If Trump’s Fundraising Numbers Are Any Clue, He’s in Serious Trouble

[webfact]

In a first, Trump makes surprise visit to U.S. troops in Iraq

By Steve Holland

 

U.S. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump greet military personnel at the dining facility during an unannounced visit to Al Asad Air Base, Iraq December 26, 2018. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

 

AL ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq (Reuters) - President Donald Trump made a surprise Christmas visit to U.S. troops in Iraq on Wednesday, his first trip to a conflict zone nearly two years into his presidency and days after announcing a pullout of American troops from neighbouring Syria.

 

Air Force One touched down at the Al Asad Air Base west of Baghdad after an overnight flight from Washington with first lady Melania Trump, a small group of aides and Secret Service agents, and a pool of reporters. They stayed for a little more than three hours.

 

Trump has drawn fire from some in the U.S. military for not having visited U.S. troops in conflict zones since taking office in January 2017, particularly after he cancelled a trip to a World War One cemetery in France last month due to rain.

 

While there has been no full-scale violence in Iraq since Islamic State suffered a series of defeats last year, some 5,200 U.S. troops train and advise Iraqi forces still waging a campaign against the militant group.

 

On his way home from Iraq, Trump will stop to visit troops at Ramstein Air Base in Germany.

 

Trump was looking for some positive headlines after days of turmoil over his decisions to withdraw all U.S. troops from Syria, pull out half of the 14,000-strong contingent in Afghanistan, and push out Defence Secretary James Mattis two months earlier than planned for criticizing his policies.

 

Many Republican and Democratic lawmakers have heaped scorn on Trump for his sudden order last week to withdraw from Syria.

 

On his stop in Iraq, he defended his decision to pull out the 2,000 troops from Syria, which he has said was made possible by the defeat of Islamic State militants.

 

"We want peace and the best way to have peace is through strength," Trump told troops wearing camouflage fatigues in a hangar as he concluded his visit. He said some troops "can now return home to their families."

 

“Our presence in Syria was not open ended and it was never intended to be permanent," he added.

 

Trump's critics have said that the fight is far from over and the withdrawal leaves allies in the lurch.

 

One of those critics was Mattis, who said in a candid resignation letter last week that his views did not align with the president's, particularly in regard to the treatment of U.S. allies. Mattis had planned to leave at the end of February but Trump forced him to go on Jan. 1 after his resignation letter.

 

Trump has also faced negative headlines for wanting to pull troops from Afghanistan where they have been since 2001. Trump has questioned how long troops there should have to remain in what has become America's longest war.

 

BUSH AND OBAMA

Trump's unannounced visit to Iraq followed in the footsteps of two of his predecessors, Republican George W. Bush and Democrat Barack Obama, who both made surprise trips to see troops. For security reasons, the visits are usually kept secret until after the president arrives.

 

Trump said his main security concern was for the first lady and related how Air Force One took special precautions when landing in Iraq. "You would have see what we had to go through in the darkened plane with all windows closed with no light anywhere," he said.

 

While in Iraq, Trump spoke to military commanders and the U.S. ambassador and, according to White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders, they "came up with a powerful plan that will allow us to continue our path to total victory" over Islamic State.

 

Unlike Syria, Trump said he had no plans to withdraw from Iraq.

 

Trump has had an uneven relationship with America's military. He did not have to serve during the Vietnam War after being diagnosed with bone spurs in his heels.

 

As president-elect, Trump was drawn to the brawn of the armed forces and stacked his first Cabinet with generals, many of whom have since left his administration.

 

Trump has also wanted to end protracted U.S. involvement in overseas conflicts, and to force allies to pay more for the costs that he says fall disproportionately on American taxpayers, a point he made again on Wednesday.

 

Trump spoke to troops gathered in a dining hall festooned with holiday decorations and teased soldiers about their favourite football teams.

 

To reporters, he lamented the wear and tear of overseas conflicts.

 

“It's time to get our young people out," Trump said. "And I’ve been signing plenty of letters and I don’t like sending those letters home to parents saying that your young man or your young woman has been killed.”

 

“I don’t like doing it. We’ve been doing it long enough.”

 

(Reporting By Steve Holland; Editing by Mary Milliken and Alistair Bell)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-12-27

[thaibeachlovers]

I was "surprised" that the US even has troops in Iraq. I thought they pulled them all out after the Iraqis refused an agreement that the US wanted.

Whatever, perhaps it's time US boys stopped having to die for ungrateful nations, and went home. Too many legless veterans for the mess that is in that part of the world. It's not even as though it's winnable, and nothing is going to change in the foreseeable future.

Also, it's time to start preparing for the real conflict to come from further east.

Edited December 26, 2018 by thaibeachlovers

[Thailand]

On a find a friend mission?

Not the Xmas vacation Melania was expecting.

 

 

[neeray]

Better late than never ....... I guess.

But I'm sure the troops were very happy to meet Melania.

[keemapoot]

52 minutes ago, Thailand said:

On a find a friend mission?

Not the Xmas vacation Melania was expecting.

