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© (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2018.'Tanks but no tanks!' say critics of Trump's plan for military parade
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89 Comments
bass4funk
Hmmm....as Col. Ralph Peters said, the French march well, the US fight well. So I think the US military should do what they do best and not waste time on a parade, but having said that, if it makes Trump happy, I guess.
PTownsend
But like for the pre-WW1 royalty, a parade will give Trump a chance to don a new costume.
Vietnam? Afghanistan? But then in the US military's defense, invading armies always face the greatest obstacles.
Apologies to XTC: 'We're only making plans for Donny, We only want what's best for him'.
Bintaro
What the people should think about above the logistics is the reason : do you need a parade and what for ?
To thank the military ? Everybody already knows the US loves its military.
To show strength ? Everybody knows the US has the most powerful military in the world.
To celebrate victory ? What victory would it be...?
Because others do it ? Uuuh... ok.
Tommy Jones
Your stance on everything Trump does.
bass4funk
Yup, he’s President.
He owns some really cool ties.
WWI, WWII, Iraq, yes, most definitely!
As well as wins.
I’m just surprised you didn’t choose “King for a day.”
PTownsend
In all seriousness, this is a very worrying comment. Forget principles, forget the Constitutionally based separation of powers, forget what's best for the nation and its peoples (not just the .01%), instead it's follow the leader?
If the 'leader' were someone doing all possible to uphold the Constitution, someone with a history of integrity, someone who's lived a life reflecting positive values, I still would NOT blindly follow the leader.
Follow Trump blindly? Seriously.
FizzBit
This "grand military parade" is being spun by the MSM for clickbait, also bordering on fake news.
White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders issued a statement confirming that plans are underway.
“President Trump is incredibly supportive of America’s great service members who risk their lives every day to keep our country safe,” Sanders said. “He has asked the Department of Defense to explore a celebration at which all Americans can show their appreciation.”
The MSM clickbait seemed to have worked, setting off a LOT of triggers. Oh how easily some people are duped.
I think it's a great idea for US citizens to know, see, learn, and hopefully think about our power to wage war. Painting a pretty face on it with happy recruitment commercials or phony stadium spectacles is not the true face of our military.
maybeperhapsyes
It is true that a great many people fought and died for our rights to free speech. By all means criticise your leaders on the job they do.
However (most) were democratically elected and deserve our respect for that alone.
Disrespect him is to disrespect your neighbour.
To insult a leader just shows a lack of decency and intellect.
You may not agree with them, and that is your right. But please...show some respect for the office they hold.
Strangerland
How exactly is it bordering on fake news? Did Trump not indicate he wants a parade? Is this not true: Trump publicly expressed his interest in an American military display after watching the Paris parade.
PTownsend
If you're suggesting Trump should be shown respect, as long as he continues to disrespect the US system of government by trying to usurp even greater powers for his office and himself, the likelihood is pretty low. Except for his true-est true believers and devotees.
Something akin to lese majeste rules might still apply in nations run by despots, but in the 'west' they went out when kings and queens were overthrown by democratic systems.
Blacklabel
I’m looking forward to the parade. Interesting how everytime Trump wants to do something some combination of McCain, Flake or Graham run to CNN to bash it.
Strangerland
How can anyone respect the office of the president anymore after the president himself has shown no respect to it? For that matter, the minority of people who voted for him showed complete disrespect for the office by voting someone who doesn't respect it, into it.
There is no inherent respect left in the presidency, the Trumpites have destroyed that. Which to be fair, is exactly what they wanted in Trump.
Strangerland
Oh no, politicians are criticizing the president's ideas? Boohoo. Poor Trumpie. How dare they do to him what he did to the last president! How dare they!
Bintaro
Well... no. Leaders in a democracy were elected by the people, for the people. Just like someone gets a job by passing an interview. And if they don't do their job, they don't deserve more respect than any employee who fails at his job.
Being in a free democracy means I have the right to criticize politicians, and therefore my neighbour's choice.
No it doesn't. Following a leader blindly because he is a leader, that shows a lack of intellect.
People get angry when the person elected is not acting up to the office they hold.
FizzBit
From the MSM links I've looked at, there a LOT of "condition of anonymity because" comments and speculations. Then the MSM weasels do what they do best and turn it into clickbait. And then you get comments like:
and
and
Typical clickbait responses.
The borderline "fake" reveals itself in the the way it was spun, and the reaction confirms this, IMO.
