"...some of whom were wearing red “Make America Great Again” caps"
As somebody who grew up under a military dictatorship (General Franco's Spain) I cannot stress enough how extremely unsettling I find this information. Military personnel in uniform wearing political gear? And from a nationalistic movement on top of it? I am extremely surprised at other American readers not showing deep concern about this.
9
Judging from the extreme vitriol pouring out of the Choir, it would appear that the Left is not finding The Holidays to be particularly enjoyable. Look at the bright side, folks. On January 4th the next, y'all can rejoice in the tsunami of investigations and impeachment articles that the House will unleash. Schiff, Nadler, Waters et al. How sweet! A Rabid New Year to Y'all !
So what if it took him two years to visit U.S. Troops in a war zone. Those bone spurs are awful, you never know when they're going to act up!
2
Too little, too late.
2
He evaded the draft, ridiculed a gold star family, he denigrated John McCain and took 23 months to visit IRAQ. He lies to the troops about a pay raise and tries to be vindictive with General Mattis. I think his patriotism speaks for itself.
7
Just like his visit to the Boy Scouts, Trump debases the very audience he addresses. The BSA has apparently never fully recovered. But the Iraqi troops may have been better off if they had not smiled through his insults and gone full bore with the MAGA hats.
6
As I heard on news reports, Trump even managed a string of gaffes during his one day trip. He dissed the prime minister of Iraq by not meeting with him which is bad protocol, he turned his holiday greetings into a political rally by whining about the Democrats,falsely taking credit for giving the troops a "10% raise, the first in 10 years" (not even close to the truth) and having MAGA hats available. Outrageous.
Its true he gets credit for finally making the trip but it was long overdue and a 15 minute meet &greet doesn't sound like much time considering the circumstances. Sad!
5
I've just read the NYT followup analysis on this story. The headline says that Trump has united "left and right" against his policy. However, if you read the article, it doesn't really support that conclusion. In fact, you could argue the opposite. What find it troubling is that the Times, like many commentors on this page, seem to be coming tko conclusions, without objectively analysing the facts.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/27/us/politics/trump-syria-afghanistan-withdraw.html
2
Trump looked out at the troops he was addressing in Iraq, and the first word that popped into his head was "suckers". He tried to twist it to his advantage, but the word association aspects of what happened are unmistakable. He used them as political props to advocate for his favorite things. Despicable.
7
Another disgraceful Trump partisan propagandist political rally, but this time to an audience that MUST attend because this fake is their boss according to our present Constitution.
There is little more pathetic than preaching partisan politics to our military; assaulting them with lies and pandering votes for an illegitimate executive. Our brave soldiers should be ashamed to have their pictures taken with this disgrace, this fake human who places them in harm's way like plastic game pieces in a child's war toy with no regard for their safety or mission.
Jim Mattis left because he could not stomach the abuse of his soldiers - he is not the last to do so. Until Trump either leaves voluntarily or is put in prison for his crimes there will be chaos in our armed forces and existentially compromised security.
5
Trump goes to high-risk combat zone, Dow climbs 1000. Trump returns, Dow down 500.
Pls go to Afghanistan and take the family and your Cabinet with you. Maybe the Dow can recover all its losses for the past year.
6
Since it does not make any sense otherwise, the only question is, what did Trump gain personally from his last talk with Erdogan?
Trump is like any Bazaari in the region, dropping friends, allies and partners on the whim of a potential new deal that may or may not gain him something in return.
2
So now Iraq can join other nations in having Trump visit and make a fool of himself.
4
Love the look! A bomber jacket (baggy and billowing in the breeze) on Captain Bonespurs is about as ridiculous as one can imagine. If any of our troops in Iraq get to see the new Spiderman movie, they just may recognize Kingpin, the villain. The similarities between these "oversized" characters is incredible!
4
Turkey will take care of ISIS and Sausi Arabia will pay for it ...
This retreat from Syria looks more and more like a deal with Erdogan to leave Trump alone with the Kashoggi murder! How sad is this ?
2
Trump made yet another mistake : first Syria, then telling our troops that we (actually they) are suckers to be in Iraq. In other words our military is good for nothing and worthless so why be a soldier. What a dreadfully crazy man Trump really is!
3
Holiday message to the troops, particularly those who served or had relatives serve in Syria: Thanks for your sacrifice, Suckers! Next time, instead of being a sucker, have your millionaire father find a corrupt podiatrist to invent some debilitating injuries...
5
A child dies at the Mexican Border....Trump shuts down the
government to demand for a wall on this border...; The Kurds
will no longer be protected by US Troops and many are doomed
to suffer.
This photo op stunt by Trump is just that ; one more day that
Trump gets to be photographed …for publicity ….
This President has no moral conscience whatsoever....
I hope he will be impeached and we will never have to see his
very ugly face again.
3
Trump really IS P.T. Barnum with his "suckers" statement to
US troops, especially after that Bone Spur article.
When he revealed the IDs of the Navy Seal team he let us know
that he dangerous.
3
Cell signal puts Cohen outside Prague around time of purported Russian meeting
4
@Chrhttps://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/investigations/article219016820.html?fbclid=IwAR2Fl-hAyQsb7fU9G6nzzfx1woNQSFIGBoiLIwb86tUPd8UB2ryCNXHZoiEistine
I do wonder about him taking his wife into a combat zone.
1
So, now it's the "near elimination" of ISIS? What a fake, lying "president"* who only went to Iraq to distract from his legal woes back home, and because he had to cancel his golf vacation after shutting down the government. I bet Cadet Bone Spurs never even left the ballroom.
2
I am a pacifist. I was against the Vietnam War, I have been against the whole, complex, Mideast debacle. I would like nothing more than to not be there. But we are. And getting out is complex. I wish I could see Trump's actions as a positive step. After all that's what I have wanted. But the fact of the matter is that I do not trust Trump. I do not trust that he has the slightest notion of what he is doing. He claims we have beaten ISIS. Doesn't he understand an ideology can not be beaten with military force? Doesn't he understand that they will patiently go into hiding, change their name and reappear as soon as the opportunity arises? ISIS or the Taliban or what ever name is the name of the moment or the region, rule through fear and intimidation. They succeed because they have more weapons than the people they want to take over. But they don't have as many as the US military. Our job has been the be the proverbial finger in the dyke in an area of the world that is more tribal than national and the line between the government and religion are blurred or non-existent. We have been the leader of an international coalition to maintain a degree of order in a highly volatile area. And Trump wants to just pull out. This is worrisome.
3
I want to know what's written on the back of that big ol' combat jacket he was wearing......:-)))))
2
I felt sorry for Trump all alone in the White House. Then he bravely visited our troops and I had a great idea to cheer up our poor, downtrodden occupant of "the people's house". New Year's Eve is soon upon us. Surprise Trump and his family with a party. Invite all the friends he has around the world. Vladimir Putin could come. Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, good 'ole MdS to Trump, would liven things up. Kim would gladly fly in from the DPRK to warm Trumps heart. Tayyip Erdoğan might squeeze it in before he has Kurds to Massacre. A regular whos who of dictators, thugs and at the center of it all, our President.
1
The man does not play well with others. Just watched his rant on tv about how the U.S. is no longer the sucker of the rest of the world. Apparently his thinking is if we are helping you, you are the winner and we are the loser. He has no concept of co-operative play. I am very interested in what his childhood was like.
5
Bloggers and aircraft watchers in Europe, meanwhile, spotted a Boeing VC-25, the model of military plane used for Air Force One, flying over England.
When I get bored I try to think of something new to try, maybe I’ll give this a go. Sounds exhilarating.
So, the president finally visits the troops in a combat zone.
And he turns the event into a campaign rally for him and his party. He hands out MAGA hats. He attacks the Democrats in his usual vulgar way. He talks about domestic policy and lies and lies and lies, even about a non-existent pay rise for the troops. All the time talking to a captive audience that is, by definition, non-partisan.
Again, he fumbles even the easiest of tasks for a president.
2
"But if you would have seen what we had to go through, with the darkened plane, with all windows closed, with no lights on whatsoever, anywhere — pitch black."
Proud American technology.
1
'Mr. Trump, ... said that “the United States cannot continue to be the policeman of the world.”'
“We’re spread out all over the world,” the president added. “We’re in countries that most people have never even heard about. And, frankly, it’s ridiculous.”
I laughed when I read this, because, the words are clearly Trump, they clearly echo the thoughts of President (and General) Eisenhower who warned us of the "Military Industrial Complex."
Who would have thought that it would be Trump who would think like Eisenhower and it would be the NYT and other MSM that appears to think for the "Military Industrial Complex" so strong is that complex?
Wealthy, populous nations such as Germany, Japan, UK, France, Italy, S. Korea, need to shoulder more of the responsibilities of policing the world especially in their own back yards.
These countries are taking advantage of the US using the lives of our citizens and our tax money to subsidize their defense needs, which unlike in the time of Eisenhower they are able to do.
Germany has a small army and spends only 1.2% of GDP on defense. Japan only 0.9%. The US: over 3% much of it helping to defend those two countries.
Europe complains about US Syrian withdrawal but only France with 1000 troops has presence there. Germany, Italy and the UK want us to use our soldier's lives and our money instead of putting their own troops in harms way *in their backyard*.
We need to heed Eisenhower's warning about the Military Industrial Complex.
2
@David MD - Let's get one thing straight; Donald Trump does NOT want to reduce the size or power of the Military Industrial Complex, and he must never be given any credit for wanting this. He proposes ever-larger military budgets, has never suggested that foreign draw-downs would result in lower military expenditures, and attempts to maximize weapons sales to hostile foreign governments. His only goal in pulling out of Syria is to intentionally hand control over to Turkey and Russia.
2
Even a broken clock tells the right time twice a day.
Visiting our men and women in uniform stationed in the harms way is a solemn act for the leader who sent them there. Churchill used to show up at a risk in the battlefields. Roosevelt did it too.
But this visit was all about front page news, photo ops and deflecting the attention from the debacle in the stock market and the domestic chaos due to the shut down. Mr Trump has shown that he really doesn’t care for anybody or anything besides money and glory.
However, being an intelligent man he has articulated the important point that the US must shed its colonial ideology of being the police and protector of the world. History has shown that wherever the US intervened, it left it in huge chaos and destruction.
1
Though he meant well, Trump's spur of the moment visit to Iraq has apparently enraged many Iraqi legislators. Read the Associated Press story,"Iraq legislators say surprise Trump visit violated sovereignty, demand U.S. troop withdrawal." The foreign policy implications are alarming. When one looks at the pending withdrawal of troops from Syria and Afghanistan, the odd diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia, the horrendous war in Yemen, and now this bungled visit to Iraq, it is evident that American influence in the Middle East is fading fast. Is Russian hegemony on the horizon? I hope not.
1
An audience of 100 self volunteering attendees (MAGA,indeed) and fifteen minutes.
The advance team on this publicity stunt certainly surpassed recent efforts. Talk with random 7 year olds and give advice on belief systems. "Marginal" is to be fervently wished for this coming New Year! Would be an improvement on 'Loony Tunes'!
1
As with everything with this president, it was a publicity stunt, pure and simple, a "feel-good" moment for our so-called "Commander-in-Chief," to show that he supports our troops. The stark contrast of this bloated soft man standing next to US military says it all. That combined with his recent actions on Syria and other matters, and the Times expose on Trump's Vietnam deferment belies the insincerity of this man.
2
“it’s a place that I’ve been talking about for many years. I was talking about it, as a civilian,” - You're still a civilian, Donny. The President, as Commander in Chief, is very purposely a civilian position. That's the whole point; to have a civilian-led military. Oh how I long for a president who understands and has read the Constitution.
6
“And many, many years, before it started, I was talking about it, as a civilian.” While it is not completely clear what the president means here, it is highly suggestive (and disturbing) that he does not understand that the presidency is a civilian office in line with the constitutional principle of civilian supremacy over the military.
3
After the Mattis and McGurk fiasco, he had to do something to divert the attention of the armed forces.
Trump once again politicized a meeting that should not be political. He used federal tax money from all Americans for this trip and then bashed one U.S. political party in front of the U.S. troops. Do the troops only fight for Republicans now? Are they supposed to turn against Democrats? Is that how far the political divide has taken us? And where did the troops get the MAGA hats? Were they handed out by the White House team before the "event" of him addressing U.S. troops in the field. It should be illegal -- and I believe it is -- for federal tax money to be used for a presidential trip to the troops where he bashes the Democrats for the border wall. Also, the United States has never been "suckers." Were the brave men and women who died before Trump took office "suckers"? Let's ask the brokenhearted loved ones they left behind.
2
Why does this article not report on the lies Trump told to the troops; for example, he claimed to have personally given the troops a 10% raise this year (2.6%, approved by both parties in Congress), he said troops had not received raises in the past 10 years (they have received a raise every year in the last ten), he interjected domestic politics into his riff of lies attacking democrats for not funding HIS border wall and refusing to spend more on defense. The constant lying and distortion of Donald J. Trump is not okay, but you’d never know it from this distorted depiction of Trump visiting the troops.
2
He managed to insult the intelligence of our troops with his ego driven claim that he had
personally lobbied for a TEN PER CENT increase in their pay for 2019 !
The claim is 100 % FALSE !!
Please get him back on a golf course and away from both a microphone and a smart phone.
3
"We’re no longer the suckers, folks,” Donald Trump said.
No, Mr. Trump: *You* were the sucker. Turkey's sjtrongman Erdogan conned you into abetting his own purposes. By inducing the US to pull troops out of Syria, Erdogan gets a free hand to subjugate the Syrian Kurds; the Iranians – the guys Trump wants to sanction – get a freer hand throughout the region. Trump's US is made to look like blustering weaklings.
Such is the Art of Trump's Deal.
8
He was long overdue for this trip. The troops, who don't have time to follow all the stuff he's saying and doing, looked happy he was there.
AMAZING https://bit.ly/2Q9JNrn
1
"We are no longer suckers, folks...." - D. Trump. Only the people that voted for you are suckers, Mr. Trump. The only reason he showed up in Iraq is because his golf outings were canceled due to HIS government shutdown.
9
Smart move by his staff dump the Trump in a war zone .Probably told him tweeting is not available in Iraq.Save the Economy remove the dottard !
4
Two years in office and he's only just now visiting our troops? I guess he was going stir-crazy in the WH, seeing as he couldn't play golf after shutting down the gummint. LOL.
2
Donald Trump gave a disgusting, disrespectful and basically just lied to the American Troops he spoke to yesterday by giving really ignorant review of what the fight against terror has been or the value of NATO, and then lied about a pay increase to the troops that hasn't happened, a total moron.
8
“...I had concerns for the institution of the presidency because — not for myself, personally,” he said. “I had concerns for the first lady, I will tell you. But if you would have seen what we had to go through, with the darkened plane, with all windows closed, with no lights on whatsoever, anywhere — pitch black. I’ve never seen it. I’ve been in many airplanes — all types and shapes and sizes. I’ve never seen anything like it...”
He states "with all windows closed". Are the windows ever open on a plane. Didn't someone, recently, get sucked out of a faulty broken window. I surmise that he meant to say the windows were covered with blackout curtains/material.
"...I've never seen anything like it..." This man loves drama. He often uses the term "grandstanding" when referring to others. He is the champion grandstander...
General Mattis would have been the appropriate representative to visit the troops. The troops have no love for the President...
6
Trump is making the military the suckers. Imagine telling troops, who have lost brothers and sisters in combat that their mission was for suckers. He has completely disrespected them and their service.
Time for trump to resign.
9
I watched him on television. All he did was smile and pose for selfies with soldiers, him and his wife. I listened to about 10 seconds of his "suckers no more" speech and turned it off. He is such a dirtbag. I don't understand why people support him. How does shutting down the government make America great again? I just don't get it.
10
Just found this BuzzFeed piece, they really excel in their investigating reports...dossier and more...now this.
What an operation, you have to wonder what do they have in mind for 20/20
Russian Agents Sought Secret US Treasury Records On Clinton Backers During 2016 Campaign
https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/anthonycormier/russian-agents-sought-us-treasury-records-on-clinton-backers
1
"We’re no longer the suckers, folks,” - is very telling.
Trump's business ventures have consisted of; scams, swindles, stiffing employees and contractors, reneging on debts and short-changing whomever he deals with.
No wonder he views every engagement as 'win-lose', instead of 'win-win'.
He's convinced that ALL US internal agencies have lied to him and ALL our allies, trading partners, and coalition members have cheated the US. He disregards and chastises his own people, reneges on our allies, declares trade wars on all trading partners, and strangely instead, trusts foreign dictators and murderers; Putin, Prince MSB and now Erdoğan.
5
Meanwhile, a second child died in federal custody. Trump owns this.
3
For all the commenters stating we should give it credit for this move - forget about it. It's a narcissist - if you've spent any time around a narcissist, they don't do anything for anyone - it's all about them all the time; they are master manipulators and pathological liars; in short - they are very very good at what they do - fooling people - unwary of their true nature - all the time. One must be one step ahead constantly, and never ever ever believe what they tell you or take it as even remotely as true - EVER. Narcissists are wearying creatures and utter wastes of space.
4
What a shame, Trump dodged draft for a made up bone spur and yet he is called their commander in chief.
2
@Shim...What is your draft status?
I can no longer cast any blame on your President for being the pathological liar and con man that he is. Hundreds of American military personnel stood and applauded a man who they knew had just told them a series of massive lies. “You have not received a raise in ten years, but I, I alone have accomplished for you the biggest raise in military pay history! 10 percent this year!” All of it a fiction, and they all knew it. The military have had a raise in each of the last ten years, with a total increase of over 21%. They gave him cheers, not jerers, for lying to them. Why would he change and who can blame him? Just pathetic.
9
The most morally bankrupt, vacuous, small, and weak president ever.
5
Least manly, too.
“We’re no longer the suckers, folks.”
Wow. This is how a US president thanks service members who have volunteered to put themselves in harm's way. By cheerfully telling them they've been suckers for doing so.
2
Gotta say that those MAGA hats looked awfully red and fresh for things that had been in Iraq on an Army base....
7
Yes. Obviously “just so happened” to bring his campaign rally gear for photo ops.
Among the other issues D. Trump tried to deflect from by going to Iraq, it could also be that D. Trump was trying to deflect from the fact that he did not attend the Kennedy Center Honors 2018 ?
( D. Trump likely will not attend the Correspondents' Dinner).
It is too bad that his psychological/emotional neurotic issues interfere so much in D. Trump effectively carrying out the office of the presidency.
1
"Trump Makes Surprise Visit to American Troops in Iraq"
Good. Now please bring our soldiers home from our southern border where they're not needed. Do that before any hasty action in Syria.
1
The mob boss is now demanding protection money. He never fails to make a bad situation worse.
1
Annie, Mark and Thomas, no matter how many times Trump visits our troops in Iraq or in Syria or in Afghanistan, he cannot erase the fact that the majority of our soldiers in the military hate him for the way he treated our favorite General Jim Mattis.
It was the same Trump who had shown total disrespects to our military earlier when he didn't attend the ceremony to honor of our WWI war heroes in France and total neglect of his duties to honor our veterans on the Veteran's Day.
But what Trump doesn't realize is that by forcing his current Defense Secretary to resign because of his sudden Syria withdrawal, Trump has touched a raw nerve of all the military personnel of our country.
And by appointing someone like Mr. Shanahan in Gen. Mattis's place, Trump has inflicted tremendous pain to the morale of our brave men and women in uniforms after they came to know that their Commander-in-Chief has cut short the date of Jim Mattis' ending the service by two months just because of his failure to read Mr. Mattis' letter where he desired to stay in his job in the Pentagon until the end of February, 2019 so that he could attend a special Session of NATO where all the defense ministers of all the countries under North Atlantic Treaty Organization wanted to discuss in length about the threats to their nations from rogue countries like Russia and China et Al.
But now with Mr. Mattis is gone, "Who's going to protect our country from Russia and China ?"
Not Patrick M. Shanahan, for sure.
5
@ihatejoemcCarthy...So much for Marines never leaving a man behind. Your Marine Gen. Mattis throws a fit because his commanding officer issues an order Mattis doesn't agree with, so he deserts his post. Mattis mouths off, and his CO strips him of his rank and ships him out. A rank and file would have been stationed in Leavenworth if they had bucked Mattis the way Mattis bucked President Trump.
1
Trump said he had chosen Iraq for his first visit to a combat zone because “it’s a place that I’ve been talking about for many years.” I was talking about it, as a civilian,” president bone spurs re-iterated. (What does this mea culpa mean?) It means he does not want his fan base to think he was tricked into being in Iraq rather than Florida.
1
Iraq will alway he know as the American debacle created by none other than President Buffoon aka George W Bush. A complete waste of blood and treasure. Trump is correct to remove US service people out of harms way. The middle east is a mess and will ALWAYS be a mess. We no longer need their oil as the US is the worlds largest exporter and producer. The post WW II framework no longer applies. Trump is correct again. The world needs to pay the US and also pay for their own defense. Don’t believe the fake news stories about Trump ruining alliances. The world has ridden on our backs far to long. Get out of Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq! It’s USA 1st going forward! May God bless President Trump!
