Politics Worried Trump could 'go rogue,' Milley took top-secret action to protect nuclear weapons

Discussion in 'Blazers OT Forum' started by SlyPokerDog, Sep 14, 2021.

  1. Shaboid

    Shaboid Well-Known Member

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    I'm happy with the result, obviously, as no nuke's were launched but aren't the General's actions borderline treasonous?
     
  2. ABM

    ABM Happily Married In Music City, USA!

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    You don't say....

    upload_2021-9-15_12-11-32.jpeg
     
  3. andalusian

    andalusian Season - Restarted

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    My understanding is that he reminded everyone that he has to be a part of the chain of command and to ensure a proper procedure happens. So, it does not seem so.
     
  4. tlongII

    tlongII Legendary Poster

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    He called the Chinese general to discuss it. That could be construed as treasonous.
     
  5. andalusian

    andalusian Season - Restarted

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    I doubt that talking to foreign armies that you are believe are worried that you will attack when nothing is decided to do so, when you are the ranking officer is illegal, but my army service never brought me to these kinds of levels - so maybe you are right (but I certainly find it unlikely).

    I would argue that treason is when you tell something that is classified that would harm your country. How it is treason to tell someone that something they are worried about is not right when it does not exist and thus not classified is beyond me.

    At worst you can claim he went out of the chain of command (and maybe he did, I really do not know), but treason? Nah.

    Treason definition: Treason is "the highest of all crimes"—defined as intentionally betraying one's allegiance by levying war against the government or giving aid or comfort to its enemies. ... It's the most serious offense one can commit against the government and punishable by imprisonment and death.

    levying war against government: nope
    giving aid or comfort to enemies (the us is not at war with China, so not enemy, thus, nope).
     
    Last edited: Sep 15, 2021
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  6. tlongII

    tlongII Legendary Poster

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    Let's see what happens. I agree it would be a stretch to call it treason, but I don't think a general can call a general of another country that although not a enemy is certainly no ally of the U.S. without first discussing it with the president.
     
  7. Shaboid

    Shaboid Well-Known Member

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    Yeah, that was sort of my point as well. Seems like treason adjacent, even if it was sadly necessary.
     
  8. tlongII

    tlongII Legendary Poster

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    Personally, I doubt it was necessary. I think Trump is a crook, but I don't think he's crazy.
     
  9. andalusian

    andalusian Season - Restarted

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    I doubt very much that this true. These organizations are so big that expecting every discussion to go up and down the pyramid is unreasonable. I can assure you that every time a captain in one army needs to talk to a captain in another army for coordination or anything else - it does not go over all these layers of chain of command.

    Given that this was a case where the actions of the General were done to protect the country (against unnecessary provocation) and in support of the government by insisting that radical operations go through the proper chain of command, I would argue that it is closer to heroism than treason.
     
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  10. Lanny

    Lanny Original Season Ticket Holder "Mr. Big Shot"

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    From PBS The News Hour:
    New Woodward Book Says Top U.S. Officer Feared Trump Could Order China Strike
    https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politi...officer-feared-trump-could-order-china-strike
     
  11. Lanny

    Lanny Original Season Ticket Holder "Mr. Big Shot"

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    Read it from the horse's mouth on PBS The News Hour in my post in response to Sly's lead post. I saw it spoken by general Miley's own lips on that show. Read the PBS transcript.
     
  12. Lanny

    Lanny Original Season Ticket Holder "Mr. Big Shot"

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    Read the transcript of the interview of general Miley on PBS The News Hour.
     
  13. Lanny

    Lanny Original Season Ticket Holder "Mr. Big Shot"

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    No, the insane part is that there are large numbers of people who believe that Trump can do no wrong.
     
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  14. jlprk

    jlprk The ESPN mod is insane.

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    People didn't think "Seven Days in May" would really happen, but this is the closest it's come in the U.S. An historian might know of another incident or two, but I haven't read of it.

    I the early 60s, I read the serious dramatic best-sellers "Failsafe" and "Seven Days in May." I watched "Dr. Strangeglove," a parody of the Air Force, in an Air Force theater, with officers and airmen laughing with its light English touch of humor. Later, Reagan stopped any rare media talk about military takeovers and nuclear war.
     
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  15. jlprk

    jlprk The ESPN mod is insane.

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    Only one article I read mentioned why the general talked to the Chinese general: China had gone to a high alert level because of Trump's unhinged instability during his last month.

    Read between the lines. The one article didn't say that he often loosened checks & balances in the usually-disciplined decision-making processes and committees. During such a temporary increase in the probability of rogue attack, diplomats and generals are supposed to calm each other by opening lines of direct communication, to replace/do an end-around the temporarily faltering process.

    Trump's foreign policy focus was against China, while the intelligence agencies (which control the news media and thus your beliefs) are focussed on disintegrating the Middle East and Russia.

    The generals did what they were supposed to, and Republicans on steeds are tilting at a windmill.
     
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  16. Lanny

    Lanny Original Season Ticket Holder "Mr. Big Shot"

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    Nixon was the one we feared when I was in the Army.
     
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  17. Chris Craig

    Chris Craig (Blazersland) I'm Your Huckleberry Staff Member Global Moderator Moderator

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    How is it treason? He didn't betray our country. He was protecting it. China was worried Trump was going to attack. The general dispelled this, to lower tensions.

    If anything he verified the president was cuckoo for cocoa puffs, but this was already very evident. Telling a foreign country, especially one that is not an ally, that our leader is mentally unstable isn't a great move as it sends a perception we are weak, but it was necessary in this event. Trump should never have been handed the nuclear football and he never should again. A relief it must have been when Trump handed it over for the last time and the codes were changed.
     
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  18. Shaboid

    Shaboid Well-Known Member

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    Didn't call it treason. Said it was borderline. I opened that comment saying that I was obviously happy with the result. Not trying to back Trump up in any way.

    Sadly it was probably necessary because the former president was a completely inept, fuckhead. HOWEVER, had any general gone behind the back of any other president to talk to the general of a non-ally that puts America in a weak strategic position, that should be concerning. I'd think that would be considered borderline treasonous activity. Just hoping this doesn't set some sort of precedent for future insubordination by our military leaders.
     
  19. UncleCliffy'sDaddy

    UncleCliffy'sDaddy We're all Bozos on this bus.

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    I think there should be a statue erected to General Milley on the front steps of the Capitol Building as a reminder that after four years of bat shit insanity, one guy had the balls (and big boy pants) to stand up and say “enough”. And now the people who supported and fueled the insanity want him crucified. The guy should be a candidate for president in 2024. That would have Talibanican heads exploding all around the country. He has my vote.
     
  20. crandc

    crandc Well-Known Member

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    Giuliani ranted that Milley is going to start a war by bombing white supremacists. And called Millet hysterical.

    What Milley did wrong was hiding Trump's derangement.
     
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