Here we go again. The "W" II regime is underway with the military-industrial complex back in complete control. Another war on the way to the utter dismay of our cherished European allies. No wonder Putin and the Russian's celebrated Trump's victory. It will sow more hatred of America, radicalization of Muslims inside Europe, and bring instability and authoritarianism to Europe's eastern door steps. The great unraveling of the greatest peace and prosperity enterprise in the history of mankind is under attack. a March of Folly that will surely advance Putin's plan for a Greater Russia that will threaten our democratic way of life and the freedoms we cherish.
11
Remember just a week ago when grossly naive people thought a Trump presidency wouldn't be so bad as long as he surrounded himself with intelligent, moderate people? Too bad, America, turns out you're as ignorant as the rest of the world already knew
12
Will there be any clean appointees in the Trump cabinet? Bringing baggage is one thing but these men are hauling steamer trunks into the White House.
As the holidays approach I think of the Dickens character, Tiny Tim and his simple wish; "God bless, everyone". And that is exactly what our country needs...now!
As the holidays approach I think of the Dickens character, Tiny Tim and his simple wish; "God bless, everyone". And that is exactly what our country needs...now!
7
Mike Flynn, like Steve Bannon, subscribes to a radical right-wing ideology. This ideology is referred to as "alt-right", though it is no longer "alt" as it has now gone mainstream. "Alt-right" is a politically correct term for white nationalist, which is a politically correct term for white supremacy. The core belief underlying this ideology is that "white culture" needs to be preserved. They believe that culture and race are inseparable so in order to preserve white culture, races need to be physically seperated. There is a guide to the alt-right ideology on Steve Bannon's website, Breitbart, if you want to know more.
9
Most NYT readers think this is a bad appointment. Trump supporters don't. They either think the NYT is lying, or simply embrace the appointment. This is where we are at. A significant portion of our country believes Sharia law is taking over.
9
Many more Americans voted for Clinton than Trump. We will not be silenced because Republicans want us to. The electoral college will elect a misogynistic, xenophobic, sexist, bully as commander in chief. The president will be someone who makes fun of defenseless disabled people and prisoners of war. Trump's values are not my values. So I will speak out.
8
Another bigot. With Steve Bannon, Jeff Session and Flynn, Trump's cabinet is shaping up like something out of 1959.
8
More like 1952.
3
He is violently anti Iran, thinks highly of Putin who is an ally of Iran.
If the Iran agreement was to blow up, Russia despite being a signatory to the Iran agreement will be a beneficiary.
They will supply the wherewithal to Iran to restart their nuclear program and if the West reinstates oil sanctions it will help the oil price increase and of course Russia
So Flynn is a Russian enabler and once the FIFA World Cup is over in 2018 ,Russia emboldened by the Trump Administration will invade Ukraine openly
NATO will be impotent as Trump insists they pay their share in cash notwithstanding they may pay more than their share in the blood of their sons and daughters
What have we done
If the Iran agreement was to blow up, Russia despite being a signatory to the Iran agreement will be a beneficiary.
They will supply the wherewithal to Iran to restart their nuclear program and if the West reinstates oil sanctions it will help the oil price increase and of course Russia
So Flynn is a Russian enabler and once the FIFA World Cup is over in 2018 ,Russia emboldened by the Trump Administration will invade Ukraine openly
NATO will be impotent as Trump insists they pay their share in cash notwithstanding they may pay more than their share in the blood of their sons and daughters
What have we done
11
The authors lost me at the use of the (now NYT obligatory) term "existential" as some form of intensifier with no respect for its actual historical meaning -- as if "existential" were simply a synonym for "very" or "serious." Somewhere both Sartre, left wing, and Kierkegaard, right wing, are rolling in their graves.
10
Indeed. This has become another one of that ever-expanding roster of words that have well-defined meanings in context but that have been used by written and spoken media so casually that they are ceasing to mean much of anything. The term "existential threat" is so commonly used today that it may not really mean much of anything. A flyswatter is an existential threat to a fly, but is that what we want to mean by using this phrase?
3
Not too long ago we had a President who was a bit dim and easily swayed by underlings with firm ideological agendas outside the norm.....and the GW Bush presidency managed to give us long drawn out military stalemates in Afghanistan and Iraq, the Patriot Act, and unseen levels of government surveillance on the general population.
So what to expect with a Trump administration led by a political ignoramus who is surrounding himself with assorted conspiracy nuts, alt-Right media goons, xenophobes, haters, and the legally inept?
Hardly bears thinking really......but here it comes anyway.
So what to expect with a Trump administration led by a political ignoramus who is surrounding himself with assorted conspiracy nuts, alt-Right media goons, xenophobes, haters, and the legally inept?
Hardly bears thinking really......but here it comes anyway.
22
Why was he forced out a year early in his career? What problems does this indicate. As a former officer, I can tell you it's putting it mildly, unusual and should raise a lot of questions in hearings and investigations. What about his paid giving of aid and comfort to the enemy as a stooge to Putin's personal propaganda network, NT, AND while sitting with the Russians, bad mouthed and criticized his country. this is known as treason.