4
Wonderful. This draft dodging President has to go with further insult by telling the troops the ISIS war is over and they are on the run.We have won the war and we are not going to be used by these countries anymore. Gosh-what wisdom!
Isis is pushed back, by the very brave military of the US and NATO (which the Pres basically abolished) many who used their entire life to fight against ISIS. Days following the departure of troops defending that region against his Russian supporters and personal proof that Iraq was a big mistake for us to become involved, we will enter into the first stages of what John wrote about Revelations in the Holy Bible. We are seeing that pattern in those chapters, every day coming to life. Will Americans wake up to remove this beast from the destruction of us he is pursuing, for his own legacy?
I hope the service members do their jobs and then get home safely. But if we're talking about courage, not one of them could say to the president, who vilely turns his comments into a political rally and treats the military as if it's his personal property, "I love my country and I'm a Democrat."?
Trump didn’t meet the new prime minister, Adel Abdul Mahdi, whose predecessor was the pro-US Nouri al-Maliki. Now the head of a powerful Iraqi militia that enjoys backing from Iran is threatening to expel US forces from Iraq after Trump’s unannounced visit on Wednesday. He believes the Americans should leave Iraq following their withdrawal from Syria.
The Iraq that Trump visited is in a very different neighbourhood than the one Obama visited in 2009. There were no US troops in Syria to withdraw. The Arab Spring plunged the entire region into turmoil in 2011 and the civil war in Syria has killed over half a million people.
Obama himself had not yet reached out to Iran to negotiate the nuclear deal with other world powers, and Saudi Arabia was still quite a predictable ally under King Abdullah.
But Trump’s soulless, transactional obsession with money in foreign policy has also exacerbated the risk of an allout war in the region.
2
Mr. Trump's denigration of the families of fallen Service Members, his recent use of troops as PR tokens, his lack of regard for somber military rituals, etc. etc., all speak the full truth about how much respect and admiration he has for military personnel. This photo op and any associated remarks by him are as phony as his claim to have dealmaking skills.
117
@Jonathan Trump had to do a Photo-OP with the troops, - or rather they had to do it with him - because the Iraqi government would not see him. At $200K/Hr this means Trumps trip to photo bomb US troops cost Tax payers - mainly the middle class - $2.2M - but only if he does not return. It will end up costing 10 times more if he returns.
5
Others here have noted the convenient timing of Trump racing to Iraq, after the worst ever sell off of the stock market on a Christmas Eve day, a sell off which happened largely because of the instability and unhinged tweets of the 'commander in chief', who has been searching for ways to dispose of Jerome Powell the Fed chairman. And Munchkin's tweeting that he had called the CEOs of our six major banks to ensure that the banks were viable, as if investors would somehow find that comforting.
Lest we forget, Donald loves nothing better than to be front page news on each and every day, attempting finally to do something which may be perceived as good, but by many as a ham handed way of saying 'look at me, aren't I great'.
As for the last part, no Donald, you are not great and you are not helping American be great, either.
116
I may be in left field here, but after viewing the clip of the Trumps while visiting our service men and women in Iraq, I honestly felt as if they genuinely enjoyed being there and truly wanted to be here. I think this was the first time they were sincere in their actions and words. And our service men and women were glad to meet the President and the First Lady. Being able to have their pictures taken with their i-Phones was the icing on the cake.
A sincere thank you to the President and the First Lady for making our troops feel some joy, welcomed, needed, necessary, and important. Like the old adage goes, even a broken clock is right twice a day. In this case, both Trumps did something good and meaningful for someone else.
28
@Marge Keller. I truly wish I could agree with you, but although the troops may have been thrilled to take pics with a sitting president, it was once again, all about trump. He needed an "adoration" fix and since he was all alone in DC tweeting "poor me", he decided to visit the troops when he had been ignoring them for two years. He will probably go on a tweet storm about how much they loved him. Wait for it.
67
You’re imagining things. This is just the effect that stunt was supposed to have - stunt to distract from his 6420 verified public lies, the travesty of his “rapid turnover, maximum incompetence” White House, & the fact that he rarely does even the minimum expected of a real president.
28
Absolutely correct. Only 45 would politicize a military visit as a MAGA rally. He is due to tweet about the crowd size. After a tough week diversion is what he wants when at the expense of the honorable men and women who serve.
18
He was long overdue for this trip. The troops, who don't have time to follow all the stuff he's saying and doing, looked happy he was there.
Sure, he had spare time due to the shutdown--his shutdown, mind you--but even so, I'm willing to give him credit for making at least some of the troops pleased to have him visit.
I wonder what he said in the photo of him addressing an auditorium of soldiers. I sure hope he contained himself and didn't start complaining about how bad folks are treating him.
29
@ChristineMcM
As someone once said about America, Trump can be counted on to do the right only after exhausting all other possibilities.
15
Meanwhile in Texas according to Breitbart ICE are releasing Immigrants.
Could it be because the Private companies who run the concentration camps don’t have a budget and do not work for free.
Strictly payment up front.
9
Like many dementia patients, he is at his most disordered when traveling.
3
FYI Donald Trump ... The United States and American citizens are not suckers. We see through your self-serving rhetoric, full of misquotes and flat-out lies. You are the sucker, as you'll soon see when your blatent incompetence is finally challenged by a revitalized House of Representatives.
5
Unfortunately the GOP can relate to "We are the suckers" for supporting this monster!
7
All I see is a little privileged coward surrounded by men and women he wishes he could have been. Brave, selfless patriots. And all for a political stunt. He is a tiny pathetic human being.
12
So Trump goes all the way to Iraq, good for him and the First Lady, to meet with the troops. Then Trump insults each and every one of those service men and women and their families, and the ones who are buried in the United States and elsewhere, by saying we're not going to be SUCKERS anymore, nope, we're not going to be the unpaid SUCKERS in the world fighting its battles. Imagine a world under Hitler if Roosevelt had felt that way...
12
So all the men and women who have been maimed, all those who were killed, were suckers?
To those soldiers who stood there, smiling and taking pictures:
Shame on you!
11
I've kept hearing this "planned" trip again and again on the Fox News blowhorn but I doubt you'll find that Air Force One was expected at anytime to take off from Margo Lago to land in Iraq, but that must have also been weeks in the planning...…….I'm just constantly embarrassed by how tacky he's made the presidency and the rampant lying. He's signing merchandise now, Just charge admission while you are at it... cheap and tacky.
11
You're right the trip wasn't planned, just an after thought
By 'stop being suckers' did he just make the entire US servicemen who fought there and their family SUCKERS?
7
This has as much to do about hotels in turkey and Russia as it does with fighting isis. Trump is a hotel and golf course builder first and foremost. The presidency is just another networking opportunity. His Christmas gift was to turkey and Russia who praised the move. Russian gift in return was a hypersonic missile aimed at Florida. Trump is too dumb to know any better. Like Hitler the louder he screams, the more people react and do what he wants out of them. By the time trump is finally ousted, we will have made more enemies in the world that anyone cares to count.
4
'I had concerns for the institution of the presidency (hahahahaha).... the darkened plane..... I had concerns for the first lady '. Coward. Braggart. Thief. Liar. Disgrace. Fool. But it was worth 'a dark airplane' because people clapped. I know of no one who has an unbelievably busy schedule that includes 16 days at their private luxury mansion...I ask the NYT to stop writing about him and if you must, relegate him to section D.
7
@lulu roche
He must have had trouble in the dark, dark cabin not finding his butt he usually speaks with.
1
So these troops whose lives are endangered by being in this place are told that their country is a "sucker" for sending them there? That must have made them and their families back home so proud.
10
Trump continues to model his presidency after Warren G. Harding's. He's brought the corruption and now his foreign policy is a 'return to normalcy.' No more foreign entanglements, we won't be 'suckers any longer,' America First. Look how well that worked nearly a hundred years ago.
2
How ironic that a man who lied about bone spurs to avoid military service in Vietnam is doing photo ops with a military he couldn't run faster or further away from when he had a chance to serve his country.
He's a class "A" hypocrite.
7
For Trump to stand in front of US troops in a foreign land and blame Democrats for his problems was a disgrace.
10
The super phony smile for the photo op (quite scary actually) the insincerity...and of course the fact that Trump was feeling concerned not for his own safety but for his trophy wife #3...what a joke, if there was any danger, which there was not, Trump would push her out of the way and climb over her to save himself. What a waste of money, our service men & women deserve better than this tin soldier....his bone spurs must be giving him terrible pain, that poor man, he works so hard for us while he endures such terrible pain.
4
Could some of well informed commenters on these pages please enlighten the rest of us where all the MAGA hats came from?
Were they purchased from a Bagdad bazaar to help the Iraqi economy or flown in inside the dark, dark Air Force One.
9
why doesn't the Times report that the president lied directly to the troops about pay raises ?
also, the MAGA hats are totally inappropriate politicization of military
if this was commanders, they should have a letter placed in their file
if this was POTUS driven, well, as krugman says, there is no bottom
9
Such inspiring and classy presidential words:
“We’re no longer the suckers, folks..."
Oh yes we are, because you're still in office.
6
Will Congress take the money saved on military deployments and spend it on healthcare, environmental protection and education for Americans?
Or will Trump have another "Wall" tantrum, screaming, "I saved money on troops, now I can have my wall...my precciousss.", and clearly ignore the fact that Congress doesn't want a wall.
The sequence of Trump's recent actions is disturbing. He authorizes Syrian and Afghani troop withdrawal, without a vote from Congress. It's their job to regulate troop movement. Putin lavished praise on him for these decisions.
Mattis quits over this stupidity.
Trump appoints a new A.G., whose legal interpretations are unconstitutional, for protection from investigation.
Then he caused a government shutdown by tantrum over his wall, despite not having the votes to do so.
And finishes by flying to Iraq and announcing re: withdrawals, “We’re no longer the suckers, folks.” and, “the United States cannot continue to be the policeman of the world.” The military is not on board with this.
Nor is Congress, 67% of Americans, or European allies. Putin loves these plans.
These are Trump's opinions, his desires. He is not concerned with consequences to the countries we leave behind, protecting worldwide American interests, diplomacy or even being part of world affairs.
Troop movement and protecting our interests abroad is for Congress to decide, not Pres. Popinjay. (def: a strutting, supercilious person)
3
Don't let this lizard roam free in the armed forces, he's as toxic as Ebola fever. He didn't go there to show his 'support'; he went to stage a MAGA rally and photo op. In other words, to get _them_ to 'support' _him_. His prattle on that Skype hookup was equally illegal, him telling the troops their opponent was "the Democrats", which means, literally, the troops are fighting Democrats. This isn't a Donald silliness, it's a major provocation. The Dems should explore court or House action, and demand the right to reply to every soldier, say, a 3 page summary of his crimes, investigations, major lies, and a list of his convicted cronies (it'll be a great exercise in editing), plus a nice unscheduled visit by a House Democrat who's served in the military.
6
While visiting the troops was he able to ambulate independently on his own two pins? (I'm concerned about his bone spurs... 18 holes of golf every other day must be extremely painful.)
5
Grandstanding by a Fool who spent his time mugging for the cameras.
To the sycophants who support this fool, I ask: do you, even remotely, consider his performance acceptable?
Go back and watch Reagan at Brandenburg. Compare the two, and perhaps you'll see what the other 60% of Americans see: trump is an empty shell of a man, devoid of policy goals and rational thoughts.
6
It's really not PC to say this, but I feel a little betrayed by our troops. How can they stand by this megalomanical fool and grin?
3
Why is Trump wearing that really big jacket? Does he think it makes him look bigger? He looks ridiculous in it....really un-presidential. When did we have a president who looks so poorly dressed and totally sloppy....he can afford a better tailor and should not pretend to be part of the military that he dodged w/ fake Dr letters claiming painful bone spurs..LOL he is a joke and an embarrassment to all Americans....and Melania's silly visit the troops"outfit w/ her new work boots....like she has ever done a days work in her gold-digging life.
3
Ahhh, the power of the selfie!!! Off he goes, spending US taxpayer money on an impromptu trip, and of course, sending us his vacation photos.
Meanwhile, our government is in shutdown - folks are on furlough or working without pay.
What is wrong with this picture???
2
So Trump goes to tell the troops they’ve been wasting their time? The man is an unmitigated disgrace. Anyone with a modicum of military nous will tell you that Trump’s mode of withdrawal is awful.
2
Sorry, we ARE the suckers for making this mendacious buffoon our president. Trump has told more than 7,000 lies, the latest being that we have defeated ISIS and federal workers support his government shutdown. The irony of Cadet Bonespurs posing with our troops is too sickening to contemplate.
4
Visiting the troops good-Lying about the military pay raise-bad. Why didn't the Times report the bald faced lies about the military pay raise?
2
we're no longer the suckers - tell that to the families who have sacrificed children and spouses.
2
“We’re no longer the suckers, folks,” Trump said! No, we are now with Trump the "Fools" of the world! ISIS is no more "defeated" than Al-Qaeda or the Taliban. All those applauding U.S. Troops apparently fail to realize that Trump is, in fact, placing them in harm's way by his lying stupidity. Worse, Trump has betrayed the Kurds which history will not forgive the U.S. It is embarrassing to be an American with Trump in the W.H.
2
Heroic effort by POTUS and FLOTUS. Would it be the Sec of Defense or Joint Chiefs who would issue them the Congressional Medal of Honor? Of can the president bestow the honors himself?
A man who surrounds himself with holders of high office, advisors and aids, the majority of which were either sacked, forced out, left of their own accord, arrested, pleaded guilty and in some cases are in prison, who himself is a multiple bankrupt and whose business was found implicit in money laundering for Russian oligarchs is not fit to be President. He was excused military service in Vietnam under dubious circumstances, a common practice of his ilk, which links naturally to his disconnect between his self professed support for the military and his unwillingness to fulfill his presidential duties was made glaringly obvious in France. The bad weather was probably the reason for not going as it might have blown his hair up further exposing his pretence. This is the price of having a US president who disdains expert opinion and who is impulsive, mendacious, not very smart, disturbed, uninformed, incurious, incompetent, intemperate, corrupt, and a poor negotiator, which has became irrefutably clear in recent days.
2
Since Abraham Lincoln, it has been a tradition of American presidents to visit US troops in an active war zone.
Donald Trump has, however, created a new tradition: transforming the commander-in-chief's visit to the troops into a partisan political rally, replete with the kind of tall tales and outright lies this president habitually substitutes for reality.
In doing so, Trump inflicts one more shameful blow on the institution of the American presidency.
6
It's impossible for the American people or (NYtimes readers) to know just how much those troops love POTUS. They are part of his base. The left has Hollywood, Silicone Valley, Wall street, the Giant media and our Coastal cities and regions, )mobs?).
The right has 85% of our land mass in terms of population, blue collar workers and our military. I guess it simply boils down to who you support.
@Charles in service
I too have served, sir.
trump is NOT 'beloved' by all members of the Service. Many see him for the grandstanding coward he is.
Perhaps you should take the time to read General Mattis' letter of resignation to understand just how badly your faith in this sham of a president is misplaced.
So glad to hear your (fake) bone spurs didn’t prevent the trip. I hear Kabul has a nice golf course if you want to try something more exciting.
2
We learn this morning that - after posing for his photo-op in Iraq - Donald Trump deliberately lied to the troops concerning their pay raises (consistently issued year after year) and the amount of salary increase he had secured them.
(Y)our president told the troops that he had gotten them a 10% pay raise where the truth is that Congress authorized a 2.6% raise - which Trump signed onto.
This shameless mountebank cannot even bring himself to tell the truth to the members of the military he supposedly cherishes. His statements were blatant lies.
NOT my president
4
This story is slightly misleading. This visit is not just his first presidential visit; it's his first ever visit to a combat zone.
3
And Irak is no longer much of a “combat zone”...
Was Trump's "surprise" visit to the troops in Iraq possibly the result of an attack of conscience?
Wait a second....is Trump capable of having an attack of conscience?
Naaaah! (didn't really think so)
1
This guy has no limits to how low he can go. Interesting to read the comments about the dress regulations in the Army. Wonder what happened after the photo op. ..so meaningless considering what these soldiers are risking. How insulting.
1
Why is this grown man not able to understand that referring to past combat warriors in Syria and Afghanistan as part of a group of "suckers" is a dreadful insult to these men and women who have gladly risked their lives in battle? Especially in a speech to warriors in a battle zone like Iraq!
4
I hate to doubt White House sources, but let’s face it, Trump does things on a whim to distract us from his latest problems. In this case the very public humiliation of his by General Mattis’s resignation letter. Not to mention Trumps announcements of Troop withdrawals to the surprise of the Defence Department and the Pentagon.
I am sure that Mueller’s investigation is getting close to proving many charges against Trump.
Trump is dealing with the very real situations of the investigation of his Ignaurgal Committee handling of funds, and the shut down of his Trump Foundation because of his using the Foundation for his personal piggy bank. Imagine the further humiliation that the whole Trump family is banned from serving on any Foundation Boards?
What better distraction than to sneak away in the dead of night and go as far away as possible from the U.S. on the pretense that he cares about the troops.
These events point to the very real probability that Trump will face serious charges when the Mueller investigation is culminated.
What better distraction than to sneak away in the dead of night and go as far away from the U.S. as possible on the pretense that he cares about the troops. And then he commands 100 of those troops to wear his red baseball caps.
What a farce.
2
From the LA Times today:
"Trump, who spent more than three hours along with First Lady Melania Trump at Al Asad Air Base near Baghdad, addressed several hundred servicemen and -women, boasting that he had delivered them 'one of the biggest pay raises you've ever received.'
"The president also stated — incorrectly — that he had authorized the first military pay increase in a decade.
“'You haven't gotten one in more than 10 years,” Trump said. “More than 10 years. And we got you a big one. I got you a big one. I got you a big one."
"Military pay, in fact, has risen every year for three decades. It was raised 2.4% in 2018 and will rise by another 2.6% in 2019, due to the National Defense Authorization Act signed by Trump in August."
http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-trump-troops-pay-20181227-story.html
1
he told Chris Wallace, a Fox News anchor, that he had not visited troops abroad because of “an unbelievably busy schedule.”
That "busy" schedule included golf every weekend which cost us taxpayers millions of dollars each trip on Air Force One, paying the Secret Service and the Coast Guard whenever he was near the water.
Let's not forget his binge watching Faux "news." That's where he gets in marching orders.
So, mr. trump you can take you "busy" schedule and sit on it.
2
Finally the president has the courage to enter a combat area. It took a long time. One wonders if he would have made the trip had his Florida golfing vacation not been cancelled by his own government shut-down. I doubt it.
When the kitchen gets too hot, get out and do some grandstanding.
3
I think his speech to the troops was despicable. I'm glad he finally showed his face in Iraq. But he stood there in front of all those men and women who have given up their lives at home with families, and basically told them they are "suckers." His word not mine. He said the U.S. isn't going to be suckers anymore so he's pulling out troops from Syria.
Then he went on as he always does in his rallies, to say that the democrats don't have any intention of fighting for our borders. And his old line about how the rest of the world has to pay us for what we do for them. He hasn't had a rally for a long time, so he was in his element - talking to a group of people who sit in front of him and don't have the opportunity to disagree with him.
2
ME ME ME ME ME
The only refrain The Con Don knows. I get disgusted every time I see his face and/or hear his voice.
Who in the world can admire or support this horrid example of a human being?
8
It's a time-honored presidential tradition: When things are going poorly on the domestic front, do something to distract the public on the international front.
1
"He and Mrs. Trump spent about 15 minutes there talking with the troops." And a few minutes praising the prospect of a wall at the border with Mexico where thousands of troops were sent during the 2018 elections. The military should not be trivialized by using those good people as political prop for someone who insulted John McCain's true heroism.
3
I enjoyed Trump's "Pirates of Penzance" routine.
Remember the song about the naval officer claiming "never, ever being sick at sea" but when confronted by repeated skeptical refrains of "Never?', he changes it to "Hardly ever"
Trump said Isis is defeated and now says it's "nearly defeated."
Sadly "Pirates" was meant to be a comedic satire; the President shouldn't be.
3
Obfuscation and media manipulation is a hallmark of the Trump Administration--if there is one. This was a very quickly cooked up maneuver I'm sure. As always, Trump pulls another rabbit out of his hat when he's in a deep corner--federal shutdown, another child death at the southern border, no Florida golfing, more bone spur news and beautiful wall in question. And as usual, he's managed to step in mud in a number of ways and make enemies and break rules as he goes. This was a long overdue trip and regular obligation for an American President. But I imagine a large segment of the media will fall all over themselves because he went to visit our troops--when there were no other options...
2
Can we at least say that the man keeps the promises that got him elected? Can we at least say that the main lesson from Vietnam is that an open ended military committment in a hostile region on the other side of the world, with no strategy or path for victory, no end in sight, with ongoing cost in blood and treasure, that has been fought since 2001, must at some point come to an end? If the answer is yes, then why not now?
