been pointless. Damaging. And pointless.

[MyOwnPeace]

5. Did you also mention "pointless?"

Because it all certainly is!!!!!!
But look at it this way - as long as he's doing "pointless" things he's making it all easier for Joe to get us all back on track and up to speed.

Go Joe!!!!!

[RKP5637]

9. I just wonder WTF he plans to do in the next 2 months that he wants them out of his way.

And he will likely replace them with his stooges ...

[liberalla]

26. Exactly! And WTF is he having the new guys do that the old ones wouldn't?

What is that?

[RKP5637]

28. I keep wondering about Iran, are his chosen going to say sure, nuke them, no problem.

It's bad enough having Trump, but FFS, I never dreamed we had an endless supply of nutcases in the US he would choose from.

[liberalla]

35. Yes, I worry about him going after Iran and actually doing something.

I am hoping that other countries, seeing he's on his way out (despite his claims), decide they don't want to set themselves up to be on bad terms with the new administration and don't encourage, approve or participate in any action against Iran. Biden signaled his interest to rejoin the lran nuclear deal. It's clear the approach will be different P.T. (post trump).

Essentially, I am hoping these other countries that drump is trying to pull in, will be cautious and have more sense that he does...
too much to hope for?

[iluvtennis]

27. +1. nt

[Jim__]

4. "... national security officials who "provide ... independent, informed advice and opinions ..."

Independent and informed opinions? The enemy of Trump's idiotocracy. Get rid of them!

[MyOwnPeace]

6. I would think...........

that if IQ45 ever even attended any such meeting with the "independent, informed advisors" he simply sat there with his fingers in his ears saying "La-la-la-la - I can't hear you!!!!!"

My GAWD, what a waste of oxygen that lump is..........

[disalitervisum]

7. The t***** foolishly enjoy making enemies of powerful people. n/t

[hedda_foil]

10. Kissinger is 97. Frankly, I thought he was long gone.

[mpcamb]

14. 97 and he's guilty of war crimes.

[not fooled]

22. Satan must be tired of waiting

bet he's got an extra special future planned out for kissinger.

[muriel_volestrangler]

11. Fuck me - ask the DoD about the DAB and they redirect to to a Wikipedia clone

https://pentagontours.osd.mil/Tours/dod-components.html

"Defense Policy Board Advisory Committee" is a link to http://www.wikiwand.com/en/Defense_Policy_Board_Advisory_Committee

It's not even a good Wikipedia entry. It's marked as "This article has multiple issues" - which was why I was searching .mil for something about the board in the first place - Wikipedia has out of date links (eg it hasn't been updated since March, and doesn't list Harman or Albright, but does list Kissinger).

I suspect this means the board has been sidelined for ages. And that the idea of chucking some out and inserting some of the worst Trump ideologues is to build their resumes for their imminent unemployment, to persuade wingnut welfare foundations that these are Very Serious People who should be given Very Serious paychecks for spouting far right nonsense.

[Captain Zero]

38. Maybe he is putting Jared and Ivanka on it?

They do have experience now. Bad bad experience.
Another paycheck for them ? For their transition.

[bluestarone]

12. RUMP hates America! My question is

Why doesn't AMERICA HATE HIM!!!

[Midnight Writer]

13. Sounds like Baby Trump is about to break something.

[orangecrush]

34. Yep

[Jopin Klobe]

15. Let's see ... what could *Rump be doing? ...

... tea-bagger Pomompous Pompeo, Netanyahu, Mr. Bone Saw having a "secret" meeting in the Middle East ...

... *Rump sends B-52 Stratofortresses to Middle East ...
LINK: [link:https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/13283888/trump-b-52-nuclear-bombers-iran/

... he's gonna bomb Iran ...

... can't get rid of a "wartime pRekydink" ...

... big finish ... big finish ...

... he - and his enablers - are psychotic ...

... and they don't care if they have to kill us all ...

... or how ...