Tommy Jones
Your hyper-partisanship is shining through brightly. You would never blindly follow a democrat just because they were president.
Jimizo
Let’s take McCain. What Trump said about this man who sacrificed more for his country than non-corporal Bone Spurs is capable of thinking, was, even by Trump’s lavatorial standards, revolting. While I don’t think politicians should follow Trump into a steaming trash war, I can see McCain’s appetite for this.
Anyway, I thought Trump supporters liked his combative approach - not taking crap from anyone ( even beauty queens ).
Surely you respect McCain in the same way for fighting back. He was a soldier, after all.
bass4funk
Because I like the President? I voted for Bill Clinton twice. Well, there goes out that false theory.
That’s a matter of opinion.
No, we just got tired of a President that thought he and his minions were better and knew better than anyone else. When the Dems started to lose key reliable blue states, that should have been a ringing bell sign.
Actually. Decency left left when the last President took office.
Moderator
Readers, please keep your comments focused on the proposed military parade, rather than turning this thread into another slugfest.
ClippetyClop
Miltary parade, great idea. Maybe have a book burning at the end of it too. Make some effigies of 'Fake Media' journos, throw them on it. If you are going down the tinpot populist road, you might as well go all the way.
Strangerland
Say what you want, Obama was one of the classiest, most decent presidents the US has ever had. He most definitely was not the troll in chief.
presto345
Is Trump a comedian? Anyway, let him have his parade paid out of his own pocket, the depth of which is still unknown as he has as the only U.S. citizen granted himself exemption of declaring his income.
Jimizo
He certainly wasn’t vulgar.
I think the word vulgar is suitable for military parades. It reminds me of parading around with a LV bag and a diamond encrusted watch or a tower gleaming with gold.
Vulgar, tacky and trashy.
Alistair Carnell
I’m just surprised you didn’t choose “King for a day.”
pfft, ‘The Mayor of Simpleton’, or ‘Here Comes President Kill Again’ more like.
stormcrow
"Maybe we want to look at who is advocating for this and why. And this is a president of the United States with all his draft evading who none the less wants to appear as a strong man. That is his appeal to his base. This is constant and consistent with his message throughout his muscular message to the Little Marco to Little-this to Little-that . . . We are strong, I am strong. Watch how big and strong I can be. That's really the message here. The idea that we have to look like Red Square, it's just absurd. We have really come so far in honoring our military. The way that our military people ought to be honored by their service, by their humanity. We don't need to show how many big weapons we have and march them down Pennsylvania Avenue to do that."
(Carl Bernstein, CNN, 2/8/18)
peterl
It's amazing that Trump's sheep will continue to support a President that equates not applauding him as an act of treason. To me, to forcibly submit your will on others goes totally against anything the Constitution stands for. And by Trump's admission then, since he didn't applaud Obama when he was President, then Trump could be in turn be branded a traitor.
bass4funk
He wasn’t, but he sure was sneaky.
I think it’s patriotic personally.
What?
That’s your personal opinion, but I understand.
ClippetyClop
You probably mean that your captain does so you also do. But he doesn't think actually serving is. Odd that.
Jimizo
Anyone can wrap themselves in a flag, sing a song and if in a position of power, perhaps wish for a military parade. Doesn’t prove a thing.
I respect those people who put their money where their mouths are. Joining the armed forces is can be seen pretty clear statement of patriotism for the most part. Dodging the draft gives me the sense Trump is selling patriotism like a used car salesman.
And yes, seeing the usual whataboutery on the way, that goes for other opportunistic politicians.
Blacklabel is worth reading on this point. He is a patriot who put his money where his mouth was.
prossnip42
Tell me, what exactly did the U.S do in WW1? You joined in mid 1917 and by that time the war was almost over. And as far as WW2 is concerned, your only help were the landings at Normandy. The Soviets and the British did most of the work really
Texas A&M Aggie
President Trump should order a one-time $1,000 withholding of welfare payments/benefits per recipient (ya know, just "crumbs") and fund the parade with those crumbs.
Let the moochers pay to honor those who defend their right to leech off us taxpayers.
Problem solved. . . .
Blacklabel
I already weighed in on this the other day sensitive issue for me. It would be the honor of an entire military career to march in front of the President and the White House on a national holiday. Might be on of the most memorable things of people's lives.
