Jake Tapper on Trump’s pardoning war criminals:
2/“… It sends the worst possible message from the very top to everyone still fighting – the Rules of Engagement are just annoying suggestions – do whatever you want and the CinC will pardon you because nothing matters anymore. These war crimes weren’t close calls….
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) May 19, 2019
4/ “… When this sort of flippancy comes from the very top, discipline crumbles….President Trump is telling everyone in uniform to shoot now – get pardoned later.”
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) May 19, 2019
Precisely.
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10 responses to “A slap in the face to everyone who didn’t commit war crimes”
Cross-posting from the earlier article on this.
It gets worse. It isn’t just military soldiers he’s looking to pardon, at least one was a mercenary working for Blackwater, who has been convicted for killing dozens of unarmed Iraqis.
A civilian, private security contractor, convicted of the murders of DOZENS of unarmed people.
Trump is one despicable piece of excrement.
Trump called for the death of the Central Park Five in this full page ad 30 years ago this month. The ad ran in the 4 major NY City newspapers including the NY Times. The last paragraph called for “our politicians” to “unshackle” the police:
Trump has always been this guy.
What it really means is that a US pardon is worth nothing outside the US.
https://twitter.com/glennkirschner2/status/1129944875321962502
I’m baffled by this. Who is he buying off? Surely this isn’t going to play well with his base? Or am I over-estimating his base?
learie, I’m guessing he thinks – maybe rightly – that his base is steeped in Rambo and the need for aggressive, non-sissy fighting techniques. I think it will play very well with most of the people in my family, and probably a great many of my colleagues.
It’s also part of his “Honor the veteran to prove you’re a patriot” campaign. I know a lot of old white men who think that imposing ethical standards on the Brave Men (and women) who keep us safe is a disrespectful act.
Once again, blind rage gives rise to dark, violent thoughts best repressed.
Oh, I think this plays well even beyond Trump’s base. I hope I’m wrong.
Screechy, I’m pretty sure you’re not wrong. Here in heartland, America, a lot of seemingly liberal, self-identified liberal people have some pretty awful views. They drink the Kool-Aid, and enjoy it.