12
It seems that in the world according to NYT General Flynn's only mortal sin is his belief that militant Islamism presents a bigger threat to this country than Russia. I suspect that the American people would agree with General Flynn.
10
Um, no. If you read the article, the problem is his inability to look beyond his obsession, and Russia us going to sneak up and take a big bite out of the world. Bad news all around.
5
Wait, terrorist groups that use radicalized Islam as a source of hatred and to rally supporters aren't a threat? Weird.
12
Our thoughts and prayers go out to all the Trump supporters when they are called up for the draft into the Armed Services
6
Michael Flynn was the leader of the "lock her up" chants at the Republican convention. He also has strong ties to Putin. Given these two facts, it's hardly a surprise that Flynn was chosen. Where have we gone wrong as a nation? A fired general who gleefully chants to jail a political opponent is now the nation's top national security adviser in the new presidential administration. The United States has no moral authority to lecture any nation around the globe on civility or democratic principles anymore.
13
Given recent revelations regarding American overthrow of legal and elected governments worldwide for decades and atrocities committed by rogue US troops in various Third World interventions from Korea on down to Iraq, when was the last time we had moral authority as a nation? Disgraceful what has happened to that shining city on a hill.
4
Trump's hawkish appointees mock the peace dividend. It's like they have already thrown down the gauntlet and accepted the stark reality of a state of war. Obama kept the peace. I'd rather have a bad trade deal than a war. Condemning other's religion is a fool's game and it plays Russian roulette wth war, which only a lunatic would want. Ten days since the election and we are light years closer to chaos.
7
And yet two columnists today are saying the Democrats need to get over identity politics. Looks to me like the people practicing the most heinous identity politics now run the show. I am happy to move to character politics anytime - as in, do you have the character to use this power you have been given responsibly? Do you have emotional intelligence and are you able to appreciate facts and examine nuances? From actions are people's character revealed, and the more power one has, the more character one needs in order to exercise that power responsibly and with decency.
6
This guy reminds me of General Jack Ripper in Dr. Strangelove with Muslims in place of the Soviets. This could turn out badly for our country.
5
No wonder I rarely read the NYT.
" a retired intelligence officer who believes Islamist militancy poses an existential threat" is stated like is does not. And that is where I STOPPED reading this article trashing a decorated combat veteran.
What fantasy land have you been living in??
I guess you've forgotten about 9/11, even though it happened in YOUR city.
" a retired intelligence officer who believes Islamist militancy poses an existential threat" is stated like is does not. And that is where I STOPPED reading this article trashing a decorated combat veteran.
What fantasy land have you been living in??
I guess you've forgotten about 9/11, even though it happened in YOUR city.
15
9/11 didn't make AQ an existential threat, even though it happened in MY city.
5
Speaking as a NYC resident for most of my life I can tell you that nobody has forgotten 9/11, nor will they ever do so. Some just have the common sense to put it into context.
7
Flynn and Putin..........what is the common thread....
I hope that commenters will be up to the task of showing the journalists
at The New York Times what they should report on...very soon...!!!
I hope that commenters will be up to the task of showing the journalists
at The New York Times what they should report on...very soon...!!!
3
He calls himself "General Flynn" on his Twitter account, I guess it is okay for him to lie about having an extra star.
5
I think "national security" is a fraud but that said Flynn's openness to the Russians is a big plus. Obama was wrong not to call a spade a spade so Flynn's
attitude toward militant Islam is my own. This is ostensibly a military position not suitable for PC. I will give this general a fair. We could not do worse than Bush-Obama.
attitude toward militant Islam is my own. This is ostensibly a military position not suitable for PC. I will give this general a fair. We could not do worse than Bush-Obama.
8
The liberals, leftists, militant minorities, gays, and other Trump opponents need to quit crying and kicking like spoiled children and face reality. Donald Trump will be sworn in in January, 2017 as President unless he drops dead or resigns before Inauguration Day. As the President he alone has the power and privilege to make any and all staff appointments with or without public approval or opprobrium as the case may be. His cabinet appointees are subject to U.S. Senate review and confirmation. All these endless marches, sit-ins, protests, and demonstrations are a waste of time, money, and energy. These disgruntled people would be much better to spend all this money and effort on helping fellow American citizens who are unemployed, hungry, homeless, destitute, etc. Get over the fact that Donald Trump will be the Chief Executive of the United States of America in 2017. After Trump is sworn in and his proposals on policies are enacted by executive orders or presented as proposed laws to the U.S. Congress and you do not like them and want to oppose them then at that point feel free to do so: Lobby your Congressmen , circulate petitions, write letters, make phone calls, file law suits in federal court if you feel you have a genuine case. In the mean time you all need to get on with your lives. The election is over. The Republicans have won both houses of Congress and the Presidency. There are coming elections in 2 and 4 years for you to support other candidates for same. Grow up.