1
We want war in Syria. Bad Trump is taking that war away from us. Trump us only doing this to change the subject and make Putin happy. We demand war! Defend the Kurds and on to Damascus. War, War, War. impeach Trump and more war. yeah, more war. This is America Generals and professionals get to decide where, when and how much war we have. pretty much sums up the comment section today.
2
It is absolutely inappropriate for uniformed personnel on duty to wear MAGA hats. Trump must have brought the hats with him for a photo op. The air base commander should have ordered the hats removed. Trump turned his 15 minute visit into a political rally.
4
This trip was in the works for 6 weeks. I'm sure that''s to the dismay of all the anti-Trumpers who believe this was a last minute event to distract.
2
@MCH You sure about that? Wasn't he schedule for a long Christmas vacation (16 days) before the government shut down was annouced?
To the seemingly endless number of Trump outrages, add this one. On a holiday visit to American service members in Iraq, he wades into domestic politics and pointedly attacks Democrats for not supporting his 1,000-mile picket fence, whose eventual cost--if he had his way--would would hit up (American--not Mexican) taxpayers for $70BB-$75BB.
2
Just one observation: He is smiling, or rather, grinning, in all these photos with the troops. He's on stage! It's the president apprentice show! When do you ever otherwise see him doing anything other than scowling or engaging in a rant? Oh, that's right, the memorial service for a former president was a sobering moment. Ah, the encomiums we will hear for him someday!
1
I do not like seeing an American president calling his countrymen “suckers” for having brought whatever stability we could to an unstable world, which was better off for our presence. I also do not like to see our so-called “First Lady” beaming from the sidelines while he is saying that. I also do not like reading the responses to this story from people supporting Trump’s betrayal of America’s leadership. I suspect some day they will realize that Trump sold out his country for the equivalent of 30 pieces of silver in today’s currency, in terms of financial emoluments for the purpose of lining Trump’s pockets. America’s decline as a trustworthy, pre-eminent world leader will have a direct line to their uninformed support of the man.
5
Unfortunately, and unlike the majority of past presidents I.e. humans, the current officeholder has no empathy, compassion or recognition of anyone but himself and his accolades or slights. Yes, the soldiers deserved the much-needed visit; however every “event” for this individual is about him.
No need to tell the usual lies, campaign about Democrats, the wall and every other lie, exaggeration and talking points about him. These people are risking their lives. The man is incapable of anything admirable.
2
While it is pathetically obvious this whole photo op stunt was in response to the withering and justified criticism Trump has been receiving on his total failure to visit troops in the field for 2 long years; and the fiasco of his pulling troops out of Syria that caused Mattis to resign in protest. My question is why go anywhere when despite all advice to the contrary by military leaders who actually know what is going on; and what the dire consequences will be due to pulling the plug in the Middle East; is what point is there in visiting troops he intends to withdraw anyway? This man does not get it!
1
When it comes to mop up operations, we are better off to have Muslims finishing off Isis than and Infidel Christian nation such as the USA. It is part of the Trump foreign policy that other nations take up more of the burden, or pay more money toward the common cause. Having Turkish Muslim do the job has better optics in that part of the world.
I now see that the Iraqi government wants US troops out. Not surprising, as Iraq was handed to the Iranian sphere of influence by the elimination of Saddam Huessein. One of the biggest political/military blunders of my lifetime.
2
That Trump didn’t visit US troops in a combat zone earlier before, perhaps he wasn’t sure whether he would enjoy some much limelight when James Mattis was still around.
He is also a coward. No wonder he was a draft dodger. He seemed scared, flying in the dark of night for operational security reasons. Was he afraid of a plane crash or a shootdown?
6
If it is Trump's intention to withdraw troops from war zones, then I ask why Trump and the Republican congress found it necessary to increase the Defense budget? Logically, Trump's policy presents an opportunity to reduce military spending.
10
@fgros A strong defense is the best offense. Pres Trump wants to build a first class Military to keep the US safe. It is a strategy that has worked well, and I agree with it.
1
@fgros, meanwhile Putin is crowing about Russia's new supersonic missile that is faster than any "defense system" in the entire world. Will he be using it when he invades eastern Europe to "take back" all of the countries that broke away and became independent after the fall of the Soviet Union? And will Trump let him invade NATO member lands and do nothing while sitting with his hands over his fat belly behind the Resolute Desk? Because we're not being "paid" enough to defend our allies and keep our treaty commitments...
After having made this trip, Trump will somehow find a way to refer to his time in combat.
It is good he finally did his duty, and our men and women in the military absolutely deserve the honor of a visit by the Commander in Chief (and much, much more). But it is a foregone conclusion that Trump will end up making this visit about him.
9
@Joanne
He has already made the visit all about him. But yes, he'll consider it being in combat after saying that "as a civilian" he already talked about Iraq for many, many years.
1
Trump says, “Our presence in Syria was not open-ended, and it was never intended to be permanent. Eight years ago, we went there for three months, and we never left.”
That statement would look reasonable enough on a shard of pottery, with the discoverer free to imagine that the potentate quoted there had deliberated carefully, provided for the consequences of withdrawal, gained the support of at least an important palace faction, given sufficient notice to allies, and finally summed it all up in those few words.
Archeologists of the future — one likes to think there is a future — will have a thankless task, trying to flesh out the life and times of King Donald when even shards of our digital tablets can’t begin to tell the tale.
15
The only part of the job he likes is when he gets treated like a celebrity. The rest of the time he's AWOL. But then again, he wouldn't know what that means because of the heal spurs.
35
President Trump’s Syria policy is much like Obama’s. That’s quite opposite from the previous generation of pro interventionist regime change enthusiasts like Bush Jr., Cheney, Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz and Hillary Clinton. A lot of Americans support it. It’s better to say it like it is as Trump does.
8
@Resident
Oh yeah, "saying it like it is" is telling deployed troops in Iraq and Syria that they were suckers until King Donald changed all that.
Were did the MAGA hats suddenly come from? Purchased from Iraqi bazaars? Methinks that they were onboard in the dark, dark cabin of Air Force One.
3
I am sure the troops and sailors, as one genius pointed out, appreciate the visit from their Commander-in-Chief. I support the President. I support Trump. Thank 6.
5
Just don't get captured troops and sailors, because your Commander in Chief Trump likes his war heroes who "weren't captured!"
And don't get sacrifice your life for your country either, because he might disparage your Gold Star parents as well.
2
I do not appreciate him lying to us or them
5
I would not appreciate a visit from this draft dodging clown if I were a member of the military.
3
As difficult as it is for me to agree with anything Donald Trump does, says or stands for, I agree with his position that we cannot police the world. It is long overdue to pull out of Syria and Afghanistan, with Iraq not far behind. Not another drop of American blood should be shed in the Middle East.
Fighting ISIS,- fighting terrorism - is more a police and special ops matter, not a conventional military one. I have grown weary reading about how we are "training the elite troops" in these countries. These elite troops for the most part have proven to be cowards when it comes to the actual fighting, throwing down their weapons, changing out of their uniforms and running the other way. Or they have turned on our soldiers with deadly results.
No, it's time to pull back, and whenever generals tell us that this is a "huge mistake" I keep thinking about what they told Lyndon Johnson during the Vietnam War. See where that kind of war counsel got us.
6
Len, I agree totally with your position.
Didn’t vote for Trump, but I agree with this plan. He is a radical, not very smooth with words but because he is so hated, I think it has liberated him to do whatever the devil ( no four letter words allowed), he has always thought of doing, since he didn’t expect to be president anyway.
Very coarse man, immoral in many aspects but I agree with him on this are as well as on China and on immigration.
The “pearl grabbing” opposition needs to get on board.
Agreed. But one would expect something planned out. As it is understood, Erdogan told him he would take care of everything, meaning our former allies the Kurds will now be slaughtered. Thank you Donald.
@Len
The measly 2000 troops in Syria are advising and training the Assad opposition forces, and contain special ops teams which the President you do obviously support took selfies with and exposed them to danger.
It's today's parlor game of commenters on these pages insisting they don't "agree" with Trump while agreeing with almost everything he does.
3
The comments here are quite revealing -- and disappointing . The emphasis is on impugning Trump's motives no matter how sound his actions. It seems that, perversely, many Trump opponents prefer bad policies made for the "right" reasons over sound actions made for the supposedly wrong reasons. Curious-- and harmful to us all. It's a consequence of an unwavering "resistance" not only to Trump's presidency (which from the beginning was misunderstood) but to reality.
9
@Claude - Actually my comments all relate to the fact that Trump’s staff clearly provided campaign hats to many of the attendees, who then willingly donned them in clear violation of Army uniform regulation. My comments are focused on the predictable sliminess of Trump’s staff and the more surprising unprofessional behavior of those in attendance. A soldier is not a campaign worker.
4
Remember we left Vietnam and the Vietnamese settled their war quickly and now those same horrible Viet Cong are our friends.If you support our intervention in countless Civil wars having nothing to do with us - then you oppose the President's withdrawal plans. Remember candidate Obama promised eons ago to withdraw from those wars but the Neocons forced him back in. These countries we support in these Civil wars are all corrupt and that's why they have a groups fighting them that we may Not like. Any future intervention lasting over 60 days must get Congressional approval.
5
There's a guard who stands outside of the Oval Office when President Trump is working?
That has to be the easiest job in the entire military.
15
@Sarah
Indeed. And in such beautiful uniforms to boot, looking smarter than the Trump's ill-fitting suits.
2
@Sarah Agreed. What does the guard do with all that free time?
2
This last minute decision to visit the troops on Christmas Eve must have pushed the nose of those that had to be part of this adventure who planned to be with their families.
2
Nice to see an attempt to change a foreign policy that has been very expensive in lives and money over the last 70 years.
7
If Trump really wants to change the subject in a good way and put America First, he'll leave office. NOW.
18
@Lifelong New Yorker
Take his totally corrupt family, bone spurs and all with him!
Let me get this straight, Trump flew all the way to Iraq for a 15 minute photo op? He only met with 100 soldiers? They were wearing MAGA hats (a political act). When I was a surgeon in the military, I would have received a court martial if I wore any campaign
button or any other political signage while in uniform.
Clearly, his visit was designed not to support the troops, rather to check the box that he visited the troops in a combat zone that was safe enough to bring one’s spouse.
This visit does nothing to convince me of his concern for the troops or convince me that this Twitter bully possesses one iota of physical courage.
The trip was as big a waste of taxpayers’s dollars as the Mike Pence visit to the Colts game where he walked out once a single player “took a knee” during the national anthem.
53
@Aaron of London If Trump makes a visit to a combat zone, he is condemned. If Trump does not go to visit a combat zone, he is condemned. Hmm - what is the logic here. Could it be that you disapprove of Trump so much that you will condemn anything he does? Would you have said the same thing if it were Obama who visited the troops?
Thanks Aaron could not have said it better. Trump likes to jump on Air Force one and avoid reality. The commanders who followed orders to have the troops "out of uniform" should be held accountable. Not to worry, they would get a pardon.
1
This is how Putin gains greater control over USA. After he & Russia played Trump to get his the abrupt withdrawal of US troops in Syria. Trump we know an empty vessel Putin or any can fill. As Trump makes Putin’s policy USA policy, he goes to Iraq. And what going on gets obscured by all the hoopla. Even as trump uses trip to promote Putin gameplan.
11
Lies, exaggerations, and spins continue to be what President Trump uses as he addresses anyone he encounters, whether it be the media or select audiences like those in the military he addressed during his surprise visit to Iraq.
Trump's 'modus operandi' is the same now as it has been since he first entered the race to become president of the United States. The same ol', same ol' we've now seen for more than four years. It's all he knows.
7
@merc
It was a Trump tv minute!
I'd be willing to bet that Mr. Fake Bone Spurs made demands about the height of the service members who would pose next to him. What he's incapable of knowing is that every one of them towers over him. Like the Secret Service agents currently on the presidential detail, these troops demonstrated their professionalism and honor by doing their duty even in the basest of circumstances.
8
After a cut and run from Syria and Afghanistan that blindsided our allies…
After a fit of rage that led him to ignominiously fire a distinguished military veteran serving as his Secretary of Defense…
After leaving employees of the Department of Homeland without pay over Christmas…
After reports surface showing he was a privileged draft dodger…
Donald Trump visits troops in a combat zone for the first time – and of course – uses the troops as props to attack the Democrats.
There is no bottom to the shamelessness of Donald Trump -- a con man who believes he can govern by publicity stunts.
19
Any serviceman wearing a MAGA hat while in uniform and on duty should be disciplined under Army Regulation 670-1 for improper dress. Or don’t rules apply while licking a politician’s boots?
39
Looking at this makes me wonder are these serviceman and servicewomen ordered to pose with DJT?
Are they only following orders?
It is hard to image any military personnel that keeps up with current events and knows a little bit about DJT that would willingly pose for a pic with him.
I find it hard to take that someone can have bone spurs at 20 some years old that can keep them from military service, but can play 200 rounds of golf a year at 70 years old.
It would be great to see real medical evidence to corroborate DJTs story.
I bet those medical records are in the same place as his tax returns.
10
@Is_the_audit_over_yet - They are probably posing willingly. I imagine that diehard Republican soldiers are just like diehard Republican civilians; incapable of objective observation regarding politics. Putting on a uniform doesn’t make you smarter than you were without one.
DJT has acted exclusively for his own optics to deflect from wall, collusion, campaign conspiracy and kickbacks, emoluments, tax evasion and money laundering; not as a military strategy; not for the good of USA. ISIS had 20,000 in 300 to pockets along the Euphrates between Baghdad and Idlib. Their positions were 2/3 captured under Obama, the last 1/3 of city-entrenched pockets were flattened thereafter. The 20,000 murderers and rapists are replenished in numbers, but are burrowed in spider holes waiting for a withdrawal. They cannot be defeated unless and until the Wahabbists in Jeddah. etc. are dis-empowered. The Kurds are the best hope for a proxy war, but Bush II’s Arab Spring has effectively pushed the region back to Middle Ages choices comprising only gradations of totalitarian dictatorship and radical theocracy. Whatever the military/int’l relations response, that is the reality being responded to. Withdrawal from region is a hope for a gradual evolution that has not occurred over 1000 years. A robust response would presumably be UN governance over failed states for several decades. But the current US posture is aimless, pointless, fruitless and expensive.
6
Classic Trump propaganda. Trump flies over 6,000 miles to Iraq to make nonsensical statements about his new defense "Strategery." Trump doesn't fool anyone for one single minute, we all know he does not possess one single element of an original thought about anything---John Bolton is leading Trump by his nose at every pace in the Middle East.
In fact, only in Trumplandia does it seem normal to have a SecDef resign in protest and not pay the US Coast Guard or Homeland Security simply because conservative media and the Freedom Caucus (Freedom from Logic--if anything) want to generate support around a dwindling core of Trumpistas.
These great unpaid patriots at the US Coast Guard could teach Trump a lot about selfless service in terms of both service and duty.
9
Donalds visit is the equivalent of tweets and rallies.
He only went to excuse his behaviour to a small bunch of hand picked personnel in red hats.
Its obvious it was last minute.
Thats why the Iraqis only got a phone call.
They didnt have time to dash to a meeting with the duck that they were only informed about as the plane landed.
4
He looked frightened during his comments about the flight. He also looked uncomfortable the whole time.
He looked really overweight, and out of his element.
The optics were very very bad.
I felt more terrified after watching his visit.
Frightened folks in authority, like him, are very quick to show faux bravado.
I wonder what he will do in the quiet of the WH residence. I hope he does not declare war on a state in America. Hey, we are in the twilight zone. No one knows what to expect.
6
Too little, too late. He did it for the optics, not because he cares a whit for the troops.
5
For once, the cost of deploying Air Force One with Trump aboard was money well spent....the "Home Alone" bit was getting a bit boring.
2
So a month ago he told Fox News he’d not visited the ME because of an ‘unbelievably busy schedule’ but he’s now telling us that two planned trips had to be cancelled for security reasons because people found about them.
He’s become so deranged he can’t even lie straight and yet he continues to control the one super power - and gets to kick the football?
8
Trump's ignorance is apparent every day. Of course he went to Iraq and told those dedicated troops that America can't be the 'policeman of the world'. Does he forget that it was America ( and its allies like Australia) who decimated Iraq in the invasion because of so called 'Weapons of Mass destruction' which were never found? He makes out that American troops end up in these 'other countries' because of some sort of enjoyment. It was because of that invasion that ISIS started to begin with. So now he complains that America can't protect those dedicated allies that fought to get rid of the mess that America helped contribute. Despite the mistake of invading Iraq, I'm grateful that America is the 'policeman of the world'. It makes the rest of us feel a whole lot safer. I just pray that there is no inspired rendition of a 9/11 coming because of this incompetent president who refuses to follow his advisers.
10
As the headline should continue...then asked for pity because his choppers windows were scary, told the troops his political troubles with HIS WALL, then lies to their faces about their pay raise which HE gave them.
Let the 2019 trump family indictments begin!
8
So he spends 13 hours in the air and several million taxpayer dollars for a 15 minute photo op with a handful of service men and women to bolster his approval ratings at home. He is not the POTUS--but if you remove the T and the U...
10
To finally be out of Afghanistan and also Syria is right but Trump doesn't explain it well.
The reason we should be out of both countries------.
We went into Afghanistan for the purpose of destroying
al qaeda because of 911. They were the terrorists.
We took care of them but made the mistake of staying on in Afghanistan. Now we are fighting The Taliban who had nothing to do with 911. We should have been out of Afghanistan long ago.
We don't belong in Syria. It is a civil war and we are not involved. If we had a civil war here, you should be against the idea of other countries becoming involved in our war.
If you feel that we should be militarily involved when there are disagreements within another country, then you would have been in favor of entering Vietnam,,Syria, Libya Lebanon, Ireland and other troubled lands. including Afghanistan,Iraq,Iran
We have been "All mixed up" with this idea of "fixing" other lands to our own liking but in the process, we have killed more civilians in other lands than we realize.
We have not been their savoir but we are better known for accidentally dropping our bombs on their wedding ceremonies and putting their people in prisons like Abu Ghraib (run by our personnel.)
Enough of our mistakes on the other guy's land !
Many civilians(in other countries) have been killed because of our good intentions and "Getting him before he get's you" is a loser from the start.
2
Too little, too late. This visit occurred only because Trump was getting pressure from all sides to finally make a gesture toward the forces that he allegedly commands — and secretly fears. And typically, he turned his visit into a political rally, bashing the Democrats and extolling his ersatz virtues. It’s time for this worthless man to go.
7
I think it's shameful to see servicepeople taking smiling photos with Trump. What kind of soldier helps a traitor win points with a photo opp? Maybe people serving overseas haven't been able to read the news, so they don't know how he is actively trying to destroy the values they are risking their lives to uphold. It's a mystery to me why Trump is not confronted by angry citizens wherever he goes. The way to defeat a bully is to stand up to him and give him a piece of your mind, not to suspend reality and pretend that it's somehow okay to be helping this fool with his political problems. The best way to respect the office of the president right now would be for the good citizens of this country to speak their minds to him at every opportunity.
8
Can someone please investigate the Trump 2020 hats that U.S. soldiers both in Iraq and Germany just happened to have handy for the phony-in-chief to sign? Does this not fly in the face of military protocol to maintain a non-partisan stance?Why was this visit to the troops allowed to sink into an embarrassing campaign stop?
17
@lmg - It’s also a violation of their uniform code. I was surprised they weren’t also asking for autographed American flags while they were at it.
5
DJT could not have made a trip such this with Sec Mattis in attendance. The former general would entirely understand and appreciate all those present. And, the military personnel would understand and appreciate Sec Mattis. DJT would look like the childish play-soldier that he is. Pax, jb
2
What? No mention of the 10% pay raise that Trump announced to the troops; their first pay raise in ten years? Ok, actually it was a 2.6% raise and is commensurate with the annual >2% raise they get every single year... but don’t let that stop you from lying, Donny!
7
I support the decision to pull US troops out of Afghanistan. That was never our business. Syria is a different story.
We are there to oppose ISIS. The fact is George W. Bush, our dumbest president, created ISIS, Islamic State in Syria and Iraq, by deposing Saddam Hussein, the dictator who led and held together Iraq, based upon the outright falsehoods that Iraq had involvement in 9/11 and that Iraq possessed WMD's.
We created that problem, we should see its resolution all the way through.
5
If President Obama brought 2,000 troops home the left would award him another fake Nobel Peace prize. Because it is Trump the hard left media condemns it. We were never going to topple Assad, you have Russia there, the Syrian troops, Syrian rebels, Kurds, Iran is there. Syria was Vietnam x 10, best to pull out our troops.
3
I question your math. Vietnam had invested 2.7 million troops. 56,000 died.
How could this be considered 10 times Vietnam?
Too little, too lae.
Good to see that Trump's bone spur discomfort has subsided.