[LudwigPastorius]

29. Yes, he will poison the well on his way out.

Just because he can.

[DallasNE]

16. Is This in Preparation

For an attack on Iran? It has all of the earmarks.

[Evolve Dammit]

17. Gotta please Vlad and the rabid base. Jan 21st please hurry.

[cstanleytech]

18. Trump is clearly being spiteful and trying to do as much damage to the country as he can so Biden

will have a huge mess to fix.

[BootinUp]

19. Did I dream Kissinger helping dump with his

foreign policy creds?

[BootinUp]

20. Dump to Putin: Is there anything else i can do for you Sir? nt

[DFW]

21. Putin's answer

"Comrade Donald, we have a few weeks yet. I will get back to you with my new purge list in ten days max. There aren't many competent people left in the US government, so there is not much left for you to do. I still have to consult with McConnell to arrange strategy on making sure that Biden gets no competent people confirmed, or else all my efforts here will have been for nothing."

[rickyhall]

23. On his knees...

[SergeStorms]

24. He replaced them with Ted Nugent....

and Kid Rock.

[Mr.Bill]

25. He'll probably replace them with

Ted Nugent, My Pillow guy, Sarah Palin, and Kyle Rittenhouse.

[TomDaisy]

33. Jon Voight....

[Mr. Sparkle]

30. It looks like he is trying to sabotage the country

wtf!

[cab67]

31. I honestly don't know what to make of this.

Some have wondered if Trump is planning a strike on Iran, but so far as I know, there hasn't really been a buildup of US military resources in the region in recent weeks. And I don't know how much of a role the people he's replacing in the DOD would play in such a strike.

There was some buildup during the crisis in late 2019-early 2020 - is all of that still in place?

[TomVilmer]

39. Why has the US sent B-52s back to the Middle East?

NOVEMBER 22, 2020:
American B-52s, the massive strategic bombers, arrived in the Middle East on Saturday.
These veteran, giant aircraft were last deployed in the region in May 2019 and the US Central Command says they are here to “deter aggression and reassure US partners and allies.”
The B-52s have been sent to the region as the US appears to be drawing down forces in Iraq.
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/why-are-american-b-52s-back-in-middle-east-649871

[cab67]

43. I don't know, BUT....

If I was planning a strike against Iran, I would probably think twice about using B-52's. Iran's military is fairly robust, and it has substantial anti-aircraft capability. The B-52 is a formidable aircraft, but it's not the aircraft of choice if one wants to attack a country that, unlike most of our recent adversaries, is actually capable of shooting one down.

[TomVilmer]

44. B-52 can safely attack from 15 kms height ...

... with precision guided ordnance. But yes, they are mostly for showing off.

[TomDaisy]

32. can't Biden just put them back on in 53 days? what is the point of this.

[Mr.Bill]

36. Biden should just issue a statement

something like if you were working for the federal government before Trump's innauguration and were fired or resigned, report for work on January 21st 2021 if you wish. If you were hired to replace any of these people, you're fired on that date.

I know that's oversimplifying it, and there would be exceptions but you get my idea.

[burrowowl]

37. Interesting!

He included war criminal Kissinger!

[muriel_volestrangler]

41. More chucked out: career naval officer, a Clinton official, and a GW Bush official

The first two officials said the members removed also included former Chief of Naval Operations, retired Adm. Gary Roughead, former chief operating officer at the Pentagon Rudy De Leon and former Bush deputy national security adviser J.D. Crouch II.

https://theunionjournal.com/trump-administration-removes-experts-from-defense-policy-board/

[olegramps]

42. What a petty and sick man. He will undoubtedly will go down as worst ever president.

Every public official who has supported this monstrosity should be ostracized for their lack of patriotism. They have aided in the most significant undermining of our democracy in recent history and perhaps only exceeded by those who forced the nation into a Civil War. They have stuck at the most essential element of our government, free and fair elections. Their continued support of man who actually wants to establish himself as a tyrant can not be forgiven.