But people afraid it might prove Trump is "legitimate" or something, so they want to prevent the military from having this honor and privilege. Its their parade, not Trump's and he knows that. A parade of LGBT or Antifa or people protesting Trump or the police, thats totally cool to most liberals, muh free speech!
Military, nah. Liberals simply just seem to not want to see military members. Send them off to get killed somewhere where you dont see them. They come back in a box covered with the flag you disrespect, no big deal. You dont know that guy (or girl sometimes these days), he was probably a supporter of the orange dotard anyway. Whatever it takes to resist Trump., no matter who else you hurt or disrespect. Wont even let our military have pride in the job they do, they feel they have to apologize for their service and that is WRONG.
Strangerland
Nope. According to my buddy from Yokosuka, a lot of the military hate trump as much as the people. They’d be more likely to find it abhorrent to march for trump.
viking68
It made me recall a M60 tank going wild North of San Diego once. Some nutter got control of it and was only stopped when he foundered the tank on a cement piling. Well, the CHiPs ended the nutter.
We probably don't want to have tanks rolling around near the government.... Or other hardware for that matter. There is little enough budget for proper training in the active military to waste on a parade.
Better yet, let's say we did and don't. Or even better yet, a 21 gun salute or shooting some cannons off near Trump. Have his 8th & I guys do something flashy where he can salute. Fly some planes over his head and done.
As long as the cameras are on, he should be happy.
Cadet Bone Spurs. Love that one from a tough "chick" [hero] with no legs.
Toasted Heretic
Military parades whilst the poor, the hungry, the marginalised, the homeless remain disenfranchised.
What a triumph. A triumph of the will.
viking68
That's what Trump needs
More flags.
Blacklabel
Battle of Belleau Wood, World War I. An entire Pacific war in World War II. Yeah, the USA did nothing, it was all the Brits and the Soviets? Do people even read any more?b I guess if its not on Facebook or Instagram, it never happened.
The military loves Trump, one "buddy" aside.
viking68
Clueless statement.
Being paraded around for anyone, a general, change of command, etc. was just pomp and circumstance, otherwise known as a waste of time.
I had a military career, and the highest honor after graduating was someone buying me and my friend a drink. We thought we were nobodies and unnoticed, but we stuck out like a sore thumb.
viking68
Clueless again.
Trump isn't a cult of personality with everyone, just the delusional 34%.
Most people see through the gold trim, and see him for what he is, a vile man (baby).
Strangerland
The military is made of patriots. People who want to serve their country. Not serve a party, serve their country.
So let’s see your attempts to somehow justify your assertion that the entire military, minus one buddy, are all pro-trump, or even republican.
Texas A&M Aggie
Better yet, President Trump should announce he's diverting U.S. tax dollars paid to support DREAMers and DACA illegal aliens to fund the military parade. . . .
Strangerland
Nothing like trampling someone when they’re down to make yourself feel better! Not that they’re real humans though, right? Just aliens. They don’t matter. Not like actual people.
Tommy Jones
Agreed 100%.
. . .
Trump should sell Texas back to Mexico to pay for the parade. With any leftover money, he can pay for his wall.
Laguna
Tex, you are aware of the number of non-citizens serving in the armed forces. They bleed red too.
Thunderbird2
The US did NOT win WW1, they arrived 3 years late and only HELPED the allies with more men for the meat grinder of that war.
The US didn't win WW2... again they arrived nearly 3 years late and helped the allies defeat the Axis powers through increased manpower and equipment. (It was the Russians who depleted the German war machine on the Eastern Front) They defeated Japan with the aid of atomics though.
Iraq... as the lead country in the Coalition, yes they helped defeat Saddam's forces.
Americans really need to acknowledge the part that other countries played in their 'victories'.
As for Trump's parade... we all know he likes Putin, so maybe he wants a parade just like the Russians... and Chinese.... and North Koreans...
Texas A&M Aggie
I doubt there will be a military parade. I believe this is just another example of President Trump trolling the democrats/far-left MSM (no real difference ) into making on-the-record anti-American comments; this time about our U.S military; getting them to publicly expose themselves for who and what they really are (enemies of America). He baits them and they keep falling into his trap.
MAGA
Blacklabel
Yeah, Im just helping that effort. The whole thing is just to expose liberals for the anti-military, anti-pride in their country people they are. They will support a BLM parade, a LGBT parade, a women's parade with silly hats on their head and signs that dont make any sense, Antifa in the streets, all supported,
But a military parade, no way!
Blacklabel
Why did you leave off.... and the French....? Doesnt match the narrative?