4
I feel a little sorry for the seamstress that had to add the massive shoulder pads to his military jacket "costume" . Why does this lying insecure draft dodger feel the need to play pretend and "dress up" like a serviceman to lie to actual servicemen about a 10% raise they didn't get? It's so pathetic that he has to put these ridiculous oversized shoulder pads in this jacket and his outdated frumpy suites to try and appear like a "real man". Personally I think George Costanza wire the puffy jacket better. Wonder if the troops that posed with him will someday tell their grandkids "here was the day I met the worst American traitor since Benedict Arnold...." .
One thing is for sure. Whenever you see Donald J Trump appear to do something decent it always comes as a result of him being shamed into it by Fox and Friends...or being caught. Keep in mind. This draft dodger is also a massive tax dodger. The Trump family hasn't contributed to the support of veterans like the rest of us taxpayers, he's skimmed money from fake charities for veterans and would have dodged paying the pledged money for veterans that he promised during the campaign. He only paid it AFTER the press called him out publically. Come to think of it. Lying to troops to their face about a 10% raise when they only got 2.6% seems perfectly in character... for a "man" who has none.
5
Trump wants everyone to believe the military is like the police. You call them and they show up in 10 minutes. Deploying the military overseas is time consuming and very expensive. And many lives can be lost waiting for them to deploy. So if Trump is wrong about withdrawing from Syria, the price will be enormous. But , of course, that won't be his fault. Now will it. Because, in Trump world, there is always a dog under the table to kick. And, I imagine, all the mirrors for self reflection have been removed from the White House.
2
I had bone spurs in my heels that didn't exempt me from military, Cowards always hide away by visiting the troops and Trump is a coward whose father's physician did him a favor. This was reported in the Boston Globe today about Trump.
7
Yet another example of optics for the use of manipulating others into thinking this person is doing a good job.
Let’s break it down, first, what looks bad:
1 - By his own admission “Poor me I am all alone in the WH...” and “I cancelled my Mar-A-Lago vacation ...”
2 - Stock market plummets, Steve M. fumbles when he publicizes that he calls banks and asks, “do you have enough liquidity?” This of course leads to investors concerns. Oh and add to it possible rumors of this person’s possible exploration of his ability to fire the Fed Chairman.
3 - Let’s not forget he alone can fix it so because of this statement of bravado when it looks to the Fox followers that “He” will accept a deal from the Democrats of 1.3 not 5 billion - how dare he! In response so as not to seem weak “He” decides to partially shut down the entire gov’t at Christmas time.
4 - Sec Def publicly resigns with dignity and a no punch pulled rebuke. Based largely on a hastily tweeted and questionably motivated decision to bring the troops home. Yet, “He” can’t be upstaged so he decides to publicly oust Mattis ahead of schedule.
5 - A botched call to a 7 year old asking does he really still believe in Santa?
6 - Video call to troops to again state how good “He” is rather than just thank them for all they do and sacrifice.
5 - Muelluer probe continues, ‘Nuff said.”
Pause for breath.
Now what looks good:
1 - A surprise visit to the deployed troops for a photo op.
Doesn’t quite balance.
8
Empires never die...they simply fade away....only sensible thing Don Caesar has said in the last two years
We’re spread out all over the world,” the president added. “We’re in countries that most people have never even heard about. And, frankly, it’s ridiculous.”
1
No problem with the visit, it was long overdo, but to observe that the US was regarded as suckers because those same troops he was addressing, were laying their lives on the line for nothing. But their sacrifice would be worth it if, in Trump's mind, enough money was paid to the US . That should cheer them up.
5
What of the Kurds? They fought alongside Americans faithfully yet Erdogan has not hidden his long term plan to not only eliminate ISIS but eliminate all the Kurds. Will the fighters and their families be allowed to seek asylum in the USA? Probably not because they would be emigrating from a banned nation.
The world awaits yet another genocide and our president simply doesn't care. After all Erdogan is a strong leader like MBS who doesn't put up with enemies, neither do his other buddies Kim, Putin, Dutarte,...
6
This is just another shiny object to distract us. And perhaps get some votes. Shame!
1
Very brave of the POTUS to set foot into a war zone, especially as his feet must have been aching from the bone spurs.
2
"Mr. Trump...said that “the United States cannot continue to be the policeman of the world.”"
More fake news. The Keystone Kops are policemen, aren't they?
Maybe the government shutdown could be expanded to include no fuel budget for Air Farce One's return trip.
3
This trip to the troops is nothing more than a 140 character photo op equivalent. Change the subject of other federal workers not getting paid over the holidays.
It also changes the subject that troops are stationed and ''on the ground'' many other places on the globe, and illegally doing so. (having no authorization from Congress)
It also changes the subject from allowing Turkey to do what they will in Syria, and Saudi Arabia to do what they will in Yemen. (committing genocide, let alone assassinate journalists)
Say cheese.
5
The troops have to smile or they will get in trouble.
1
Why are these soldiers smiling, clapping, and shaking his hand? Should we assume they are all Trump supporters? Does ANYONE boldly stand up to this man and tell him he is a disgrace to this country? I'd like to see that video.
5
@Tom
Well, they are members of the US military and Trump is "The Commander In Chief" of that military, so they have to see him as THEIR leader, no matter what.
I'd like to see someone stand up to him, but I'm not so sure that would be a good thing. Sometimes when you pop someone's bubble, you unleash a tsunami of unintended consequences. It's no secret that those around him are engaged in subtle deception. Let's hope that keeps a lit on things well enough.
1
Meanwhile, he's the single most responsible for shutting down the government and yet he spends a few cool million day tripping to a war zone on the other side of the planet for another incoherent speech and a photo op.
The shutdown was exactly what neo-con regressives have striven for all along. Grover Norquist is dancing in the street, not knowing whether he should jump for joy or smash a watermelon over his head. A shut-down government is government drowned in a bathtub, and it's exactly what every corporate malcontent dreams about.
5
I hope he showed them the bone spurs that prevented his serving. I'm sure all those troops will feel sympathy for him.
As to suckers, look no further than the American voters who elected him based on the most ludicrous things in the history of American politics. I still don't understand why the government is shut down over funding for a wall that he guaranteed Mexico would pay for. Apparently he thinks large parts of the U.S. are still part of Mexico.
4
I hope the bone spurs didn't flare up.
2
The White House released a photograph of a Seal unit- compromising their identities and lives.
5
Trump said that he had not visited troops abroad because of “an unbelievably busy schedule”, all that tweeting, watching Fox & Friends and golf sure talks up a lot of time, one just cannot find the time can one Donald?
4
This trip to the troops is nothing more than a 140 character photo op equivalent. Change the subject of other federal workers not getting paid over the holidays.
It also changes the subject that troops are stationed and ''on the ground'' many other places on the globe, and illegally doing so. (having no authorization from Congress)
It also changes the subject from allowing Turkey to do what they will in Syria, and Saudi Arabia to do what they will in Yemen. (committing genocide, let alone assassinate journalists)
Say cheese...
3
DT is right. We're not suckers. He is.
1
I assume being a huge wimp as he is, he didn't want to meet with troops, since he would have to answer reporters about his infamous non service during Vietnam. With all the lies and myth of bone spurs, with dubious doctor's, his dad, involved in this diagnosis, he had lied again and again.
He treats military like suckers on his rally.
“Bottomless Pinocchio” continue to polish his rare skill for 20/20 .
Honest, authentic voice needed for what's coming next.
4
Isn’t it time to catch President Trump doing something right?
2
Yes, it is, but first he actually has to do something ‘right,’ whatever that may be. Bottom line: ‘don’t hold your breath!
2
Hello trump supporters....do any of you see the similarity of the trump quotes in this article to the speech of a young adolescent?...say 8-10 years old? Do you trump supporters think that is appropriate? Is that the kind of president you want? Is that the way you talk to each other, like a comic book -reading schoolyard bully? Don't we want our children to be kind and read books?
1
@greg anton
Books aren't for philistines.
1
Trump should give our NATO “allies” 12 months to hit the 2% military spending target (or give us the deficiency), and if they don’t then we are out. We have been the suckers for enough decades.
1
Spoken like a true Trump supporter! Of course, our NATO allies should contribute more. But that likely would be more likely to do so under the US leadership if they were inspired by a sane President who had served his country in the military instead of conjuring a phony ‘bone spur’ in his foot to avoid serving his country.
As for me, I joined the Air National Guard and flew a combat mission to Vietnam, delivering vital supplies to US troops there.
5
Yet no mention of Trump lying to the troops about fictional pay increases...
3
We need to pull all the troops out of Iraq. For a couple of hundred ISIS fighters, we don’t need thousands of American troops in Iraq. Too expensive and serving only to transport a draft dodger.
Ego fix, nothing more.
2
Are we certain that this brief visit was overseas and not with the "border brigade" holed up in Tucson?
Either way, it's been staged for Poor Donald to win some points through positive media exposure after numerous negative missteps, flubs and affronts.
And now Poor Donald's already back for his bed in Mar-a-logo, just like during his rally schedule.
He's so pampered he won't sleep without his own special bedding unless he has to.
3
I hope no one in Iraq was discourteous enough to ask if his bone spurs have healed yet and if he is ready to see some actual combat.
1
Our service people are bravely placing themselves in harm’s way. Other members of the military did the same and died. Now Trump goes to Iraq and belittles their service by telling them they have been “suckers.” Trump always finds a way to go lower and lower.
2
He has already started running for the 2020 election.
Another publicity stunt, another photo-shoot.
2
Everyone wants a picture with the only president in history that will serve jail time.
4
hmmm, I am an Ex Army infantry officer. During my time in the Army I can think of absolutely no time were I was ever in a group of only Caucasian army personnel regardless if it was amongst only my fellow officers or in a group of officers and NCOs. So how exactly was Trump able to be photographed only with white skinned male army personnel? This doesn't happen in the real military word. You want proof that Trump is a racist, well here you have it. I am absolutely ashamed that obviously some HQ personnel were complicit in this racist photo op in the 21st century.
8
A proven draft dodger bragging to military personnel that he told off Senior Commanders & Generals and disagreed with their recommendations is guaranteed to look like an ignorant, childish braggart.
In other words: just what he is.
5
Is It is good that Trump and Melania went to Iraq.
Was anyone else offended by Trump using the adjective "suckers" when he refers to the United States of America, especially in front of active service men and women? I'm sure the troops didn't like to hear references of being suckers, I dont. One thing Trump is not, "a class act."
.
7
ewwww...just looking at the fake people in our white house is creepy.
they both need on on their way out the door as quickly as we can we can get them out.
2
Bravo, President Trump!
Bring them home!
You keep looking forward while the Times puts a team of reporters on your trail, investigating bonespurs and Vietnam...
They just do not get it, do they?
1
It appears that you are perhaps the one that does not ‘get’ it.
Let’s see, when did the story about individual 1 “fearing for his life if he went to a war zone” hit the news? When did he start boo-hooing about being “all alone?” This story says the trip was planned “weeks in advance,” but I’ll bet not....he was planning to be golfing for sixteen days, remember!? Yet another incident of deceit on the part of the master thereof! Nothing he does is ever honest.
4
China and Russia would love a world with no World’s policeman. Japan was building up to World War 2 since 1868. Japan gave USA 3000 cherry blossoms in 1919 to plant around our National Mall. Japan started its USA spy network in 1920, eventually landing Naval Academy graduate John Semer Farnsworth in the midst of sending Japan the entire US Navy code book. Germany was preparing for World War 1 since the 1880s. We who have lived and worked in China see there the same racism and xenophobia as Japan and Germany, combined with an exponential military buildup. It is a toxic potion. China is on a similar path to Japan with China, but now the American consumer is paying for it. There is Dumb, Dumber, and then there are Americans.
3
Please, please, please...can we keep him over there!
3
“I had concerns about the institution of the presidency,” he said. “Not for myself, personally. I had concerns for the first lady, I will tell you. But if you would have see what we had to go through in the darkened plane with all window closed, with no light anywhere. Pitch black. I’ve been on many airplanes. All types and shapes and sizes. So did I have a concern? Yes, I had a concern.”
Unable to write more, as the tears are pouring down my face.
I flew across the Atlantic last week (and back) and the shades were down as well.
How brave POTUS is. What a leader ... and of course the 'wife' too. "In a darkened plane ..." ... How you suffer.
5
Visiting troops is good, the speech was vain and specious. USA now has a Boeing salesman for Defence Sec and a no service
person for President.
No one from another country has told him to withdraw from Iraq yet. Only reason hge has not announced it.
Suckers?
Outside USA was respected by its allies , no longer
2
If he really wanted to show he’s no longer hampered by bone spurs, he’d have gone straight to Syria to buck up the troops. He’s personally decimated ISIS after all.
Gutless. Absolutely gutless.
1
Trump’s visit to the troops in Iraq is not born out of shame because he has been derelict in that duty, but due to his conniving to distract from his latest nonsense of shutting down the federal government in the knowledge that you can fool some people all of the time.
2
Has any president in the US ever told young men and women in uniform that they and the whole country were suckers, and that on foreign shores to boot, and only he, he, he put and end to that once and for all?
This vulgar nit-wit, unstable and dangerous man with the attention span of a gnat belongs in a closed facility, not in the White House.
5
And of course Trump just had to lie in his remarks to the troops.
From ABC News reporter Ali Rogin:
"While in Iraq, Trump delivered a speech directed at American troops where he told “two flagrant lies in a row,” according to ABC News producer and reporter Ali Rogin.
Trump decided to lie to troops about their pay raise.
“He said the US military got its first pay raise in 10 years,” Rogin wrote on Twitter before linking to a May PolitiFact analysis from the first time the president made the claim that found the lie “Pants on Fire” egregious.
“You haven’t gotten [a raise] in more than ten years,” Trump told troops. “More than ten years. And we got you a big one. I got you a big one.”
The ABC News producer noted, however, that “the military has received a pay increase each year except for [1983] and that was a technical glitch.”
Rogin added that Trump also “said he raised the military’s pay by ten percent.” This is in fact another lie as the pay was raised 2.8 percent in 2018 and another 2.6 percent in the August National Defense Authorization Act.
“You had plenty of people that came up and said, you know, we can make it smaller,” Trump said. “I said no. Make it ten percent. Make it more than ten percent. Because it’s been a long time.”
“Both those quotes are lies that the president has been called out on before,” Rogin concluded."
https://politicaldig.com/disgraceful-trump-just-lied-to-the-faces-of-deployed-troops/
5
All for photo op and ratings. The man with the raccoon eyes and the orange hair and his barbie doll do not give a fig about the military men and women who are helping this country. Watch their ratings on Fox News go up so the rest of the populace can forget about the shutdown, Secretary Mattis, Director Comey,Bob Mueller and the stock market. What a joke!
2
Idiot "President" strikes again:
1. he has posted a video to twitter: "President Donald Trump and the White House communications team revealed that a U.S. Navy SEAL team was deployed to Iraq after the president secretly traveled to the region to meet with American forces serving in a combat zone for the first time since being elected to office. While the commander-in-chief can declassify information, usually the specific special operations unit is not revealed to the American public, especially while U.S. service members are deployed. Official photographs and videos typically blur the individual faces of special operation forces, due to the sensitive nature of their job";
2. Lies to troops: you haven't received a pay raise in ten years, more than ten years, but you got a 10% raise from me (all of which is false);
3. Breaches DOD rules for military personnel by involving them in rank partisan political speeches and signing of Trump merchandise.
And he wasn't shamed into going, he needed to go to try and change the media coverage on Fox: Trump doesn't understand what it means to be shamed, he only schemes and performs for the cameras.
5
Just like Nixon going on a pseudo-triumphant rail trip down the banks of the Nile with Sadat as Sen. Sam Ervin and Committee were breathing down his guilty neck.
4
I am appalled that this “president” would use these heroes and actually comment on how busy he is...deconstructing the country. This narcissist uses this visit as a photo op and a means to continue criticizing and BLAMING everyone and everything but himself. He is the lowest form of despicable.
4
Trump's hypocrisy is bottomless. It is his entire way of life. His actions in Syria and Afghanistan are designed to please his true boss, Vladimir Putin who wanted his puppet Donald to take some action before facing possible impeachment. Bone-Spur Trump has not a shred of credibility. Only those living in the closed Trump Universe fed daily by Fox News propaganda cannot see Trump as the total con man and fraud that the Republicans chose to represent their party. Birds of a feather.
5
Draft dodging, fraud in a combat zone. Scared they closed the windows—so add coward to the list..
4
Sad how trump uses the military to rally his base.
Troops on the Mexico border and now a Hail Mary visit to Iraq.
Smells like desperation.
What sort of medication was required for him to go through this?
2
If I was in the military in Iraq and Clown 1 showed up I would feign illness requesting a trip to the infirmary.
Maybe it wouldn't be feigning - I might have actually been sick - to my stomach.
3
Maybe the prez likes how the name of the country sounds when he says it. "I rock."
This is such a false move, bu a fake president.
He probably believes that now he has visited some soldiers in Iraq that it will improve his standing in opinion polls in regard to the military.
In fact this ridiculous trip makes his ignorant pull back of American soldiers in Syria even more despicable. This man sees the US military as tools in opinion polls and nothing more.
Trump is fully co-responsible for the murder of tens of thousands Yemeni by the Saudi Arab dictatorship by delivering to them the bombs and airplanes that killed them,
he is also co-responsible for the Khashoggi murder by the same dictatorship.
He has now caved in to the Turkish dictator who has now a free hand witj the Americans gone to brutally slaughter the Kurds, many of them have given their life to protect American soldiers. He has given Nethanayu a dictator wannabe, a free hand to deal with Palestines every method allowed and approved in advance by Trump.
He destroyed the Iran deal playing in hands of again the murderous leadership in Saudi Arabia as well as pleasing his Russian friend the dictator Putin.
Our President is the most evil American President ever, a man who will do everything what his dictator friends want and all that during the Christmas holidays.
1
We are living Thru a real life version of the movie “idiocacy”.. where someone very stupid tells others ( who are even more stupid) something ridiculous.. and those people believe him
Forget a poll tax on voting . How about an intelligence test for voting
But.. the bigger problem here is an unwillingness ( or inability ) to think Thru complex situations
To say that we were “ suckers” is tantamount to saying that 60+ years of working on the integration of allies and the reduction of international conflict was worthless
On the one hand .. you have the military industrial complex needing wars so to profit ( because that policy was too successful ?)
On the other.. you have advisors ( ie s Miller) who have never been in harms way saying what the ya should do .. what does he know about anything ??
We are now the dumb being lead by the even dumber
1
How sad to hear our brave troops cheering his locker room remarks about he wonderful his presidency is compared to past administrations. Taking selfies with him as if he was John McCain.
Our Brave troop are being brain washed to cheer for his dumb wall and of course a salute to his Heel Spur.
2
Please title this article truthfully. “Sociopath tries to draw attention from his falsity by shamelessly posing with patriots who are in harms way”
1
Oh, and while this is likely pure ignorance....the video seems to show sailors, not troops. Note the “US Navy?”
1
The bone spurs must be feeling better.
Trump needs to Resign.
He is not fit for the job.
He is ruining our country.
He is a mounting danger.
WAKE-UP AMERICA!
2
Trump has become so imbecilic, it's hard not to read ulterior, self-serving motives into his actions, even when they seem like the right thing to do.
Meanwhile, government employees in the millions await word that they may receive paychecks sometime soon . . .
That a visit to our troops is such "braking news" says it all about Trump and his administration. "We're no longer the suckers, folks" Oh yes we are folks, just ask Vladimir Putin...
1
So did he walk in to the barracks and actually say
“Hello. Comrade Putin sends his regards !”
..Or was it simply implied.
I mean DJT works for putin, right?
I mean he works for the US!? Right?
....I don’t know... I cannot keep it straight!
1
Trump and supporters should be ashamed of themselves by electing a president whose father bribed two podiatrists too get him out of going to Vietnam. They claim he had a bone spur without even really examining him. The fake podiatrists were given luxury apartments for life with the Trumps . That is just sickening. Then Trump played college football for years and basketball. He has no shame and disgusts all us Army veterans who served in uniform. When are these daily lies going to end. We never heard all this sleazy behavior about President Obama.
3
Please tell me that he didn’t throw paper towels at the troops.
1
And the great con artist attempts to manipulate his public image by a trip designed to make someone look good despite making the holiday season fearful for millions of Americans. This act does not make up for his racist legislation, the compromising of national security, his willingness to leave families without a salary to support themselves for a racist monument, his impulsive decision to put lives of our allies at risk by pulling out of Syria, among many other things.
1
Trump turned this visit with soldiers into a political rally. Signing MAGA hats and preaching his "we need the wall" to soldiers. Trump is a disgrace on every possible level . Dems need to investigate every aspect of the Trump administration; from his corrupt cabinet members to DHS killing two kids in 3 weeks. Ray Sipe
1
Bravo, President Trump.
“Bravo” for ... lying to the troops about their pay raise? Finally visiting them only after being shamed for avoiding it for two years? Dodging military service based on a faked foot ailment? Insulting a universally respected US senator who actually did serve, and survived torture as a prisoner of war? Publicly disparaging a Gold Star family? Disdaining America publicly? Defending neo-Nazis? Please be more specific.