 

 

Last minute brainstorm decision by his staff. Better than the optics of being imprisoned in the big house, sitting naked in a corner chomping on a cheeseburger with his iphone and crazy flipper fingers on Twitter like Tommy the Pinball Wizard.

[Bluespunk]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Trump has drawn fire from some in the U.S. military for not having visited U.S. troops in conflict zones since taking office in January 2017, particularly after he cancelled a trip to a World War One cemetery in France last month due to rain.

No rain in Iraq. 

[Bluespunk]

1 hour ago, thaibeachlovers said:

I was "surprised" that the US even has troops in Iraq. I thought they pulled them all out after the Iraqis refused an agreement that the US wanted.

Whatever, perhaps it's time US boys stopped having to die for ungrateful nations, and went home. Too many legless veterans for the mess that is in that part of the world. It's not even as though it's winnable, and nothing is going to change in the foreseeable future.

Also, it's time to start preparing for the real conflict to come from further east.

The US began the conflict in Iraq. 

[1337markus]

1 hour ago, thaibeachlovers said:

I was "surprised" that the US even has troops in Iraq. I thought they pulled them all out after the Iraqis refused an agreement that the US wanted.

Whatever, perhaps it's time US boys stopped having to die for ungrateful nations, and went home. Too many legless veterans for the mess that is in that part of the world. It's not even as though it's winnable, and nothing is going to change in the foreseeable future.

Also, it's time to start preparing for the real conflict to come from further east.

The background in the photo clearly shows its a war zone. LOL

[wayned]

More like a campaign rally.  He ended up signing MAGA hats at both Iraq and the base that he stopped at in Germany on his way home.  IMHO. politics has no place in a troop "hoorah" appearance!

[Phuketshrew]

He should have dressed up as Santa Claus (Oh, I forgot he doesn't believe in Santa any more).

[Thakkar]

He finally did the right thing—after being relentlessly shamed into it. Still, it’s refreshing to see he has some shame left, but only because the bar for this man is so, so low.

[DM07]

Everybody praising him for this: it took him 2 goddamn years and he had to be shamed into it!

And then he went there, bragged about a pay-raise, "he" got the soldiers and it turns out, that was just another of his lies!

 

What a class- act of a President!

????

[spidermike007]

I wonder what the troops really think of him. Seems like he dishonored the troops by firing Mattis, who was well liked, and very highly respected, and then replacing him with a defense industry type, which feels like another crocodile in the swamp of industry, and a man with zero experience,  My guess is that he is not too popular with the guys at the moment. No doubt, he did this as a distraction, from the news cycle, which has been nonstop, in their criticism of him lately. 

 

Shanahan has no military experience, nor did he ever serve his nation in the military. Ashton Carter was the last sec def to lack military experience. Seems to me like it should be a pre-requisite, but we all know how Trump feels about serving his country in this manner, with his five deferments. I do believe all of his platitudes about the military are very insincere. 

 

Remember, the great patriot John McCain also raised concerns over Shanahan's background as a former Boeing executive. "I have to have confidence that the fox is not going to be put back into the henhouse," McCain said, worrying about someone employed at one of the "big five" defense contractors taking on a leadership role at the Pentagon.

Edited December 27, 2018 by spidermike007

[geriatrickid]

Not the right time to go.  Millions of $$ spent on this PR event while government workers work without pay.  Not smart. Not responsible.

Support the troops by giving them access to better health care when they come back. and better yet don't defeat their mission while still deployed.

 

Senator McCain, you are missed.

[Becker]

1 hour ago, spidermike007 said:

I wonder what the troops really think of him. Seems like he dishonored the troops by firing Mattis, who was well liked, and very highly respected, and then replacing him with a defense industry type, which feels like another crocodile in the swamp of industry, and a man with zero experience,  My guess is that he is not too popular with the guys at the moment. No doubt, he did this as a distraction, from the news cycle, which has been nonstop, in their criticism of him lately. 

 

Shanahan has no military experience, nor did he ever serve his nation in the military. Ashton Carter was the last sec def to lack military experience. Seems to me like it should be a pre-requisite, but we all know how Trump feels about serving his country in this manner, with his five deferments. I do believe all of his platitudes about the military are very insincere. 

 

Remember, the great patriot John McCain also raised concerns over Shanahan's background as a former Boeing executive. "I have to have confidence that the fox is not going to be put back into the henhouse," McCain said, worrying about someone employed at one of the "big five" defense contractors taking on a leadership role at the Pentagon.

You must understand that this is him draining the swamp!

[metisdead]

Some troll posts have been removed. 

[Enoon]

5 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Also, it's time to start preparing for the real conflict to come from further east.

 

Preparing for the coming conflict?

 

A bit late don't you think?

 

China has continued to "win" that (as they were before) for nearly a year of Trump administration.

 

And he is going to do nothing about it.

 

All the puff and blow about KIm (which ultimately went nowhere) was to cover the total impotence of the US in the S.China Sea.

 

And you can forget about a "hot" war with China under this, or any other, administration.