Tommy Jones
Democrats and liberals love the US and the military just as much as rednecks and hillbillies. Let's keep a modecum of honesty in the conversation.
cleo
Do the BLM parades, the LGBT parades, the women's parades, the silly hat parades, the senseless signs parades, the Antifa in the streets etc etc etc get paid for out of your taxes? Do they cost the country an enormous amount of money when the guvmint has just passed a budget that hikes spending by hundreds of billions that it don't have?
If I were a US taxpayer I think I would be blowing flames out of my ears.
Jimizo
Shhh...they don’t like to hear about the Russian involvement in WW2.
Hang on, Putin is okay these days...
Laguna
You might be right. Repubs have no short history on exploiting the sacrifices of Americans in uniform to aggrandize their brand (remember "Mission Accomplished"?). Trump was probably surprised that the number of congressional Repubs who came out against this katoptronophiliac fantasy roughly equalled Dems. Growing bipartisan disgust may doom his lil' party.
smithinjapan
Trump is actually jealous of Kim Jung Un.
nandakandamanda
Agreed. Just substitute Pyonyang for Paris:
"Sniff, if Rocketman can do them, then why can't I?"
nandakandamanda
Oops, Pyongyang!
Toasted Heretic
A wee bit of baiting on the old anti-American nonsense again.
If you're talking about patriotism, questioning the motives behind a vain, pompous leader (who may not have the people's best interests in mind) is probably the most patriotic thing you can do.
When you start to label other parties and those who don't buy into the bluster and flag waving as being "enemies" - that's when you tip into the mire of authoritarianism.
peterl
Yeah, that's exactly what happens when North Koreans get labeled when they don't applaud their Dear Leader when a military parade is shown in front of him. Trump and Kim Jong Un both label their countrymen and women as traitors if they don't bow to them or agree with their opinion.
albaleo
Sadly, the sacrifice most soldiers make is not for their country but for its leaders.
FizzBit
Well, lets be fair, the Brits did the majority of the fighting in Africa and around half in Sicily and Italy. Anzio was a brutal campaign. Keeping the NAZIs occupied in Africa and Italy directly led to the success in Normandy.
clamenza
FizzBit - North Africa, yes. Where they were kept in check by Rommel. Sicily and the rest of Italy were largely American campaigns.
Thunderbird2
The British Commonwealth forces were fighting the Japanese in the Pacific long before Uncle Sam got off his arse and joined in. American numbers pushed the Japanese back once they decided that maybe the War was a serious threat after all.
As for the Russians... they were also supplied with British aircraft (Spitfires and Hurricanes - do a Google search for photos), not just US tanks, although Shermans were no match for the Soviet's own T34 tanks. In fact the Sherman wasn't that good and it took British army engineers to fit a gun into the Sherman so it could take on Tigers. There were masses of Shermans, but that doesn't make them better. One Tiger (Wittman's) took out an entire column of Shermans
North Africa... we beat Rommell.
Between June 1944 and May 1945, yes the Americans were in Europe in numbers - less than one year of a six year war... Meanwhile British commandos were raiding and British agents were forming effective resistance cells to fight the Germans and Italians. The reason the Americans did 'most of the fighting' was because Britain and the Commonwealth as well as other allied forces had been fighting in Europe and North Africa (as well as the Far East) and had taken terrible losses, so there were less men.
Commonwealth jungle fighters (Chindits) and infantry, air forces and commandos took the fight to the Japanese just as well as the Americans.
Jimizo
Spot on. Look at the debacles in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The best respect you can pay to the armed forces is not sending them fight in unnecessary bloodbaths.
The incredibly idiotic idea of patriotism usually gets the public onside for the slaughter.
Jimizo
I think we can all agree it took a great deal of sacrifices from many countries to defeat Nazism.
The Soviets more than anyone else.
Moderator
Back on topic please.
domtoidi
I suggest bringing all of the US troops home from Okinawa and let them be in the parade.
extanker
Actually, speaking from experience, the military is largely right wing conservative and pro-Trump. A huge percentage of recruits come from that background. That's just the way it is.
Strangerland
I never claimed otherwise, nor was that the original assertion made by the poster I was replying to.
Halwick
NK just had their big military parade. Didn't read or hear any criticism of their parade posted. China and Russia regularly has big military parade. But no criticism, skepticism, denouncement or protests on them either.
Your silence implies It's okay for them to have big military parades, but not the U.S., eh?