Draft Dodger!
4
Glad he went, just a shame he turned it into one of his cheap campaign rallies. Perhaps leave the cheesy MAGA hats home next time.
1
I don't remember Barack Obama or George W Bush or any other presidents grinning like a Cheshire Cat when visiting our troops. Donald Trump and Melania are grinning inappropriately posing when visiting a war zone.
3
OK, none of us here seem to like Trump... but I gotta point out, if only his smile was the problem, right?
Trump have made sure that USA now are the "suckers" because he gives Putin and other dictators free hands to do whatever they want, annex... anything they want, without any consequences or any actions at all from USA! USA will no longer help defend/protect freedom and democracy around the world!
1
Typical trump to tell active troops that they are suckers for doing their job....also, NYT, don't praise him at all for doing his job. The press bears a large responsibility for him being president.
2
So he finally visits our troops and then he throws that disgusting wall at them. Our soldiers are us but in the process of making great personal sacrifice. Too dumb to leave divisive issues out of the visit.
1
100 people in the audience? 15 minutes with troops?
Well, whoop-de-do. Somehow I know that Obama and Dubya both did a tad bit better.
I also liked the part where he told troops their senior commanders were idiots.
Oh, and for the crowd who got up, watched FOX, and are now going off about Trump haters? You betcha. With good reason. But we all feel just terrible, given how fair y’all were to Obama.
3
SPOTTED: weakling among brave.
5
The sucker is President Trump, and the loser is the USA. His arrogant defiance of General Mattis, his own advisors, the Pentagon, and the US Army in the theatre demonstrates a foolhardy action for which our country will likely pay dearly and sadly, also our brave and loyal Kurdish allies. God save us all.
3
When Donald flew to Iraq
He told the boys he had their back
But ever so clever
He never said "never"
When offered a ride in a half-track
Sigh, we miss you Dr. E
1
Smartest thing Don “Bonespurs” Trump ever said:
“I said, ‘Nope. Nope.’ I said, ‘I gave you a lot of six months,’” the president said. “And now we’re doing it a different way.”
Trump is, in my mind, as insightful as a rutabaga, yet he figured out that all these six months were adding up to nothing more than a waste of lives, money, and opportunities, all to benefit the big military contractors. And all the “smart” people that got us into these quagmires are freaking out that maybe our endless wars will finally end.
Good on you, Trump. Now stop acting like an idiot in all the other areas of your job.
Trump is the hardest working POTUS ever.
1
@ Brad, hope that’s sarcasm....
2
Is this real or is it Memorex? lol
1
Well, there you have it, folks. US foreign policy is now based on no longer being suckers. I feel safer already.
1
Hmmm... uh... "PUBLICITY STUNT?"
Again? So predictable - and so getting old.
How dare you use the military you to demean and disrespct to your aMErica First list (no, not an agenda - that takes too much thought - just a list of rally promises to more "me first - me only" crowds
" We're no longer the suckers, folks." Not necessarily, I believe his support stands at about 40%, so there are obviously plenty of suckers still to be found.
Why is he wearing that Ridiculous
Presume he took his "bone spurs' with him?
Who really cares what this liar does with his time when he is not watching FOX news on TV?
2
DJT looks like a smiling zombie. Creepy!
2
First insult veterans by failing to visit their graves in Europe. Then disagree with and disparage your most sensible and senior military commander, the Defense Secretary. Then shut down the government. Then visit the troops with your photogenic wife.
2
Comrade Trump declares, "Mission Accomplished" in an authentic '43' costume,
and Fearless Leader Vladimir dances like a drunk cossack around the Kurdish Oil fields.
1
He should have stayed in Iraq
3
Not impressed at all. He should be golfing which would be his preference!!
2
"We're not suckers anymore." He was concerned for the First Lady's safety? I'm sorry, but I don't think I can read any more about this cretin's thoughts! Lying is second nature to the man and he assumes everyone is as stupid and ignorant as he is. Enough! We need to protect our country from this evil degenerate. I agree with the commenter who said we should build the wall now to keep him from returning.
4
"We're no longer the suckers, folks!"
So presidential, what an orator! It's like having the guy who towed away your car illegally for president.
3
No longer suckers after Pearl Harbor and 911 I guess we were suckers, spoken like a con artist. Trump just like Trump University you conned a minority of the voters to vote for a erratic blowhard draft dodger. Ignorant only values money has no morals only what;s in it for me . Greedy ,vindictive and nasty our new image in the world only wants to hang out with dictators like he wants to be. Talking politics to troops is disgusting only what a two bit dictator would do.
3
Trump is being played for a sucker by Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. The US may never recover it's standing in the world...
3
The first frames of Don and Melanie with a troop look eerily like photos of Don Jr. and Eric with their dead animals in Africa.
Game bagged, picture taken, point made, "Get me outa here".
4
The bar is so unbelievably low for this unfit, imbecilic imposter that even when he barely satisfies a minimum obligation of the job he voluntarily sought—grudgingly visiting our military men and women serving overseas after he was essentially forced to do it—Trump’s little minions are so sadly manipulated by it they sound like Justin Bieber fans.
Talk about the soft bigotry of low expectations. The guy managed to take Air Force One, on which he no doubt stuffed his face several times en route, get off it for a couple hours to run his mouth/lie to the troops, sign a few hats, and get back on AF1. After two full years setting records for golfing by a sitting president. Wow. Great work Donald!!
(slow clap)
4
The Ghost of Christmas Future must’ve told Donald that the problem “is NOT the Economy, Stupid”.
2
Where are all the soldiers of color in this photo?
6
All those soldiers who died over there, are they "suckers" too?
What a despicable man.
8
Oh, but we are suckers. You were elected; that proves it.
6
He who has no shame. All Tee Vee guy.
3
"We're no longer the suckers.....". Trump is telling the troops that until now they've all been suckers!!!!
5
Am I the only one that finds it ironic that Trump, of all presidents, is actually the one that has the troops best interests at heart, at least in this instance? Think about it. How best can you support the troops then not sending them to die or get horribly injured in a useless Middle East war. And for what, oil companies, Israel, or the Saudi and Gulf states princes? Our kids have been used liked pawns to die for these causes, and I think everyone knows that, but listening to both the liberal and conservative talking points in the media, it's like the Iraq war never happened. I watched our Nobel Peace Prize president actually expand our wars, launching the disastrous covert CIA/Saudi regime change policy of funding these Sunni jihadist (ISIS, al Qaeda) in Syria. We, with the help of the Saudis and the Gulf States created the expansion of ISIS that led to unspeakable horror for those living in Iraq and Syria. We funded and perpetuated the Syrian civil war that led to 600,000 civilian deaths and millions flooding into Europe causing strain on those societies. As Daniels Ellsberg once said, " We aren't on the wrong side. We ARE the wrong side." So when a president actually pulls our kids out of some country that we have illegally invaded, I support that. Do I wish it had been Obama instead of Trump? Absolutely. But I'll take it however it comes and to hell with the war mongering neocons on Fox and neoliberals on MSNBC.
5
Christmas is not over.
Mr Putin announced a new super missile as a gift to Russia.
I note the lack of comment from your president.
The president bereft of intelligence reading provided by CIA and the FBI continues to make decisions in private with Putin and Endrogan.
The obvious conclusion is that to quote Mr Trump in his usual vulgarity states American allies have treated the US as "suckers".
I do object to his derision of allies.
The logical conclusion is that the Commander in Chief as is his prerogative leaves NATO and to hell the rest of the world.
US military assets may be best deployed preempting threats closer to home originating in Mexico and Canada.
Mr Xi and Mr Putin are avuncular guys who would love the Trump brand on their gulags of potential voters who differ.
The man a complete embarrassment from his ankle spurs to his fake hair.
Did Americans actually elect this shame on 100 years of allied fights for democracy?
Your, choice, your call.
4
@ Private citizen...please try to keep in mind that the current WH occupant lost the popular vote here in America by three million votes. Less than 60% of eligible voters even bothered to show up at the polls in 2016.
For two years we have only been able to watch as a gerrymandered GOP House (and Republican Senators) did nothing more than wring their hands. No checks, no balances exercised on this one man wrecking ball. Our protests have gone mostly unanswered. It’s like watching the twilight zone unfold.
Now I’m just praying that there will be clarity when Mueller’s probe is finished and the Democrats in the US House convene in JAN ‘19.
Otherwise.....
The wild card remains the Kurds. Will Turkey attack them? Surely, this will not be a problem for the power structure presently in control of Iraq. Then it will be but a betrayal of our truest friends in the region. trump does not care. His entire life strategy is to screw people over and then move on. There will be a day of reckoning for this behavior. General Mattis is a whole lot smarter and prescient than Donald Trump.
2
Wearing the uniform with partisan political hats??? What the hell is going on with the military? I am a taxpayer and Navy spouse and this is a huge violation of the USCMJ. Every single sailor who wore that hat while in uniform should face an NJP. I am calling my senators and the IG. Being respectful of the CIC is one thing, but acting like partisan rally goers while in uniform is a breach of conduct and unacceptable. Shameful. He used you all as a bunch of props to boost his damn ego as the walls of Justice close in on him. The Secretary of Defense just resigned out of concern for the armed forces and rashness of Trump's plan. The behavior of those sailors was shameful to all those who wear the uniform and have honor and proper military bearing not to act like partisan rallygoers.
8
@klowd9224 I absolutely agree with you, and so does my husband, Lt. Col Franklin D. Lane, USMC (retired), United States Naval Academy, class of 1973. I do not feel safe at all with the current military members allowing themselves to be used by this imposter of a president. It is disgraceful.
1
Undoubtedly, this man is and continues to be the worst President we have had, at least in modern times, and perhaps ever.
Just reading this article and listening to the news with his insidious statements verifies his inappropriate behavior and statements.
No other President that I can remember brought their politics into their statements, as he did, while speaking to troops in a war zone. Notwithstanding anything else he says or does, justifies his statements.
The man has no decency. He reminds me of Joe McCarthy and McCarthy's alleged Communist "witch hunts" in the early '50s, with his subsequently disbarred counsel and best friend Roy Cohn.
18
Watch. This will be the first of many such trips as it dawns on Trump that he can expect very positive optics. Unlike civilian audiences the soldiers and airmen don't bear protest signs and are under orders to show up and applaud their commander-in-chief. This is perhaps the main reasons presidents are usually so anxious to pay visits to the beloved troops. The only puzzle is why it has taken Him so long to figure this out?
25
@highway Ooh, and he gets to wear that cool military jacket too.
2
“...the United States cannot continue to be the policeman of the world.”
This is a very welcome statement from Trump in the company of John Bolton, the architect of the policy for regime change in Iran. A key element of Bolton's policy is to cut Iran's oil exports to zero thru unilateral sanctions imposed on Iran not authorized by the Security Council and imposed without the consent of Congress.
Bolton had anticipated increasing U.S. forces in Syria to counter Iran. This goal had nothing to do with defeating ISIS, which is the sole reason why the U.S. initiated operations in Syria together with the anti-ISIS coalition. When President Trump withdrew from JCPOA and imposed unilateral sanctions on Iran he in effect declared that the U.S. and not the UN Security Council had the authority to police Iran's behavior in the Middle East. As the world's policeman Trump aimed to punish companies seeking to do legitimate business in Iran regardless whether they were U.S. or any nation. The result has been that the EU has declared compliance with the sanctions illegal and is building alternative mechanisms to allow trade with Iran to continue.
It is welcome to hear that the U.S. will no longer act the world policeman. This would mean that the U.S. would rejoin JCPOA and join with the Security Council to enforce the Iran nuclear agreement and to work with the EU, UK, China, Russia and other states to address non-nuclear concerns with Iran.
9
Left all alone in the White House amid desertions by officials and colleagues, stormy political conditions at the Capitol Hill following the government shutdown, and his own legal troubles President Trump finds at last a good diversion in visiting the Iraq front and meet the US soldiers for the first time in two years of his tenure, not to appreciate their sacrifices but to indulge in self praise for his decision to prematurely withdraw troops from Syria whatever be the consequences.
25
I thought servicemembers were not allowed to wear political emblems while in uniform - which would include MAGA hats. If so, the description in the article makes me wonder just how authentic a dining-room gathering this was.
92
It’s got Trump. I think that resolves the authenticity part. Remember when students at Liberty “University,” were required to go to his rally?
1
This is what Presidents do. When he does the other 99.9% of what the Presidency requires, I will give him credit.
46
@Doug Lowenthal
Sorry. The presidency does not "require" 99.9% of tweet diplomacy, rallies, and photo-ops.
So: Trump took time out of his busy campaign schedule to make a surprise visit to pander to our troops in Iraq where he spoke to a captive audience full of folks who would probably get court-marshaled if they were to protest or question his judgement regarding leaving Syria and our "defeat" of ISIS.
This so-called president and Commander-in-Chief who has never served his country in any position except the one through which he can enrich his own coffers, couldn’t take time from his busy schedule to visit an American cemetery outside Paris during a WWI 100-year memorial, and has been in office two years without visiting military installations decided to visit as his popularity, along with the world economy, tanks. He says he feared for his safety and that of his wife during transport . . . but he couldn’t have gotten such charming PR or a better reception anywhere else right now.
He has increased this nation's military spending, but for what purpose—if he doesn’t think our country has an obligation to be "the policeman to the world"? Who can step into the void we will leave? What does he intend to use the funds for?
We have witnessed his treatment of gold-star families and widows, so we have every reason to question his motives in this situation. I don’t like what he's doing anywhere to anyone, especially here to our nation and it’s citizens. I don’t like him. I don’t trust him.
I hope his heel spurs are hurting.
65
He never had heel spurs. His father paid a podiatrist to write a letter claiming heel spurs, in 1978 to keep him out of Vietnam... in exchange for minor real estate favors, The New York Times recently reported. The podiatrist has since died—but his daughter, also a doctor confirmed its validity. She said that it was often talked about by her father. A wealthy real estate man paid to keep his son out of danger...out of Vietnam. The daughter said in the family that they all knew.
3
He looks so out of place in this photo, almost as if photoshopped into the group of soldiers. Including the plastic overly bright smile, which we never get to see in any daily photographs. We only get to see the gruff, hyper-masculine exterior he wants to project. The result here is strange and uneasy. The suit and tie are terribly out of sync, lending a very strange flavor to the entire thing. Of course someone told him not to wear that--I am sure he decided he knew better. Wrong. Just very wrong.
39
American troops have been in Syria and Afghanistan for donkey's years. I am not an American, but perhaps many Americans are simply tired of being in all of these costly wars that never end.
Perhaps other nation/states can carry this financial water for awhile. I include my own beloved Canada in this. I mean really and truly, perhaps this world expects too much from America. Perhaps we should all let up on America for a bit.
I admit I do not understand Americans most of the time and feel they are nothing like Canadians, but if I were an American and lived down there, I should think that I would want my tax dollars to go for better health care, fixing the beastly infrastructure, the public schools, all those things that many other countries, including my own sometimes, take for granted.
If the rest of us, in other countries did this, perhaps America's divisive and anxious anger might cool down a bit.
19
You have fallen for this 'America can no longer be the world's policeman rhetoric' line which is also being amplified by Russia's bots. Do you honestly think that the US is in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria because it is the 'World's Policeman' and not because of it's own interests?The US invaded Afghanistan because of 9-11 and Al Queda and in doing so it became the only NATO member to ever invoke the collective self-defence clause so as to drag other NATO members into an elective military conflict. Iraq was also invaded for opaque, but definitely US-centered reasons, very few other countries agreed with that decision and even fewer joined them. Syria, again, was base for terrorists attacking the US, or have you forgotten the Isis-claimed attacks in Orlando and San Bernadino? Don't be as confused as Trump who once got so carried away complaining about NATO contributions that he said the other NATO countries should do more about North Korea. NK is nowhere near a single NATO country except the US. It's missiles are pointed at US territory and US soldiers. Please do not kid yourself that American interests in peace on the Korean peninsula are anything but self-interested. I wonder why Trump did not recall no longer wanting to be the World's Policeman when he slapped sanctions on Iran, Cuba and Venezuela???
We want our president to be a better person and act more presidential so let's give him some positive reinforcement when it is merited.
Thanks President Trump for making the Iraq trip. It was a nice thing to do.
9
That kind but delusional expectation of any thoughtful and meaningful goodness and kindness will never come from trump. What ever trump does is calculated to only serve one interest...his own. Narcissists look into only one mirror...it only reflects their own personal narrative...self. He is incapable of deeper, questioning and intellectual curiosity. The bigger picture will never be the country, the people, the planet, doing right—the bigger picture will only and always be just...trump!
You have to give it to Trump-he is about the only leader of any political persuasion who is actually trying to fulfil his campaign promises against all the odds. The fact that many don't like his mannerisms or unrefined commentary as well as observations doesn't really cut it. A leader doesn't not have to follow a text book guideline on behavioural etiquette. I have to begrudgingly admit that it is his stubbornness to implement what he promised that earns at least some respect from my quarters.
7
@Will G Your comments from the other side of the planet reflect that fact. Your cute, heroic narrative is NOT what's happening here. Maybe you should do some more reading.
4
There is nothing here to respect, or admire, grudging or not.
The man is a disgrace.
He mocks true military heroes who, to their last breath, serve their country with honor and grace; claims bad weather as an excuse for skipping a commemorative cemetery visit in Europe; waits TWO years to visit active troops overseas ("I've been so busy!), yet has the audacity to pose for holiday photos with a few soldiers in a safe zone at HIS convenience when things get dicey in DC and he needs a feel-good photo-op.
And please don't try to paint this as some grand gesture of personal "sacrifice" on his part, during the holiday season. The man doesn't know the meaning of the word, nor does he understand the nature of his job and the responsibilities it entails. Everything he does is for his personal benefit, and his alone. No president has done more to tear the country apart and pit the pieces against each other, than this pathetic excuse for an elected official (I refuse to call him a leader).
As I said, a disgrace.
4
I might buy a scintilla of that reasoning if I thought trump “cared” about anything but himself. He’s simply exploiting the least educated, least informed, most vulnerable, poorest segment of the population for personal and political gain. Trump is strictly transactional. Think about Trump the man, his history and his family’s history and ask yourself if you really think he is personally aligned with ANY of his campaign promises or any of the values of his base.
All of his businesses do nothing but exploit and stiff its employees, many of whom are cheap labor immigrants
He’s a demagogue. A Con Man and a shill.
5
The soldiers look very pleased to be hosting Trump and the FLOTUS. That is what is important, not Trump's critics who will criticize him regardless of what he does.
10
@Philly
Of course they "look very pleased" -- that's exactly why they were chosen, and what a photo-op is all about.
1
Trump gets criticized because of what he does, not regardless of what he does, don't his supporters get that by now? Let's just look at the debacle of how he is handling his relationship with the Fed and his statements which both undermine it and give the markets doubt about the stability of our economy. Completely clueless. You don't think he deserves criticism for such irrational and irresponsible behavior?
@Philly That's because they're ORDERED to "look very pleased".
Let's not conflate the President's visit to the troops in Iraq with its obvious risks with an entirely separate issue of a government shutdown which reflects badly on both sides. Whether his decision to withdraw from Syria, fulfilling a campaign promise (he did win, didn't he?) will prove wise will await the verdict of history not the political rants and editorial comments of today.President Truman fired General Douglas MacArthur and the decision was unpopular at the time but, in retrospect, was arguably the right one. If Trump had doubled our presence in Syria the same critics of the withdrawal would be equally negative.
1
@alan brown
The cities held by ISIS have been bombed so much they are uninhabitable. ISIS also booby-trapped the homes they left. The original citizens have nowhere to live and nowhere to go. It's a type of winning.
Trump also says no to money for reconstruction . Any president could have ordered the cities bombed to the ground so people were forced out.
I love: "Mr. Trump, who visited the air base with his wife, Melania, said he had rejected requests from military commanders to remain in Syria for another six months."
I think MANY of us would be relieved if he would only do so.
6
“Oh I know you're set for fighting, but what are you fighting for?”--- Phil Ochs
Kudos to Trump for Pulling out of Syria and Afghanistan.
The greatest threat to world peace and U.S. national security has been our military, special forces, and CIA activities for the last seven decades: Cuba, Vietnam, Cambodia, Chile, Grenada, Panama, Nicaragua, Kuwait, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Syria, and the proverbial endless War on Terror?
When will this war madness end?
These wars have not made us any safer, just the opposite, they have contributed to the deaths of millions on innocent civilians (including tens of thousands of our young American boys.)
Osama Bin Laden make his motives for bombing the World Trade Center very clear: the U.S. was meddling the in Mideast when it shouldn't have been.
The question is why the US has gotten into so many useless wars?
And the answer is: Follow the Money. And the money leads to huge profits for military contractors (the military-industrial complex that Dwight Eisenhower warned us of in 1960) and international businesses, oil, at the expense of civilian lives and prosperity at home.
