Army Chief scolds red shirts for naming neutral PM candidates

[Fat Haggis]

A storm in a tea cup, if anything he should be flattered that's he's been considered a neutral for the most senior position in the country..

[Scamper]

There is a famous line in Citizen Kane. " You provide the headline, and I'll provide the war. " It is uttered by the protagonist of the film, who is a ruthless publisher who knows that fiction sells better than truth. " You provide the headline, and I'll provide the war. " And the sad thing is, it works. Thaksin is getting quite desperate at this point. He's pulling out all the stops. He's got his cousin writing to the UN asking them to admonish the Constitutional Court and the independent agencies, because Thaksin's got it in his head that going after the legal system will help him internationally. But it's not enough for him. He has to feed his narrative now with this. Like Citizen Kane, Thaksin is freely creating his own headlines. What Nattawut is doing is reckless and ignominious. If there weren't people so gullible to eat it up, it would be funny. But unfortunately - there are. He has made up a list - pure and simple - he has released that list - with not a shred of proof behind it. Not one shred. And look at the results. Those who zealously support the red shirts are eating it up, hook, line, and sinker. Gullible in capital letters. The moment Nattawut, or Jatuporn, or Ko Tee dreams something up - it is immediately absorbed by their followers and sympathizers, without question. Proof ? They don't need it. Completely unnecessary. The reason why tactics as embarrassingly bare and childish as these are used - is because they work. There will always be people who demand no proof, and Thaksin knows it. For the rest of it, all we have to do is remember Citizen Kane.

[kriswillems]

God forbid anyone actually mentions a name here. Oh the horror of it all, probably upset because his name isnt on the list

His name was on the list - that is why he is responding. Read the OP again, Duh

In that case he's the right to respond.

His response should be, that he as a military leader can not make any political decision, but that he serves the government, like the army would do in any real democracy.

[Rimmer]

Off topic post and two quoted replies removed

[Dogmatix]

Since when and in which country army generals do statements about politics?

Or maybe his name was missing on the list?

No Nattawut included his name on the list, saying that Prayuth could be appointed interim PM in the event of a military coup. His reaction is not surprising.

Nattawut may soon be waiing and grovelling to Prayuth like Jatuporn did after his house was hit by two stray pistol bullets and like Chalerm did after his remarks about the military upset the top brass so much that he ran away to Denmark for a year.

Doesn't take much to make these tough talking red shirt leaders fill up their tight fat boy jeans with excrement.

Edited March 26, 2014 by Dogmatix

[Fat Haggis]

There is a famous line in Citizen Kane. " You provide the headline, and I'll provide the war. " It is uttered by the protagonist of the film, who is a ruthless publisher who knows that fiction sells better than truth. " You provide the headline, and I'll provide the war. " And the sad thing is, it works. Thaksin is getting quite desperate at this point. He's pulling out all the stops. He's got his cousin writing to the UN asking them to admonish the Constitutional Court and the independent agencies, because Thaksin's got it in his head that going after the legal system will help him internationally. But it's not enough for him. He has to feed his narrative now with this. Like Citizen Kane, Thaksin is freely creating his own headlines. What Nattawut is doing is reckless and ignominious. If there weren't people so gullible to eat it up, it would be funny. But unfortunately - there are. He has made up a list - pure and simple - he has released that list - with not a shred of proof behind it. Not one shred. And look at the results. Those who zealously support the red shirts are eating it up, hook, line, and sinker. Gullible in capital letters. The moment Nattawut, or Jatuporn, or Ko Tee dreams something up - it is immediately absorbed by their followers and sympathizers, without question. Proof ? They don't need it. Completely unnecessary. The reason why tactics as embarrassingly bare and childish as these are used - is because they work. There will always be people who demand no proof, and Thaksin knows it. For the rest of it, all we have to do is remember Citizen Kane.

I love your posts, they so well thought out, but lack the paragraphs, but you're getting there.

I'd like to know how you know so much about what Thaksin thinks, are you with him and he tells you all this stuff, or do you "speculate" and assume, these are things he'd "possibly" say under the circumstances?

[kimamey]

Since when and in which country army generals do statements about politics?

Or maybe his name was missing on the list?