I hope Trump get's the green light for a big military parade on Pennsylvania Ave with USAF fighters and bomber flybys overhead too.
PTownsend
Start a campaign to crowdfund it. No doubt Hannity, Limbaugh and their fellow millionaires in rightwing praise Trump media would champion your cause.
Are you equating the US with NK, Russia and China, that what they do, the US should copy?
Personally I don't criticize NK, China and Russia for having military parades. To me those parades make them look ignorant (proudly displaying weapons designed to kill thousands? What does that say about them?) and evil, which is how I view each. Again, if you want the US to stoop to their levels, don't ask all taxpayers to fund it.
cleo
People don't criticise when a dung-beetle rolls a ball of stinky dung through the mud. It's what dung-beetles do.
People are right to complain when a supposedly full-grown, responsible adult human wants to roll a stinky dung-ball bigger and stinkier than any other dung-ball in the world, through your living-room.
Not saying that the US military is a dung-ball, before all the patriotic types get on my back: just that this kind of tacky 'look at how big and strong and shiny we are' exhibitionism is what we expect of tinpot dictators with a chip on their shoulder, not what we expect from the so-called Leader of the Free World. Especially when said scLotFW (aka Cadet Bone Spurs) has just signed away the financial futures of your grandkids, and now wants to waste even more money and resources playing military dictator.
NK apparently has nothing better to do. If you want people to look on your country the same way they look on NK.... that's sad.
lucabrasi
@cleo
Brilliant. That post made my day,and it's only nine o'clock....
Toasted Heretic
If the US wishes to be in the same questionable company as the DPRK, Russia and China - well, you can take my silence (not actual silence as post about US parades was deleted) as a form of protest.
Make no mistake about it. Unfortunately, this is not about honoring troops/veterans etc. It's all about showing off who's got the biggest, er, toys. It's propaganda and triumphalism.
Asakaze
As well as UK, France, India, Japan. Are these countries also "bad"?
clamenza
Cleo - why would you as a British citizen living in Japan care whether there is a military parade in the United States?
It honours the men and women in uniform. Nothing more, nothing less.
ClippetyClop
People from Clamenzaland won't see the hypocrisy in this I'm guessing.
cleo
Well here I am living in Japan, I come on Japan Today, the name of which implies it's about and for Japan, and I find all these articles about this man-child in the US wanting to emulate a man-child in North Korea.....
JT apparently thinks it's relevant to me as well as everyone else logging in to the website. Silly me, I assumed that meant it was OK for me to express my opinion in the comments. Didn't realise it was a US-taxpayers-and-residents-only club.
Leaving the snarking aside, the US is like, if not a bull, a very large and over-boisterous Great Dane puppy charging round the proverbial china shop. It breaks things, not necessarily deliberately, and the rest of us end up trying to pick up the pieces. Cadet Bone Spurs tweeting about having a Bigger Button and wanting to show off how many missiles he has at his disposal is .... disturbing ... for anyone living anywhere near NK.
With your permission, clamenza-sama, I will continue to write what i like. As I assume you will also.
I disagree. Or are you saying that Kim is also holding his parades purely to honour the NK men and women in uniform? Not a show of strength and sabre-rattling?
Toasted Heretic
People from other parts of the world can comment on what happens in the US? Right?
I mean, they are allowed comment on parades in other countries like the DPRK, Russia and so on...
clamenza
Yes Cleo, you are a British citizen living in Japan. Which begs the question why are you so offended how American tax dollars are spent.
No one, certainly not me, suggested you were not allowed to comment. So back to my original question, please.
As for lil Kim, I couldn’t tell you why he would have a parade. Ask him.
Toasted Heretic
So, Mr Clamenza. Why do you care about military veterans and the Democrats so much. As a Canadian citizen living in Japan. What's it got to do with you?
See? Goes both ways.
cleo
Not offended, clamenza; amazed. If I were a US taxpayer, which thank the heavens I'm not (bad enough being a Brit with all this Brexit nonsense rattling around), and it was my money being squandered by Cadet BS, I would be incandescent. It amazes me that more Americans are not, and that some even support the wastrel in all his dangerous folly.
Same reason, I 'm pretty sure, as Lil Don. And it has nothing to do with honouring any troops.
Tommy Jones
Incorrect. When non-U.S. citizens comment on what happens in the US, Americans send black helicopters and special forces to track those people down and send them directly to Guantanamo.