Obama promised to get us out of “stupid wars” but he didn’t follow through. Ironically today’s Democrats have morphed into rabid military hawks “the invade the world party.”
Trump has been wrong about most things, but he is right on this one big thing.
We have no business trying to be the policeman of the world as important domestic priorities go unanswered.
12
@Blake FLEETWOOD
Spot on Blake. You can add to that list the various efforts from US administrations to support and prop up some grotesque villainous regimes eg Chile with money, arms and tactical support.
I am afraid both the Bush administrations have kicked off a hundred year war (the Brits and the Oz governments) were willing co-conspirators). None of us will know where this will end.
I would like to know how much his fifteen minutes with the troops cost. While those on furlough during this government shut down, the person who is causing chaos and roiling world markets, takes a jaunt to visit the troops and spends a measly 15 minutes talking to them. Sort of like his plan for the future, 15 minutes and 140 characters at a time.
25
“We’re in countries that most people have never even heard about. And, frankly, it’s ridiculous.”
I hope he will also murmur, "We captured an island off Japan 74 years ago and ever since station troops there. Even now securing a new Marine base (costly, about 20 billion dollars according to the Okinawa government, to be payed by the Japanese) there for a use, perhaps, for another 74 years. And, frankly, it’s ridiculous.”
8
Is this the new Trump doctrine? The US military will now be a mercenary force that only fights for people who pay us?
20
To the troops protecting our country a word to the wise: don't turn your back on the National Nightmare.
12
Charlie Sierra can tell his lies without fear of being contridicted - else officers would be court martialed under Article 88: “Any commissioned officer who uses contemptuous words against the President, the Vice President, Congress, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of a military department, the Secretary of Transportation, or the Governor or legislature of any State, Territory, Commonwealth, or possession in which he is on duty or present shall be punished as a court-martial may direct.” (Enlisted are prosecuted inder Article 134.)
Shameful way to treat people who have sworn their lives to protect our Republic and Constitution.
5
This trip will bring our Commander in Chief, General Donald Bonespur, fully up to date and 100% qualified to command our mighty military without having to listen ever again to those know it all Generals and Admirals. And just look how the troops admire his bravery and military intuition. Lucky us!
12
Oh joy, Trump checks another box after weeks of finger pointing and blame. At Christmas, no less.
What a wonderful, wonderful man.
9
Optics anyone? Campaign fodder for the future. Deflect thoughts away from the subjects at hand back home. The Commander in chief just gets fatter. Who wears an overcoat and tie to visit the troops. At least, Melania appeared to be in campaign suede and laced boots. The description of flying Airforce One with no lights on is out of a spy thriller. Not too long now, Mr. President is going to be living a different reality when the Democrats bring some reality back to the forefront.
21
President Trump, a man true to his words and hailers by veterans and troops alike. A common soldier’s Commander. Bravo!!! Make America Great Again!!!
4
How inspiring. I’m now an ardent Trump supporter. Thanks Boris.
"Trump Makes Surprise Visit to Reality". . .
It's disturbing to see this man with troops, flashing a quick and disingenuous smile.
Although this action is something regarded as respectful (part of me is of the ilk), Trump's authenticity is, as always, suspect. Members of the military standing next to him have volunteered with motivation and pride.
Trump dodged his own service requests, five times.
11
Trump didn't go to Mar A Largo for the Holidays because, as he puts it, Democrats refused to let him have his vacation and left him all alone in Washington, poor him. So when is he going to give the Democrats credit for making his visit to Iraq possible?
10
The sole purpose of Donald Trump's visit to troops in Iraq is to change the narrative from the fact that he was manipulated by conservative media figures to renege on a deal with Congress to fund the federal government without funds for a useless border wall. With the federal government closed, and the ever-needy Mr. Trump isolated in the White House during the holidays, it is no wonder that he agreed to engage in political theater that deflects from the fact that he is not an able negotiator, is responsible for the failure to fund the federal government, and has no clear face-saving way out of the shutdown. That it also lets him get in front of the cameras surely enticed Mr. Trump as well.
13
The President has to keep secret his trip to Iraq so the enemy won't be able to make an attempt on his life. I assume. Yet he spontaneously blurts out his intentions to pull troops, emboldening those same enemies.
11
Retired Marine. 30 years. Two wars.
“But on Wednesday, about 100 American servicemen and women, some of whom were wearing red “Make America Great Again” caps, greeted Mr. Trump with a standing ovation in Al Asad Air Base’s dining facility, which had been decorated for Christmas.”
For those wearing MAGA caps, political activity while in uniform.
Patently illegal. Every person should be sanctioned, as they know it’s wrong, and their immediate commanders relieved because they allowed it.
78
Think what a problem we have when our president is so deceptive on every issue that we are unsure whether he could actually do anything for anyone other than himself and this includes visiting the troops.This should be a straightforward visit complementary to the troops but we have doubts about the presidents motives, for very valid reasons.
Unbelievable situation for the US to be in. Trump seems to get all his cues verbally from Fox News or someone he has talked to. It makes me wonder if he is able to read and digest what he reads. He acts like a person who never reads and is always a bit out of touch in any situation. His opinions don't come from him studying. or thinking through, they are often picked up offhand from assorted odd places. Either he can't read or he can, but he does not understand what he reads if it is not very simple.
Think what this situation can do to the US in a very dangerous and complex world. Especially when the political situation gives Trump a pretty free hand.
By the way, Trump has allowed some very dangerous pesticides loose now, having rolled back controls on them, and we may be getting traces in our food. Welcome to the New Year.
7
I have to wonder why he didn't visit Syria, since ISIS is defeated, and stare in the eyes of the Kurds he's abandoned. Surely it should have been safer there for him, right?
21
As a kid, I watched Bob Hope’s USO trips to the troops abroad.
He always had a pretty girl on tour with him. Trump brought Melania along with him to fill that role.
With no disrespect to the late Bob Hope, This was Trump’s “USO” tour
High entertainment value.
DT Barnum!
11
All the quotes of Trump's pronouncements: that Iraq is a place he's been "talking about," but can't recall what he's said about it; that he's been on "all types and shapes" of airplanes?
Really, he sounds like an old person in a nursing home who is struggling to have a conversation but given impaired cognitive abilities, just spouts words. How can we be at the mercy of such a person?
19
Such soaring rhetoric from the *Commander-in-Chief. And who exactly is calling the shots for him?
Each day that goes by is more alarming.
6
Since I can't bear to watch or listen to him, I'll have to let those that do, and especially the service members he and first lady visited decide if he hit the mark, used the right tone.
I do hope he learned a few things on this trip. I hope it humbled him a bit.
As to his concerns 'about the institution of the presidency' ... realize he was speaking about his travel to danger zone/hot spot ... but gee, just reading that little bit, of course the mind races to: if he truly has concerns for the institution of his office ... he could just vacate.
There. Problem solved for everyone! :)
5
Trump can’t stand there being a single minute when he is not the center of the universe. With the Twitter shtick getting old, the people ignoring even his most ridiculous messages, he needed a hail marry to elbow in front of the swooning stock market and Santa stories. His shocking display of somewhat presidential behavior was determined to be outrageous enough to do the trick. Of course he quickly seguewayed in to complimenting himself and using the troops for a photo op backdrop; so much for acknowledging the service of anyone other than himself.
9
Gee, they found 100 troops who like him and at the the safest base. Guess there was no chance for soldiers getting a chance to complain.
10
I'm not sure that better late than never applies to this case.
Just as he did at the CIA Wall the President tried to turn his visit into a political rally. He told the troops how wonderful he is and how he is smarter than their generals, a dubious proposition. Moreover, in saying this stuff, he is telling the troops they shouldn't have confidence in their commanders.
For troops in harm's way, Trump's comments are a disgrace. They are, however, a clue to his thinking. Trump thinks he can make the military part of his "base" to help with a coup that he appears to be contemplating.
17
As a journalist who covered the White House during previous presidencies, I've flown into war zones on hush-hush trips with the Commander-in-Chief. Trump's description of the security measures taken during his trip -- aircraft in total darkness, all of the windows closed, "no light anywhere" -- is pure hogwash. Sounds like someone who was never in uniform trying to sound like a combat vet. Yes, some unusual measures were taken on trips I was on -- fighter escorts, corkscrew landings -- but a blackout on Air Force One? Come on! Maybe Generalissimo Bone Spurs should see a podiatrist.
26
Bravo!
Our courageous commander-in-chief finally went to a war zone, even if it occurred with a slight, fifty-year delay
8
Merely photo ops, but something deeper is troubling me.
The Trumpet needed to escape Washington which had become suffocating to him. Trumpet was at his wits' end, fighting a WALL battle he could not acknowledge losing. Being accosted by friends and acquaintances at Mar-a-Lago would rub salt in his wounds, so there was only one loophole available to him: get out of the country!
No, the Trumpet did not go to Iraq to honor the military and praise them for their honor and dutifulness; he went so that people would praise HIMSELF for being among "his" soldiers, "his" generals; he went to deflect attention from his government shut-down.
Real Americans are sick and tired of the bumbling, blaring, off-key Trumpet, the apprentice "world leader" who needs to be removed for our country's safety and restoration. Many Americans Grieve Anxiously (MAGA) for a return to normalcy.
10
Sorry, one decent thing isn’t enough. I wonder whose idea it was?
6
“Our presence in Syria was not open-ended, and it was never intended to be permanent. Eight years ago, we went there for three months, and we never left.” No we conducted airstrikes to stop ISIS attacks against Kobani in 8/2014 and again to stop ISIS kidnappings in Christian villages in Northeastern Syria in February 2015. Then we decided to fight ISIS with the SDF in May 2015. Four years not eight. Of course that doesn't count clandestine involvement.
7
The very least he can do since God only knows what peril Trump has amplified for them given Mattis Departure. One step forward here-twenty backwards at home. Two words---Chemical Panel..........
2
So lemme get this straight. Trump goes to a military base in Iraq, where he is not removing troops. He is telling them that he IS removing troops from Syria and Afghanistan because the USA won’t be suckers any longer, sacrificing lives, years, and dollars, taken advantage of. So you folks, here in Iraq, well, never mind.
116
It is mind blowing!
1
Yep. My question was gonna be...so the guy flies into a fortified air base, tells a captive audience that they’ve been suckers, and flies out again?
Let the ticker tape parades begin?
Somebody’s been suckers, all right.
3
@Dagwood
He spent 15 minutes with the troops? Seriously?
1
No matter what the motivation, I'm glad the president made this overdue trip - a presidential tradition, after all.
28
@Ellen
A presidential tradition among presidents who care more about the country and our troops than about themselves.
Don't be fooled.
This is just another shameless diversion by someone more interested in getting better ratings.
17
No matter what "the generals on the ground" in Iraq tell him, Trump will only hear what he wants to hear. He will fit whatever they tell him into support for his narrative for leaving Syria and Afghanistan. It is probably the entire reason he went, to counter the bad press he has been getting for the decision to abandon our allies and Mattis's protest resignation.
26
Remember? "I know more than the generals."
10
how much does this kind of visit cost? what good could have been done with the funds and logistical effort?
13
@legal immigrant
I ask myself that very same question every time this president jets off to Mar-a-Lago.
1
Wow, a president who actually walks the walk. I don't know what happens tomorrow, but for today, good work, sir. Enough kowtowing to career military employees and enough of the military industrial complex. Enough with our military interventionism. Enough maintaining bases all across the globe. Enough of maintaining borders in thankless nations like South Korea while we neglect our own border security. Time to mind our own business and take care of ourselves and the future of our children. This is a great start.
12
Yeah, sure, that rejection of the military industrial budget is why Trump and Congress cranked up the budget for new weapon systems we don’t need. And yeah, South Korea...why, we use them to fight our war and to maintain a massive military presence as a check on China, and do they kowtow? Do they give us glowing orb?
Seriously, do you guys know anything about the last 70 years?
13
Sir? Hardly, nor a gentleman, definitely a showman.
10
Not hard to imagine what would happen if you threw all the cages open at the zoo. And walked away.
Let's see how all these unprincipled and bloodthirsty dictators fare without a force for justice and human rights anywhere on the world stage. You think it's bad now...
Not for a minute do I think he would have gone, except to get positive publicity for himself.
120
He got super busted for not visiting the WWI cemetery in France & for skipping Arlington on Veteran’s Day, so he had to do something.
Plus he got plenty of propaganda in too & (per another source) allegedly also told some “mistruths” about how he’d supposedly delivered a 10% pay hike for soldiers, their first raise in 10 years!
6
And I think he actually enjoyed playing the press. First putting stories in the news that he hadn't visited the troops in a war zone and then tweeting that he is all alone. Next thing he is in Iraq. Yet somehow not about the troops.
4
Any reduction in our military forces should be applauded. Great work done by the President despite his many faults.
Any reduction of our military forces in the middle east should be applauded. Lay his personality aside and congratulate him on moving in the right direction.
15
I’d care less about his appalling personality if he’d shut up about it for five seconds. Then it’d be a lot easier to focus on his ignorance, laziness and greed.
1
@Saggio I’m sure the 10,000 Kurdish fighters who have fought alongside us against ISIS and who are, according to Erdogan, about to be buried in their own trenches, will take heart from your observation.
1
Surprise visit? No, everything is planned. Trump knows what is good for him for reelection in 2020. The troops are all smiles because they like him. Trump has millions of silent supporters.
8
@Mclean4
Which is simply amazing given his bone spurs ruse, his petty tweets, his denigration of innumerable military personnel, his extra-marital affairs and concomitant bribes, his thousand upon thousand lies, his spectacular dearth of modesty....etc etc.
One would have thought his 40% of Americans would never have tolerated such overt deviations from the dignity and forbearance stereotypical of a US President.
History will prove this blind adoration to be the most fascinating and unexpected phenomenon of the Trumpian era. Something with strong parallels to 1930s Germany.
7
Trump has announced that he will beginning his re-election campaign in 2019. Looks like he is starting even a week earlier.
16
@Sakuntala
Trump started his re-election campaign the minute after he was sworn into office.
It would be of interest to have the thoughts of an American-Iraqi friend now at an advanced age, as to our president visiting her country which apparently has never been in such poor shape since we went after Sadaam Hussein.
A week before Christmas in 2015, an afternoon when listening to what she had to say about ISIS, and asking what these terrorists wanted, I started to laugh in disbelief. 'It's not possible!', on my part was one repetitive line where she joined in.
Well, now we know that about anything is possible in this singular democratic world of ours. Sour grapes are to be expected of this latest surprise on the part of our president, but what this friend has to share on the above, I do not have the courage to ask, only shame and remorse.
2
Give credit where credit is due I guess, although the phrase "kicking and screaming" does come to mind. But leave it to Trump to politicize his visit (and do a little lying while he was at it) instead of focusing on the sacrifice of the men and women he was supposed to be honoring.
34
Every PR move Trump makes is designed to distract from whatever the current dysfunction and drama he has created. He has no soul, not an ounce of caring or sincerity, just another photo-op, (this time, minus paper-towels to throw.) It's all the same, Trump arrives to save the day, swoops in, signs his hats and leaves, done and done.
He is still nothing more than a cheap, reality-show huckster who needs the light shining directly on him, everyone else in the room are just props, military included.
92
I am wondering if the service people in the photos were vetted to ensure they are Trump supporters. Not really important, just curious.
31
He didn't have to make his visit a surprise. The way he's changing the landscape in the Middle East and making us more unsafe, I'm sure the terrorists would have thrown a parade to welcome him.
16
I think they look so sweet!
2
That people respond with glee to an American President doing the bare minimum and even botching that by politicizing the affair with self-serving gracelessness and incoherence is a sad commentary on the health of this republic. For shame.
66
SO.. as a US tax payer..
How much did this PR exercise cost ?
How much is OK for the Trump base? It's all only PR for Fox News.
It counts for 1c with me. Too little. too late. Zero for more than 50% of Americans.
13
Are you sure this isn't a picture of him with the troops at the Mexican border? It's hard to imagine that'd he make a trip to a place where our troops actually are in harms way.
13
The president is all about explotation for his self image rather than being concerned about the Common Person's inequality and the National Debt domestic and foreign.
13
Is there anyone else that wishes he were in a cave? Where's Barron? I hope my tax dollars aren't paying for his good time somewhere.
7
He went on the bone spur of the moment.
159
@bnc
This is awesome. Thank you for a needed chuckle.
7
@bnc Classic, dude! Classic!
4
He spends 15 minutes with a hundred troops to burnish this image. I'd like to know how much his 15 minute photo op cost the taxpayer.
21
This time, he is protected. Hence no need for bone spurs excuses.
6
The most sincere smiles I've seen on Donald and Melania's faces yet. The troops who got to meet/see him seemed genuinely pleased with his presence. Let's give Donald kudos for doing something right; and I've a feeling more right deeds will reveal themselves amongst all the insiders' resignations, firings, and with Mr. Trump's self-aggrandizing behavior.
7
I think it was great that President Trump along with Mrs. Trump visited the troops in Iraq during the Christmas season when so many are away from family and loved ones. This is a time for being with those you love so it was especially important for them to have a visit from the commander in chief. He certainly supports our troops and they appreciate this.
President Trump will be criticized no matter what he does in regard to visiting our servicemen. If he stays away, he is faulted for not caring; and if he goes, he is accused of running away from problems at home such as the wall building. He cannot win so he should do what is best for the country. His decision to go was a wise one; and by the look on the faces of those serving our country, they were glad to have him there. That is really all that counts. He will always have his detractors.
34
He was shamed into this visit by the press calling him out. It was well known he was terrified of going to a war zone, even with presidential security. He was essentially forced to do it for the optics. Completely insincere; uses the military as a campaign prop; disgracefully politicizes the visit; and on top of all that flagrantly lies to the troops about the amount of their pay raises. And he’s out in about the amount of time it takes to go to a movie. This is the same military service-avoider who repeatedly mocked and insulted actual war heroes and Gold Star families. It’s pathetic that anyone could fall for, or defend, such a cheap stunt.
25
Trump was seen theatrically wearing a policeman's jacket and bleating out that America will no longer be the "policeman of the world. Hey maybe now with the savings cost from this new policy we can have respectable healthcare for everyone. Like the other civilized, developed nations give to their citizens. He did promise that in campaign speeches. And healthcare at a fraction of the cost too. I'm assuming the owners of the politicians will allow this to happen.
20
@Jim
Love the 'bleating.' Perfect for him. Thank you, that's one I'm gonna steal :)
@jazz one...Patent pending on that one. Be prepared for a cease and desist order.
“America may use Iraq as a military base to carry out operations on Syria and fight the Islamic State.”
Does the Iraqi government know this? It’s not part of the drawdown agreement that I know of.
Has he made a deal with Turkey to pull out of the Incirlik Air Base? If so, is he giving the finger to NATO as part of his MAGA fury?
I don’t think Trump’s flippant comment is benign. To react quickly there needs to be military infrastructure. Right now the US role is training. It’s doubtful that the resources, equipment, and person power is available to meet this Comander in Chief’s seat of the pants policy proclamations.
No wonder the Iraqi president did not want to meet with him.
27
@Agent 99
You caught something important. We are getting all sorts of double messages about his intent: is he single handedly - almost as a throw away comment - changing policy - again, without so much as a fare thee well even to his own party.
9
@cheryl
It just occurred to me that this might be another reason for Mathis and McGurk resignations.
Perhaps Trump's occasional good friend Lindsey Graham shamed Trump into making a trip to visit Iraq after he returned from his holiday visit to Afghanistan warning that the troop withdrawal from Syria and Afghanistan could lead to a "second 9-11".Lindsay Graham has military credentials and so did General Mattis.Trump thought that a visit to Iraq might give him some military expertise- it will not!
19
"No matter how cynical I am, I can't keep up." -- Lily Tomlin
My cynicism makes me believe that this trip is actually a Trump rally. He hasn't had one that recently, the attendees will be supportive and enthusiastic, and he'll feel good - particularly after the mockery of his "poor me" tweet. None of that alters the Mattis plus government shutdown plus 800K federal employees on no-pay status issues and (boo hoo) no golfing at Mar-A-Lago.
Just curious - have other presidential visits to our troops been a "surprise" like this one?
28
@David If it was a campaign rally and they brought along those trump 2020 swag and MAGA hats, shouldn't his re-election campaign be paying for the trip? Also, is there now any doubt of the identity and location of Seal Team Five? Hope his ego has recovered at least.
7
I am proud to be an American veteran, and I do respect President Trump.
14
Yes, of course you do. I don't think General Mattis does, though.
26
@Ben H.
Notable on your part, but 'Respect' has to be earned or engendered in some way, and perhaps it might help some of the President's detractors if you could elaborate on this state of affairs.
17
I am also a military veteran serving during the Carter, Reagan, Bush and Clinton years.
What an abhorrent administration this is.
12
News Flash:
Trump Visits Vietnam, Promises to Build Hotel
Wait, that was the fiasco before Bushes Iraq! We still have troops there? Oh, I forgot, Cheney dictated they would be there until we won. So Trump has to hold up our end of the bargain- American soldiers lives for Big Oil. MAGA!