 

 

 

 

Edited December 27, 2018 by Enoon

[Thakkar]

2 hours ago, DM07 said:

Everybody praising him for this

 

“The soft bigotry of no expectation”

- Oliver Willis

[Thakkar]

Kelvin Yu (@InternetKelvin)

12/27/18, 3:26 AM

“To be honest, I coulda been a great soldier. Probably better than a lot of you. But they wouldn’t let me. They said, ‘Donald we need you to do real estate.’ I was pissed. Boy was I pissed. By the way it doesn’t smell that bad here. I mean it’s bad, but not that bad. Merry Xmas.” 

[Srikcir]

4 hours ago, wayned said:

He ended up signing MAGA hats at both Iraq and the base that he stopped at in Germany on his way home. 

Which violated The Hatch Act for every service man in uniform that brought a MAGA hat to the event and asked Trump to sign the hat. The Act prohibits federal employees acting in an official capacity from engaging in partisan political activities. It applies especially to political activities conducted on military property and assemblies.

 

 

[riclag]

Judging from the applause  by the troop's ,he was well received! Thanks for your service PT!

Edited December 27, 2018 by riclag

[geriatrickid]

12 minutes ago, riclag said:

Judging from the applause  by the troop's ,he was well received! Thanks for your service PT!

The personnel are pre-selected. It's to avoid unpleasant events and it's done all the time. The personnel are also told to show respect for their commander in chief. These are patriotic kids who follow their orders and instruction from  their NCOs.  Troops deployed showed the same enthusiasm for Nixon during the worst  parts of the Vietnam and Watergate tragedies. etc.

[sanemax]

3 hours ago, Thakkar said:

He finally did the right thing—after being relentlessly shamed into it. Still, it’s refreshing to see he has some shame left, but only because the bar for this man is so, so low.

As you dislike Donald , you are incapable of praising anything that he does , even begrudging admitting that he done something right , abuse needs to be added to even the praise out .

   Donald wasnt "shamed" into visiting the troops , thats just the article also adding something negative , had Donald gone earlier to visit the troops , the media would probably have criticized him for wasting time going on holiday

[Opl]

back to October poll " How do troops feel about President Trump?" (Between Sept. 20 and Oct. 2, Military Times in collaboration with the Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) at Syracuse University conducted a voluntary, confidential online survey of U.S. service members. The survey included 19 questions on service members’ opinion(s) related to the current political climate, policy and national security in the United States.)

https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2018/10/15/support-for-trump-is-fading-among-active-duty-troops-new-poll-shows/

 

Edited December 27, 2018 by Opl

[bristolboy]

2 minutes ago, sanemax said:

As you dislike Donald , you are incapable of praising anything that he does , even begrudging admitting that he done something right , abuse needs to be added to even the praise out .

   Donald wasnt "shamed" into visiting the troops , thats just the article also adding something negative , had Donald gone earlier to visit the troops , the media would probably have criticized him for wasting time going on holiday

If the media wants to criticize Trump for going on holiday, all it has to do is look at how many days he has spent playing golf vs. before the election how many days he said he would be playing golf. You know, when he was criticizing Obama for spending too much time on the course.  

[Srikcir]

6 minutes ago, sanemax said:

Donald wasnt "shamed" into visiting the troops

Let's compare:

Former President Barack Obama traveled to Iraq in April 2009, just a few months after taking office

Trump - “I will do that at some point, but I don’t think it’s overly necessary,” Trump said. “I’ve been very busy with everything that’s taking place here … I’m doing a lot of things. But it’s something I’d do. And do gladly."

https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2018/10/17/top-senate-democrat-urges-trump-to-visit-troops-fighting-overseas/

Thine name is shame.

[Slip]

Moron.

DONALD TRUMP TWITTER ACCOUNT VIDEO REVEALS COVERT U.S. NAVY SEAL DEPLOYMENT DURING IRAQ VISIT

https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-navy-seal-iraq-video-1272102

[keemapoot]

3 hours ago, Slip said:

Moron.

DONALD TRUMP TWITTER ACCOUNT VIDEO REVEALS COVERT U.S. NAVY SEAL DEPLOYMENT DURING IRAQ VISIT

https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-navy-seal-iraq-video-1272102

Another <deleted> move by Trump to get publicity that puts American lives in danger.

[riclag]

10 minutes ago, geriatrickid said:

The personnel are pre-selected. It's to avoid unpleasant events and it's done all the time. The personnel are also told to show respect for their commander in chief. These are patriotic kids who follow their orders and instruction from  their NCOs.  Troops deployed showed the same enthusiasm for Nixon during the worst  parts of the Vietnam and Watergate tragedies. etc.

 Patriotic Applause and proper respect for one of the greatest pro military commander and chief's' ever!

[bristolboy]

3 hours ago, Slip said:

Moron.

DONALD TRUMP TWITTER ACCOUNT VIDEO REVEALS COVERT U.S. NAVY SEAL DEPLOYMENT DURING IRAQ VISIT

https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-navy-seal-iraq-video-1272102

And Trump's defeners will argue that the President can do whatever he likes in this regard even when he reveals information that was classified. That is legally the case. What they don't note is that while he's entitled to reveal it, that doesn't make it any less stupid or worse.