His name (and another General) was on the list. I think that's primarily what sparked the scolding. In any country, if a prominent party said a general was a candidate for an appointed prime minister/president, it would be reasonable to respond. Nattawut is probably just making up a list of names to stir controversy and try to move attention away from PTP and government shortcomings.

I think the other problem is the reporting. It sounds like the general was pointing out that his name was there even though he wasn't asked so maybe others on the list are the same. This is a statement without basis it seems which the general has pointed out.

He hasn't 'slammed' anyone.

[Baerboxer]

God forbid anyone actually mentions a name here. Oh the horror of it all, probably upset because his name isnt on the list

His name was on the list - that is why he is responding. Read the OP again, Duh

In that case he's the right to respond.

His response should be, that he as a military leader can not make any political decision, but that he serves the government, like the army would do in any real democracy.

Check out who he swears an oath to and what he swears to protect. That should help in how he frames responses,

[Stan7444]

Since when and in which country army generals do statements about politics?

Or maybe his name was missing on the list?

Since when and in which country do accused mass murderers, accused terrorists, convicted criminal fugitives run governments?

In Thailand of course. Duh!!!

[Stan7444]

God forbid anyone actually mentions a name here. Oh the horror of it all, probably upset because his name isnt on the list

His name was on the list - that is why he is responding. Read the OP again, Duh

In that case he's the right to respond.

His response should be, that he as a military leader can not make any political decision, but that he serves the government, like the army would do in any real democracy.

Check out who he swears an oath to and what he swears to protect. That should help in how he frames responses,

As a side point, all of these "quotes" should be tongue in cheek since I know several people who were interviewed by the Bangkok Post and The Nation and following the publication of their interviews they told me that they had never said some of what had been printed in these media, and other times what they told the reporter was "enhanced" for the excitement factor. Helps to keep the story going and selling more papers.

[Spalpeen]

I liked the last line where he urged people never to resort to violence. That's a bit rich from someone who chose 'Army General' as his career.

[mikemac]

There is a famous line in Citizen Kane. " You provide the headline, and I'll provide the war. " It is uttered by the protagonist of the film, who is a ruthless publisher who knows that fiction sells better than truth. " You provide the headline, and I'll provide the war. " And the sad thing is, it works. Thaksin is getting quite desperate at this point. He's pulling out all the stops. He's got his cousin writing to the UN asking them to admonish the Constitutional Court and the independent agencies, because Thaksin's got it in his head that going after the legal system will help him internationally. But it's not enough for him. He has to feed his narrative now with this. Like Citizen Kane, Thaksin is freely creating his own headlines. What Nattawut is doing is reckless and ignominious. If there weren't people so gullible to eat it up, it would be funny. But unfortunately - there are. He has made up a list - pure and simple - he has released that list - with not a shred of proof behind it. Not one shred. And look at the results. Those who zealously support the red shirts are eating it up, hook, line, and sinker. Gullible in capital letters. The moment Nattawut, or Jatuporn, or Ko Tee dreams something up - it is immediately absorbed by their followers and sympathizers, without question. Proof ? They don't need it. Completely unnecessary. The reason why tactics as embarrassingly bare and childish as these are used - is because they work. There will always be people who demand no proof, and Thaksin knows it. For the rest of it, all we have to do is remember Citizen Kane.

I love your posts, they so well thought out, but lack the paragraphs, but you're getting there.

I'd like to know how you know so much about what Thaksin thinks, are you with him and he tells you all this stuff, or do you "speculate" and assume, these are things he'd "possibly" say under the circumstances?

@ Fatty, you don't have to be a Philadelphian lawyer to know what that twisted psycho is thinking, or have a vivid imagination.

[phuket43]

Funny guy, he insists that nobody is allowed to criticize the armed forces but apparently he as an "unpolitical" person can criticize others. We're just waiting for democratic reforms.

[Acharn]

Since when and in which country army generals do statements about politics?

Or maybe his name was missing on the list?

You haven't been in Thailand long, have you buddy?

For the rest of what the General said, why am I thinking so fondly of General Suchinda and the things he said leading up to May 1992? At least we don't currently have Field Marshals, like Phibulsongkhram, Sarit, and Thanom. Or did they create the rank for themselves after they took control of the country?

[visionchaser45]

The general needs to go take care of some army business and butt out of politics.