5
Congress should award President Trump the Congressional Medal of Honor for standing and smiling with his utterly debilitating bone spurs.
41
Oh, come on where is the Christmas spirit of charity towards all - in comments below.
I applaud POTUS for visiting our soldiers.
Heck, he is a Commander in Chief afterall.
One thing for sure - the media missed his tweet storm for about 36 hours.
I hope that a day arrives where our POTUS can visit all these countries where no one is fighting any more.
Now, that's a great Christmas wish for all of us.
9
Talk about leading from behind!
Goaded by polls, shamed by comparisons to real Presidents,
"President" Trump (code name: Bone Spurs),
finally shows up at the front lines.
And complains about how scared he was in dark plane. Fearful because all of the windows were shuttered.
Not a word about the fear front line troops must feel on patrol in IraqNam.
Compounded by his foreign policy gibberish, ignorance and dishonesty.
As always, his overt manifestations of his deep seated mental illness are on display.
38
That really struck me too! Was that for the press, I hope? Bad enough, since any press traveling went through the same security precautions... yet if he whined to service members who put their lives on the line for FREEDOM - unforgivable! Still, par for DJT, “You wouldn’t believe what we had to go through; he windows were blacked out and everything...” it’s all about the Narcissist!
2
This is a boilerplate piece that would not be noteworthy about any other president. When Trump does the smallest, most superficial thing to fit the mold of a typical president, some in the media latch on and amplify it in utter desperation. Note, please, that this piece includes no quotes from Trump’s trip, like the fact that he blatantly lied about military pay raises.
25
Yes, the appalling DJT is appalling but that fake Democrat narrative about Trump not visiting our troops over Christmas was just a lie.
As for the usual slander herein about a draft dodging Trump, I’m old enough to remember when Democrats thought dodging the war in Vietnam was a supremely moral act.
I guess the draft dodging of prominent Dems like Bill Clinton and Joe Biden must’ve forced a change of heart.
5
You've somehow forgotten that President Bone Spurs insulted John McCain because his plane was shot down. You conveniently forgot how he treated the gold star family. He has disparaged many other military personnel like Mathis. This is the reason people bring up his deferments. Clinton did not disparage our servicemen and veterans. Do you see the difference?
8
Nice try. Did Bill Clinton or Joe Biden repeatedly and publicly insult people who served their country; who endured years of torture for it; and who lost loved ones; all for the sake of riling up the crowds at a campaign rally? Did they flagrantly lie to the troops’ faces about their pay? Did they avoid visiting them for two full years? No, Clinton and Biden didn’t.
Donald Trump did.
10
Since when is Iraq still considered "a combat zone"? The real question is: Why are we still there after 15 years? ISIS is a threat, but that's in Syria. That's where our focus--both militarily and politically--should be. Trump's Munich-like surrender to the axis of autocrats--Assad, Erdogan, and Putin--is a disgrace and a recipe for disaster. How does America walk away from our major "boots on the ground" ally the Kurds? What message does that send to others who might work with us? Trump had an opportunity for a deal with Erdogan: a Republic of Kurdistan in Syria where the Kurds are the largest majority that would be their new homeland for those in Turkey, Iraq, and Iran. The new Kurdish Republic would also be a punishment for Assad and Putin and a barrier between a reduced Syria and Iran. This is a strategic blunder of monumental proportions that will not only lead to a bloodbath for the Kurds when Turkey invades, but also set the stage for a wider war between Saudi Arabia, Israel and the U.S. with Iran. This why Jim Mattis resigned; and this is why Donald Trump is a "clear and present danger" to peace. Foolishly focusing on the military without considering it, as von Clausewtiz knew, as an instrument of politics is only a fool's errand. And that's what we see in Trump's visit where he ignored his host Iraqis and the Kurds while grabbing headlines and posing with an idiotic grin for photo-ops.
22
If somebody was worrying over possibility of WWIII, there is good news for them: It is already ended. The winner-Russia; the defeated party-the United States of America, which proved to be colossus on clay legs. In a sign of recognition of the defeat, the USA has agreed to withdraw its troops from around the world, dissolve NATO, cancel sanctions against Russia, and recognize annexation by the latter of the territories of Belarus, Ukraine. Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia as well as its control over trade routes in every part of the world Russia will judge part of its own territory. The USA has agreed to lower the status of USD against other currencies and reiterated its support for the military block between Russia and China. As a compensation, the president of the United States in the person of Donald Trump will receive free access to Russian prostitutes as well as the right to build Trump Towers on any territory under control of Russian Federation. In secret part of the agreement Russia has reiterated its support for Mr. Trumps, upon his changes within the cabinet, in his intention to accuse Congress of state treason, have it dissolved, some members thereof put under arrest, and, using support of the Senate, declare himself President-Savior of America for another two terms.
4
Finally, Mr Trump does something presidential.
7
Will Trump need to start a war now to distract attention away from what will most certainly happen to him and with the new congress?
The Republicans and Donnie own the three shut downs and he deaths of children on the border. Donnie needs to get the collective minds off of his record of failure.
Register to vote and vote.
6
"Trump of Iraqia", a one-reel tale of incredible courage in the face of disgrace. Undaunted, ferociously patriotic and mugging madly, Donald and his Leading Lady stunt their way into world history and diversionary PR legend. Dear audience, fear not: there will be sequels to this stirring adventure, cranked out as needed in these increasingly worrisome times.
10
If you had cancer and you were getting treatment that was proving to be successful, would you suddenly decide to stop the treatment even though there was still a malignant lump remaining?
The Syrians and Afghanistanis must be astounded that we intend to just pull the plug and abandon them while we are all still at risk from the Taliban.
7
Every time I see Trump in his stark white shirt I think of the maid who was chastised because she couldn't wash out all of the orange make-up stains.
16
Trump's smile always looks somehow fake or put on. Or maybe he just doesn't know how to do it naturally.
10
I was thinking the same thing, having never seen a more insincere smile.
4
Going to Iraq for a photo shoot with soldiers instead of golfing. We’re supposed to think that’s a sacrifice or honorable?
39
That he cloaks his apprehension while entering Iraq at night under the guise of a concern for the Presidency as an institution is particularly galling. For hardly any of Trump’s gestures can be read outside of the frame of the insecurities and narcissism of his own making.
12
What a great thing to see. I have faith now that Trump will finally step up to the awesome responsibility of his position and become truly dignified, reflective and astute in the coming new year... not!
39
Trump avoided serving in our armed services:
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/26/us/politics/trump-vietnam-draft-exemption.html
To you military supporters of trump, you do not understand that. And then trump insults John McCain, George H.W. Bush, John Kerry and George W. Bush for their service. Sadly, the war fighters who support trump do not comprehend that.
I volunteered to join the Marines for a full tour at the same time that your trump was declaring bone spurs with the help of his father. The guys in my neighborhood did not have that option.
I got three meritorious promotions. I think that you, and your leadership, understand that I am very angry.
131
@Charles
And nasty comments/actions towards Gold Star Survivors.
Trump made it to a combat zone... about 50 years too late.
162
Nice of him to finally swing by to say hi to the troops. I just hope his bone spurs don’t start acting up out there.
49
Too little too late mr. t. Maybe he'll want the Medal of Honor for finally visiting some of our troops.
Now, as far as his ridiculous wall is concerned and since he promised Mexico would pay for it, let him pay for it. The majority of taxpayers do not want to waste their money. There are far more important issues to spend money on. Fixing falling apart infrastructure, controlling emissions, getting homeless veterans off the streets.....and so much more, but not a useless wall.
24
This is good.
Let the man be for this one moment.
Then go back to hating him tomorrow.
12
@AVTNYC. No, I still hate him now. He deserves it. He's using this photo op for his own personal gain.
1
Great job Mr. President.
11
Who can take this man (or the FLOTUS) seriously?
This was a his & her escape-hatch: "Gotta come up with something-quick." Go to Iraq for a couple hours visit. Stand on a stage-way-away from the troops seated behind concrete barriers while the first lady sits in a chair (behind him) - fashionably donned for the occasion in designer combat boots while he dons his very own battle jacket.
Optics-Optics-Optics for 2020?
42
@Candlewick Ah, you noticed Third Wife's combat boots too. I've been waiting for someone to comment on them. Interestingly, the boots made her the same height as the Pretender. Or is he shrinking, literally and figuratively?
2
too late for a PR gimmick to resurrect his image. (i mean, we all know that’s why he’s there)
37
He will now be criticized because it took him too long to go, so there is no way his haters will ever be happy, until he leaves office. Same as the deaths on the border of the kids. We are not responsible for some Central America parents who put the lives of their kids at risk. What are we to do? Vast numbers of South and Central Americans want to come here and get on welfare and we can't afford to support more people than we have already taking benefits.
9
It’s sad that your comment goes so far off topic to bring this up as a way to defend a President who has neglected his duties and condoned governmental malpractice.
That said, have you met any undocumented migrants? Have you been to the Central American communities that many are fleeing from? Can you even recognize how hard they work or the perils they overcome or the sacrifices they make? The last thing many want is welfare or handouts. They want a chance to work, provide, and have lives free from menace by gangs, cartels, and subhuman working conditions.
9
The photo, like Trump himself, is an embarrassment. Even his smile looks phony. Guess he's out of practice. I wonder how much this photo-op cost and what purpose could it possibly serve? The guys around him look like they're laughing at him.
23
I'd be embarrassed to be photographed with this lying fool. But . . . I legally got out of service during the Vietnam era - very high Draft Lottery number, fortunately - so who am I to tell these soldiers how to behave?
13
Combat zone? What took so long?! Big whoop!
4
"American military forces in Iraq..". What? I thought we left Iraq in 2011 or so...?
2
We are no longer an occupying force.
1
@Kat
But we were! And now what are we doing there?
(Tell me we are helping Iraqis!)
@Har
The media and the administration at the time made it sound that way didn't it? Pretty interesting how the truth about that never made the news, nor late night TV.
Trump in rally mode, can't be without it.
8
Look at him wearing the military-style jacket. With his sham bone spurs allowing him to avoid Vietnam, he is unfit to be in the same room as our heroic military.
23
Donald "Deferment" Trump doesn't belong in the same country with these brave young men and women serving their country.... Let alone the same room.
And our tax dollars paid for this shameless photo op.
32
Ah yes, the inspiration of the bone spur. How sickening.
He shuts the government down, takes no pay cut himself and secretly drops into Iraq hoping for adulation from those devoid of a functioning brain.
Any thinking person knows it's a stunt and he cares about no one but himself and his massive ego.
It's way past time to jail him. Hope someone figures out how.
28
One word: Distraction
38
It is depressing to see people in uniform taking delight in being photographed with such a disgusting imbecile and traitor. It seems they do not get it. Is it necessary that many in the military be so clueless? Or are they worse than clueless? Two years into Trump, there is no excuse for not knowing. There is a deep sickness in America, and our armed forces drive that fact home.
33
photo op!
12
Don't make it out to be more than it is, a shameless photo op, while Rome burns!
20
I'm not in favor of fighting everywhere, but I can only imagine the hurt and horror of the parents and spouses who hear the president imply that their beloved ones died as suckers? Really? Somebody put duct tape over his mouth. Mitch????
37
Trump brought Melania to the absolutely safest part of Iraq for a joint, warm photo op. First and only trip. Must not have rained,
15
@Ken
He was worried for Melania’s safety, and the safety of the “presidency”; for his own safety, not so much. The darkness on the plane seemed to have bothered him, though.
But his trip was a good thing.
I guess.
Some of the comments I've read speak to what is wrong with public discourse today. I've been appalled by the Trump presidency, and of course he should have visited service men and women stationed overseas ages ago. But he's doing it now, end of story. It's not criminal just because Trump did it.
12
@Brooklyn teacher. No, but it is a sham. Or does the photo op make it all better. The optics are what matter, after all. If it looks nice, and people say it is nice, and the optics look nice... then it must be reality. Right?
6
The master of deception rides again. I wonder how much convincing he needed to agree to this trip. Hard to imagine it was his idea. Probably his Fox News Communications Director pointed out the photo ops. Sure beats interviews of unemployed Federal workers explaining holiday hardships rather than their thrill at losing a paycheck for an indefinite period.
The original draft dodger in chief meets the ones who serve. No irony there.
21
Several have wondered about both Mr and Mrs Trump wearing very easily noticed clothes. He even kept his signature red tie that goes below his belt. The answer is simple: the Trumps were only on the ground for three hours, always under cover and far away from combat zones. Heel spurs, you know.
Iraqi government officials have already complained bitterly about how Trump has insulted them and their country. The Iraqi government only learned of this visit to their country in the news. Trump decided to not even send a courtesy message, as is customary for an American President visiting troops, to the Iraqi government.
40
"Mr. Trump disrupted America’s military status quo and infuriated even some of his staunchest political allies by announcing plans to withdraw all troops from Syria and about half of those stationed in Afghanistan."
Allies like the butcher of Ryaid? Or do you mean the folks in our own national secuirity establishment?
3
Good for Trump. He’s finally figuring out how to act like a President now that it’s almost over. Just because he’s played 75 rounds of golf before making this trip, it’s no reason not to give praise where it is due.
6
The only question the readers should be asking is “How do the troops feel about the visit?”
There’s is the only opinion worth considering.
6
I thought Melania's footwear was very well thought out - SMH
6
Nice optics. Won’t save him.
6
Shame is a powerful motivator apparently, even for Donald. After his rain induced no show cemetery debacle this fall, the disconnect between his self professed support for the military and his unwillingness to fulfill that part of his presidential duties was made glaringly obvious.
Perhaps if Donald is forced by shame into doing the actual duties of the role of president, instead of watching Fox and Friends, flying off to rallies, tweeting, and whatever it is that he does, he'll discover that he hates the job and he'll quit. It may be time to give that a whirl.
372
@NJLatelifemom
Sometimes there are more disconcerting possibilities like the next man in line. Or the one after Him.
5
@NJLatelifemom
Shame and Trump is an oxymoron.
Shame requires that you have some morally responsible principles and humble humane empathetic character.
Donald Trump was not ashamed to dodge the military draft. Trump was not ashamed to avoid visiting the troops in war zones nor soldiers graves in cemeteries. Trump was not ashamed to be elected with the help of Julian Assange, Benjamin Netanyahu and Vladimir Putin.
Trump is not ashamed to work by watching Fox News and tweeting during the week and playing golf on the weekend. Trump is not ashamed to be on his third wife and countless mistresses. Trump is not ashamed to be hiding his personal and family income tax returns and business records from the American people while profiting from being President.
Trump's visit was a political distraction from Bob Mueller, Vladimir Putin, Mohammed bin Salman and Benjamin Netanyahu.
31
@NJLatelifemom It takes weeks to plan such trips. Planning started well before MSM started the haranguing about no visit to the troops.
1
Finally, Trump did something that I think we can all get behind. It doesn't matter what the reasons were for him going to see the troops; he did it and that's all that matters.
21
@Alex, that and him standing on the edge of a very high cliff to give the push.
2
Correct! Part of a Ponzi scheme, snake oil peddling or three card monte, done clumsily at electorate expense.
7
Quick! Enact the travel ban while he's away!
145
A typical Trump move: capture the media headlines while snubbing his host country and, of course, avoiding Kurdish-controlled Erbil. It's only an exclamation point on his abandonment of allies, both the Iraqis and the Kurds in Syria who now face imminent annihilation at the hands of the Turks. It's the new, unleashed, uncontrolled and uncontrollable "Benedict Arnold" Trump with his Grinch-like like grin as he takes the photo-op of troops whose safety he's now imperiled.
15
What Trump wants to do here? A huge military parade?
2
The irony - fire Mattis, Syria drawdown, market plunge, shutdown government, photo op visit to Iraq, boost market.
15
@Rose
He didn't fire Mattis. Mattis resigned so he could grab a plumb job and ratchet up his retirement account.
2
@Johnny dangerous
Correct, nice try but if Mattis resigned it is not to get his retirement. First, such a guy don’t really retire, second he did it to protest Trump’s last moves in the Middle East. If you think differently, perhaps it is time to land back on Earth.
9
@Gvaltat If Mattis doesn't get a lobbying job or get a seat on the board of a military contractor; I'll be very, very, very surprised.
1
Better late(45y since dodging the draft with Daddy's money) than never.
4
I guess he listened to his advisers finally.
Nothing like the stock market heading to a bear market to get him off his butt.
14
I think even for someone as dense as Trump, he must have realized how bad the "poor me" home alone in the White House optics looked.
Despite looking better than his White House confinement or the original plan for a 16 day vacation in Florida at taxpayer expense, the truth is it doesn't change anything.
It's a temporary distraction from the fact that Trump has left hundreds of thousands of federal workers with no salary over the holiday season because of his ridiculous wall infatuation. Trump may have gotten a half dozen soldiers in Iraq willing to grin with him for a photo op, but I doubt those federal workers are smiling.
626
@JHM: Great post! I got this vision of the trump era fascist tax form having a check box on the form:
[] I would like $1.00 to be contributed to the trump vacations in Mar-a-Lago and his golf outings in Bedminster.
The trumpkins in our trumpland would gladly check it. And, hey, while we’re at it, have a check box for his wall.
35
@JHM Federal workers are not losing anything. They'd already received their year end checks.
It takes weeks to plan such trips. Planning started well before MSM started the haranguing about no visit to the troops.
1
@Charles-Already paying. Taxpayer tab for Trump golf junkets to date: $84+ million.
https://trumpgolfcount.com
5
Why is he wearing a business suit in the desert? And a tie - really? And I'm stunned to see FLOTUS there - I don't understand what value she brings to troops that clearly miss their wives and girlfriends this time of year. If he's so concerned about danger why would he bring his spouse, risking her life as well when he has a young son at home?
11
Since he shut down the government, did Trump fly commercial and use rent-a-cops for security?
22
All this is simply so he can stop in Florida on the way back for a big ticket fundraiser. It's completely cynical.
32
Trump is in a panic.
He cans the last WH day care provide (Mattis) and now finds himself left with the likes of lightweights like Miller and Jarvanka.
Someone told him a visit like this, 2 years too late, would burnish his increasingly and deeply stained image.
Sorry, its a day late and a dime shy.
The govt is shut down, my 401K is in the cellar. His tax returns are still nowhere to be found, there's another little kid dead at the border
Sandy Hook, Parkland et al families still grieve (they will forever).And the NRA still stuffs the coffers of the RNC.
Oh, and Flint still doesn't have potable drinking water.
Trump qualifies officially as a Train Wreck.
And any thinking person is tired of all this "winning"
65
When most other POTUS's visit war zones, they don't take the First Lady for a Photo Op, and they meet with government officials in the region. This was a "do nothing" trip just for PR.
96
Build the wall now. Keep him out.
120
Another PR stunt......groan.....how much longer must we endure this nightmare and this expense? Wasted $, wasted assets, wasted futures, and wasted precious time.
35
Was the green leather jacket $15,000? And who payed for it Trump the cheapskate or the American taxpayers including those government workers on furlough?
10
There is too much hatred on show in these comments to be genuine. I'm increasingly suspicious of the comments sections in all publications (of all political persuasions) and this one is no exception. Even for a Trump-sceptic, it's hard to swallow the comments below: trying too hard, not trying enough, smiling to widely, not smiling genuinely, taking his wife along, not going sooner, causing a distraction to the domestic issues, even being in someway responsible for the Times's choice of which photos to publish here. Gimme a break! Ask the service people what they thought of the visit - that's all that matters in the story.
12
Sad but these comments are real, and genuinely reflect the feelings of MANY (most?) of us!
And they are well deserved by this president. A very sad state of this union .
19
@JeezLouise - not really. It's just too little, too late. No one is buying this as anything but a craven publicity stunt. People are fed up with his nonsense. No one is believing this as a sincere action. If you do, then I've got some magic beans to sell you.
27
@JeezLouise Trump is a reprehensible self-promoter and narcissist who has absolutely no empathy for our military in harm's way. Having lived the military experience for 25 years, I find nothing but disgust for this draft dodging opportunist. Thus, any comments showing loathing of the coward are completely accurate.
22
good to see that those bone spurs didn't get in the way.
16
Question: After two years of unprecedented global embarrassment, gross negligence, pathological lies, Putin pandering, and shoot-from-the-hip bigoted policy, are we now supposed to forgive all transgressions and applaud this shameless tax payer funded photo op with our brave American soldiers who, unlike any Trump family member ever, have chosen to honorably serve their country- every day placed in harms way?
Answer: Not a chance. Not even on Christmas.
37
Trump visiting the Military Troops in Iraq during the Xmas holidays. Not impressed!
After infuriating the Military leaders about his nonsensical troop withdrawal from Syria and Afghanistan he tries to nullify his ineptitude.
15
If Donald Duck-Ed the Draft wants America to be great again, he should get as far away and as often from her as possible!
10
Theatres of war or theatre of the absurd? American troops in Iraq are suddenly faced with the greatest threat to democracy, stability and national security that the USA and the world has seen since WWII, and instead of taking immediate action to neutralize the enemy, they take selfies with it (and its gold-digger sidekick). You can't make this stuff up.
74
@WR great take, my friend. I was wondering the same.
5
What's going on in the group photograph?
Are the troops glad of Trump's visit?
Or are they laughing at his hypocrisy?
11
Why is Iraq still a combat zone?
4
@Andrew DF. Not at all...Did you miss it when GW Bush announced that the mission was accomplished. .......everything is fine, great, thriving, there are no problems and Trump has brought peace & prosperity to all....
2
He has been/is too "unbelievably busy" golfing to bother seeing Troops up until now. A lame excuse to be sure on his part.
I guess his "I'm all alone" in the Whitehouse tweet was yet another lie (Say it ain't so!) meant to cover for this unplanned trip?
I'm glad troops in some areas will be coming home, but I have to wonder about what will happen with this rash decision with no real logistical plan in place to make the transition work well.
Are they just going to put the troops on a few planes and leave equipment and paperwork behind whether intact or destroyed and hope local insurgents don't take pot shots at them?
If they are going to remove paperwork and equipment, over what time period? What are the troops needed to accomplish this? Does it mean a temporary surge in troop level in order to pack everything up for the move?
So many questions that Trump has no idea on what ask about and therefore I'm guessing he thinks this can be done in a couple days or even a few hours time.
10
Trump posted a video from Iraq of himself and Navy SEALs ; showing their faces. This puts these service members in danger and is strictly against protocol.Trump is only for Trump; the troops are a photo op for him. Worst president ever. Ray Sipe BTW; read the story here how Trump got his draft deferement
80
Quite amazing! After all those lonely hours alone (more or less), all the roller coaster curves of the stock market, the diagnosis of those painful bone spurs, those angry memories of Gen. Mattis' departure, he had to do something to get people watching his "show" again. Not sure it will really boost the rating, however. Shark-jumping is rarely successful.
27
With all of the negative attention at home, Trump needed a feel-good distraction. Off to Iraq he goes, and not a tweet was heard from him. Is it no surprise that the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 1,000 points in one day? Trump needs to visit Iraq more frequently.
362
@Kevin L Dictators always use the military card when things are going badly at home.
84
@Kevin L
With your permission, I suggest that they keep him in Iraq. Since we occupy Iraq, Iit is am American dominion) we can declare him our viceroy for Iraq. It is a good title, he will like it.
60
@Kevin L...yes visit Iraq more frequently. Preferably without a security detail.
40
Better late than never, right?
3
Did he get a doctor's clearance to go into a combat zone with those bone spurs? Forget JFK's PT109 - - this was a real Profile in Courage.
17
Al Asad Airbase is kind of like going to Kuwait City. Big whoop.
6
Obviously, when a US President visits a hostile combat zone, there has to be tremendous preparation and maintenance of secrecy to protect POTUS and his entourage. If such secrecy and planning was executed by Trump's team, I'd be surprised, but if they managed to pull this one off, so I'll have to give the benefit of the doubt that Trump still has people working for him and in his Administration who are capable and competent. That's the rational explanation.
Given how POTUS Trump has done everything in a knee-jerk reactive mode, with absolutely no apparent strategic initiatives in mind, my sense is POTUS Trump craved a supportive audience given the absolute bashing from the Mid-terms and negative swirling stories about a White House (Executive Branch) running amok in chaos. I would have hoped a visit to American servicemen and women serving in harm's way could have been something POTUS Trump would have prioritized so much higher than the ludicrous stance on the refusal to sign a CR with no money for "The Wall". Instead, "The Wall" seemed to throw Trump into a snit. Cynically stating such, I believe Trump was grasping for something "positive" to keep approval ratings from hitting the fan and flushed down the ceramic bowl. But the real indicator of how enthusiastic Trump was greeted would a careful listening to the audience - service personnel can be forced to applaud, but whether it was genuine is another matter.
We will never know the real reason. Or maybe we will.
15
@Peter Vander Arend - I'm guessing that the military did the logistics of it. Not the administration. They couldn't organize their way out of the wet paper bag when spotted a pair of scissors.
5
He needed to go somewhere and lie to an audience that is forced to cheer for him? Pathetic. Disgusting.
94
Great! Maybe he can just stay there. I believe the WiFi is patchy at best.
12
Trump’s purely diversionary visit to Iraq provides us with a golden once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to strike a deal that in one bold stroke will solve the very worst problem -- apart from slavery -- that has ever plagued this country.
Within the next few hours, McConnell and Pelosi -- in the company of Chief Justice Roberts -- need to approach the leaders of Iraq with a request to hold Trump in comfortable psychiatric-day-care-custody in their country for the remainder of his life;
in exchange for immediate recognition as our 51st State, with all the privileges and benefits pertaining to this honor, but with its citizens bearing none of the obligations like paying U.S. taxes.
Yes. There would be numerous naysayers around raising petty Constitutional arguments against the deal, but the benefits to both sides would be so obvious, the naysayers could easily be swept aside.
The clock is ticking … Iraq needs to act super quickly and decisively … before he gets a chance to depart.
Desperate times oft-times require desperate solutions.
17
@A. Stantongood lord really. there is nothing petty about a constitutional argument .I am glad you have taken some creative writing courses that yield such comments as "naysayers" and "clock is ticking" and the benefits you are noting, I would love to see in writing. I am sure you are a student of history and at the very least, someone who thinks about the import of what they are writing,
the whole think is, Trump is trying tell USA allies and to his generals that he know what he is doing, but sadly we all know that he is not, ISIS is still there and KURD'S whom they were USA 's allies, now Turks will move in will kill all the Kurd's they will find, Turkish president ERDOGAN is not a friend, Turks are, but him , he is just like Trump working for himself, l am a 84 years old Turk, serve 3 years in Turkish army, my father was a KURD in Turkish army . he was a professional soldier, Kurd's are good fighter ans they are loyal, the whole think does not looking good, LIBYA people are getting killed with the bullets we sold to Saudi's and than we ask why Muslim countries does not like us
17
@akin caldiran The Kurds have been one of this country's most steadfast allies. If we abandon them to Erdogan and his repressive regime, our professed commitment to allies is meaningless.
16
@shepl am 100% agree with you sir, but we do not have any kind of policy for middle east, or even for our country, ERDOGAN is a dictator, and taking Turkey to dark ages like Trump is taking us too, but at least 2020 we know how to get rid of him, Turkey they have to kill him to get rid of him,
2
You Trump-hater partisans can criticize Trump all you please, but I have no objection to him leaving to be with American troops in the field. My objection is that he is coming back.
84
Good one - you had me there for a minute.
6
I’m not fan of 45, but it’s good to see at least some Presidential behavior from him. It’s good he’s visiting the troops during the Holidays.
4
This is about nothing but politics, playing to his base, deflecting and giving Fox something to crow about. Such a shameful way to use our armed forces. But why would we expect anything less?
13
Several remarked in the comments upon the fake smiles on Donald and Melania’s mugs. How about the sailor stuck between them?
Poor guy.
7
The soldiers pictured with the Trumps are all officers -- by their insignias, mostly lieutenants, captains and colonels.
Why weren't enlisted men and women allowed to meet them too?
10
Poll numbers have to be very bad!
6
A president finally visits troops then whines about how inconvenienced he was visiting U.S. men and women who put their lives on the line every day:
"I had concerns about the institution of the presidency. [Doesn't realize the Institution goes on with or without him]. Not for myself personally. I had concerns for the first lady, I will tell you. But if you would have seen what we had to go through in the darkened plane with all the windows closed with no light anywhere ... pitch-black. I've been on many airplanes. All types and shapes and sizes ... So did I have a concern? Yes, I had a concern." (www.npr.org)
10
@Candlewick
Guffaw!
Should have tried doing an insert into a hot LZ ... hanging onto the slick's door with your tootsies on the skid during the war you were too busy to notice.
"..if you would have seen what we had to go through..."
Yeah, must have been awful.
1
Keep chasing the photo ops, POTUS, even though you insult your experienced military leaders and advisors. At least you have less time on Twitter and for a day, we actually made a few bucks in the markets!
4
Since he doesn't want to admit into the US people flying in from Middle Eastern countries, can we deny his re-entrance?
12
Meantime 800,000 of our hard working government employees are not being paid because the President is unwilling or incapable to negotiate in good faith.
I would think our troops would rather he be in Washington working to resolve the impasse with Congress.
282
@cherrylog754 Unfortunately the word on the street is that the majority of the 800k? federal (government) workers do very little work for the pay they receive. (If it's really 800,000 then that's obscene.)
That's the perception. Sometimes perception is reality. Fire (or lay off) those federal workers who do NO work and that will save some big bucks.
@JL Farr
More Gubmint positions were eliminated 2009-2012 than the previous 20 years. Blame the Great Republic Recession for that but President Obama’s Administration managed to cut 750,000+ jobs in his first term.
7
They ALWAYS get retro pay. not a dime saved.
5
Is it customary for presidents to visit troops in war zones with their wives? Trump doesn't seem to go anywhere without Melania, and often seems to be the only world leader whose wife is there. I guess he needs her there for a confidence booster. Coward in more ways than one.
68
@Eero it’s possible she won’t let him go alone... he might get a stormy reception
6
@Eero. ...or maybe, since she is trophy wife #3, she knows who she married and does not trust him away from her....or since her #1 job is to be eye candy maybe he insists on her being there to make him feel manly and as a thrill to the soldiers.
3
@Eero Example?
1
A child dies at the border on Christmas day, the falsification of Trump's draft deferral is released by the NY Times, the stock market is 25% down from a year ago and has the worst December since the height of the Great Depression the government is shut down over his unnecessary desire for a wall and now he chooses to visit the troops after ignoring them for two years because he's a selfish, physical coward?
I wonder if he threw paper towels at them or talked about missing his golf game at his kick back resort. This creature is a shameful excuse of a human being. He is not making America great again but taking America to a new low nationally and internationally. He needs to be removed from office before he destroys any more of what's good about the world.
280
@MR-Trump bragged to the troops that he'd fought for and gotten them a 10% raise. Sadly another lie.
Trump Brags To Troops About A Fictional Giant Pay Raise He Got Them
https://www.yahoo.com/news/trump-brags-troops-fictional-giant-040407952.html
6
This photo shows rump grinning widely, but is not a genuine show of happiness. He is never happy. This example is better feigned than other smiles. What an unhappy man.
20
What was a sign of gratitude from Bush and Obama was a hail mary ploy from Trump.
92
@JP Mr. Obama takes time every year, including this one, to visit troops on his annual holiday vacation and many lucky families get to meet and take photos with him.
5
@Kathy Yup. He doesn't have to but he still does. This guy only does it under duress. Another person who did these sort of things was (is?) David Letterman. When he would famously have Darlene Love on his last pre-Christmas show, he then got right on a plane and with no fanfare headed to an overseas base to greet and entertain troops.
2
Another political stunt by DJT? I mean, he had a rotten week through every fault of his own so now he had to do something that looked like he cared. Did he throw rolls of paper toweling to them?
24
Same day as the bone spurs deferment article came out. Coincidence?
12
Probably saw the criticism in the news that he never visited the troops and decided to do some PR, surprised tha Melania didn’t wear her Zara jacket that has ....” I really don’t care, do u?” on the back
44
Is there nothing we can't bully this *president* into doing? Blacked out plane because so scared. "Pitch black" As if that would make any difference. As if radar relies on seeing the screen of his phone on Twitter. The guy is laughable. So easily made a sucker. No wonder Putin loves him.
So let's bully him out the door.
28
Well, he kept half the tradition anyways... he's still visiting the LIVING soldiers...
20
Trump sneaks off to Iraq, the DOW goes up 1000. Trump's returning home....SELL!
18
Wow - it's the Trump and Melania USO tour to anywhere but Yemen.
What a stand-up guy and his wife.
Isn't Melania just a trifle too close to the dude in glasses laying down his life for Trump's base.
Will there be a photo op with Assad?
10
This is simply a PR device, as he didn't really want to go, He was forced.
He cares not one iota for the forces. This is about appealing to his cult followers.
I'm actually surprised Melania isn't wearing her "I Don't Really Care, Do You?" jacket.
These two fakes are hideously fake and he is just attention seeking and diverting attention away from other news items more pressing. Deflection.
27
Now he can brag that's he's been in Combat.
Guaranteed.
22
He is still a terrible human.
29
Can we dial back the Anti-Trump rhetoric?
It's beginning to remind me a lot of when the right liked to refer to Obama as a communist after he just saved capitalism.
Enough.
7
@Johnny dangerous
Were you asking the same when President Barack H Obama was in office? Why not?
9
There are no comparisons possible.
9
@Johnny dangerous You have got to be kidding. If anything, the resistance (it aint rhetoric, kiddo), needs to be amplified until Trump locks himself in his bunker with his remaining cabal of loyal thieves and destroyers, and his war against democracy and America's middle class is finally put to an end.
9
Another dog and pony show by this most unpatriotic president.
68
Trump is the master of PR maneuvers. After being shamed about not going to visit troops for two years, he shows up over Christmas to take the heat off of the government shutdown. Too bad he spent more time talking about being afraid for his and Melania's safety during their 3 hour visit. To troops who are there for months on end! On multiple tours! Did I miss the part where he thanked the troops for their service?
76
@Christine Healey Master of nothing. This is patently transparent. His base will eat it up because they will eat literally anything he tosses them.
11
I'm tired of all these negative comments about Trump a d his wife spending time with the troops in Iraq. For a year he's been getting the same fire for NOT going. Let's have a little fairness: especially when he does something positive. You haters want to ascribe nefarious motives. I say, well done Mr. President and first lady Melania. Thank you both.
5
Well, he was supposed to be at his estate in Florida. When things started to go South for him, he choose to have a PR stunt. What you describe as negative comments just reflect the truth, sorry.
27
@Frank Leibold Saying "Trump" and "fairness" in the same breath is pretty darn funny. Have you not been paying attention to the charades of this despicable narcissist? Or just had one too many pitchers of true believer kool aid?
9
What bothers me most about this move is how it provides just enough physical evidence to continue fooling that ironclad 30%.
31
Visiting the troops is good for morale. They deserve the recognition of the civilian leadership. Finally a decent use of Trumps time.
4
It's all about timing! This occurs on the same day news emerges that a doctor's bone spur diagnosis for Trump was done as a favor for Trump's father.
19
So what if our “allies” are furious? Their only function is to shiver and duck behind our military expertise and then to get msm to tell us all how incompetent and immoral we are.
This particular report, that of snidely sniping at our Commander-in-Chief visiting troops stationed in harm’s way, is the lowest of lowball stuff even here.
3
Trump's sons look healthy, at least physically. So why did they never serve in the armed forces? Just family tradition, I suppose.
14
“. . . he told Chris Wallace that he had not visited troops abroad because of “an unbelievably busy schedule” yet he was never too busy to play a few rounds of golf at Mar-a-Lago on numerous weekends in the past two years.
What’s really strange and a borderline oxymoron are the photos of the Trumps . . . together . . . smiling.
A sincere and heartfelt thank you to every American service man and woman who care deeply about this country and to continue to serve and protect us. Love you all!
17
Look, folks, I hate this man as much as anyone, but let's give him credit when he does something good.
4
@Nick Schleppend It's a transparent PR stunt. Stop enabling!
13
What a great leader he is. I'm sure he's the reason for the YUGE stock market rise. You go Mr. President!
1
The timing of the trip is so political.Must have heard Fox actually , well mention the fact that IT needs to go see his troops. Took Malalira with him just for the photo op.
4
After ignoring them for 2 years, Don the Con visits troops in Iraq during his shutdown of the government. It’s an obvious distraction.
21
This visit to Iraq doesn't really change anything. This story should definitely be covered, but it shouldn't be at the very top of the Times' website. There's too much going on right now for that.
9
Reminds me of a scene from the movie, "Soapdish" where Sally Fields character is feeling depressed so she goes to a mall so fans could adore her. The only difference is that she didn't use tax dollars.
47
Chastised for firing Gen. Mattis and tossing the Syrian Kurds to Erdogan to be slaughtered, Trump is caught visiting the troops in Iraq. Hm!
This is what panic is!
16
Was this an essential trip? As a furloughed nonessential government employee its a bitter pill watching him take unnecessary trips when he should be focused non getting myself and 800000 others back to work.
460
AF1 costs somewhere between $100,000 and $250,000 per hour to operate. The flight from Andrews AFB to Bagram AFB is at least 10 hours (one way). That's $5M spent for soothing POTUS Trump's ego, plus other incidental taxpayer costs - probably all-in spend of $6M - for a couple days' worth of primping a fragile ego.
Trump wants his "Wall". Make him do the "Republican Accountability Decision" - you can fly on AF1 or build your stupid wall - not both. If Trump wants a wall, then take away the keys to AF1 and park it in the back 40 at Andrews AFB.
40
@D. Renner
But we were told to feel wonderful about the Obamas flying to NYC to see a play and go to dinner.
What changed? The Obama brood went through nearly a hundred million in travel costs, especially with Michelle flying back separately at least twice.
When did the order come through to live a life of bias and prejudice, with one prez being cool and the other being the enemy?
2
@L'osservatore, Obama didn't shut the government down. That's what changed.
4
Fortunately (?), we already have troops deployed in various places, so Pres. Trump didn't have to start anything to get his photo-op.
12
Too little, too late, and only after being subjected to widespread derision over his dereliction of duty.
125
Another cheap stunt by Individual 1.
166
Both 45 and Melania have fake smiles on their faces. Just once, I would like to see real, positive emotions on their faces.
18
@catlover, "Just once, I would like to see real, positive emotions on their faces." Cat, Are you kidding? Every day we see hate and fear.
5
@Hector
Hate and fear are not positive emotions in my book.
3
Stocks go through the roof when Trump leaves the country.
148
I was very surprised he didn’t have a Commander And Chief uniform on. I know there isn’t one but I can see him asking for the one with the gold braids, that’s the one I want. Another diversion as the walls close in.
16
Bored. Lonely. Vacation plans shattered. Desperately in need of goodies for the propagandists at Fox.
It all adds up to a surprise visit to the troops.
Tomorrow we'll be hearing all about the amazing crowd size.
313
"Nobody ever visited the troops as good as me. Nobody in the history of the world."
11
@KJ
You mean the crowd that he called having been suckers, before he 'saved' them.
6
This Christmas visit to the troops comes across as a PR stunt. His Comms Director would do anything at all to change the optics of Trump sitting alone in the Oval Office like the Grinch scheming to destroy Whoville.
109
these troops are following orders.
he deserves no respect from them. ever.
36
So because he couldn't be in Mar-a-Lago, as he planned; the troops are the booby-prize so he doesn't have to wallow in self-pity in the White House. Let's make it clear, this was little more than how do we entertain the toddle who threw a tantrum and make a photo-op out of it. Trump cares about nothing but his own ego.
43
It's about time, although he just lies about the timing for the trip.
The only reason Trump made this visit is it's a last resort attempt to change his dismal narrative of incompetence this past week, especially after not understanding or actually comprehending James Mattis's letter castrating him for his lack of leadership by turning his back on our Western Allies in NATO.
Mattis eviscerated Trump's ’s policy of isolationism by ceding our world position to Russia and China; as well as budding up with Putin and other Authoritarian Leaders that our not our friends, making us weaker and more vulnerable.
This visit was also a sleazy and transparent attempt by Donald Trump, to use our troops as prop for the funding for his Border Wall; which incidentally Trump continues to lie about, saying that a majority of the country wants the Wall.
The Majority of the country by a wide margin is opposed to Trump’s stupid Border Wall, especially when he wants to fund it with American Taxpayers Money.
37
No troop withdrawals from Iraq until my plane leaves for my United States. Ok, then...
I'm outta here and the wifey is as well.
I've gotta get back to t.v. reality.
9
Trump did the right thing by visiting the troops, but still so much snark. At least there will not be US troops much longer in Syria to visit…...
11
@Philly
See the comment from @me. Trump's treating his trip to Iraq like a booby prize, and only AFTER his 16-day golf and gala plan fell apart. It's an afterthought, a sop to the political rabble rather than concern for troop morale. So it's not a strong gesture of support…
But if troop morale get a boost, terrific. Trump gets Brownie points for fulfilling one of his basic duties.
4
@Philly
The troops may not be there, but that doesn't mean that ISIS is defeated.
As if he cares , about troops or anybody else.
Another cheap trick that any fool can see through, to make himself look" good."
14
Trump thought he was landing in FLORIDA! They fooled him with the palm trees at Baghdad airport.
102
'Theaters of war.' Indeed.
17
Yawn. An issue he created himself and, ultimately, manipulated for political ends. It’s pure Donald: ruin the experience by claiming he was riding out the shutdown all alone (he was with Melania!) in the White House, when he was really waiting to head to Iraq. He is shameless. He may have been duly elected but he is not fit to lead anything. A weaker person would be hard to find.
20
I wonder what Robert Mueller would be thinking if he happened to see this Fake President mugging with the troops. I assume that it might not be printable.
7
Real news. Fake smiles.
23