17
General Flynn is an excellent choice with an impressive resume as are all of the people President elect Trump has chosen. He is selecting people on merit and accomplishments and on what they think and do and not what they look like. Looks and gender is something the socialistic/democrats would select. They do not select quality: Emmanuel, Lynch, etc.
12
Flynn, good reputation until he let his feelings dominate his thinking and became unprofessional. Trump is picking people who share his attitudes rather than reasonable ones who will carry out his policies with professionalism.
5
Merit, really? It seems like loyalty, not competence, is Donald's driving force. It seems at least a few of them are not highly regarded by their peers. And the selection of a man so cozy with white nationalists is not very reassuring to all the non-white people Trump wants to ban, deport or send more police into their neighborhoods. If Trump truly wants to be president of all people, he really needs to appoint some people that they don't have to fear.
8
This is exactly what I feared the first time I heard Trump speak months ago:
A mindless POTUS with vicious advisers.
A mindless POTUS with vicious advisers.
19
We are witnessing the consequences beyond what so many Trump supporters voted for. Trump has become a facilitator for the unhinged elements in our government and society.
19
Our government needs a little un-hinging! Come on, people! Have you been asleep for the last two decades? We are in the midst of a never ending "War on Terror" ... "radical" Islamic terror. This man just so happens to be a subject matter expert on how to fight this. So it would seem a logical choice to offer him the position of national security adviser. We don't need to coddle or pacify the enemy, we need to crush it. Someone a little uh-hinged, pointed in the right direction can do that.
12
Editors....What are Donald J. Trump's ties to Putin and his cadre...
That is a simple question isn't it....so what is the answer...and who
do you have on board to investigate this question....
If no one...then for a time...hire Dan Rather.....!!!!
That is a simple question isn't it....so what is the answer...and who
do you have on board to investigate this question....
If no one...then for a time...hire Dan Rather.....!!!!
7
- General Flynn is a retired intelligence officer who believes Islamist militancy poses an existential threat. -
This is something we can all agree with, correct?
This is something we can all agree with, correct?
20
It is time to begin prosecuting Flynn for conflict of interest -- taking money from Turkey while serving the United States government. Not who's job that is. It certainly won't be coming from Trump's attorney general.
6
Let's think about this "historical" election: the Electoral College doesn't have to vote for Trump...
4
Hillary Clinton has received the highest number of popular votes for President of anyone in US History other than Barrack Obama. This makes a very strong case for the "Trump is not my President" protest. It cries out for an overture followed by action from Trump to seek compromise if he would unite the country and serve the nation. It cries out to the few so-called moderates or people of independent mind and integrity in the Senate to work with Democrats. There is no evidence to date that this will happen.
15
The goal of Trump and the RNC was to win the electoral college. Too bad Hillary and the DNC could not figure out this simple fact of life that gets you to the presidency.
3
It does call out for these sneaky Gotchas to prove they really are winners in a one person one vote runoff election.
The fact that they don't seals it for me: for all their strutting, these people are cowards on a crime spree.
The fact that they don't seals it for me: for all their strutting, these people are cowards on a crime spree.
1
The Trump people expected to win the popular vote and lose via the electoral vote so they threatened violence in response.
3
Re his "Fear of Muslims is RATIONAL: please forward this to others: the truth fears no questions." I live in a neighborhood in Queens with a large quantity of Muslims but I don't shake in my boots. I guess I must be irrational.
17
Seems like some among us are still fighting the Crusades.
17
And others, very much more dangerous, want a WW with Russia.
4
Separation of church and state teeters on the brink now.
3
Apart from the General himself, his son, Michael Flynn Jr, has also been on of the forefront of fake news and conspiracy theory generation with the "alt-right", so it apparently runs in the family:
http://edition.cnn.com/2016/11/17/politics/kfile-michael-flynn-social-media
I think Donald Rumsfeld's proverbial dodge-ball press conferences will soon start to look like honesty pageants. This administration would not even bother to do evasive maneuvers -- they'll just lie straight in your face and wouldn't even blink.
http://edition.cnn.com/2016/11/17/politics/kfile-michael-flynn-social-media
I think Donald Rumsfeld's proverbial dodge-ball press conferences will soon start to look like honesty pageants. This administration would not even bother to do evasive maneuvers -- they'll just lie straight in your face and wouldn't even blink.
14
I just heard that there is a planned march in Washington DC on January 21, 2017 to protest the election of a crazy man as president of the United States.
I haven't been to one of these since the late 60s – maybe it's time to march again.
I haven't been to one of these since the late 60s – maybe it's time to march again.
17
Trump championed during the nomination process that he'd be selecting the best and brightest...the true experts to join his team.
Thus far we've seen extreme nepotism, with his children who know zero about governmental affairs being aligned for key positions within his inner circle, lobbyists for regulatory positions and now Flynn an outside the out candidate for a top security post.
I did not vote for Trump but candidly was hopeful that post election we'd finally see him take a different tack and rise to the occasion. Thus far, he seems to be surrounding himself with lightweights.
We all learned during the W Administration the damage a neocon with poor judgement can do to the country. This slide show is shaping up to be even worse.
Thus far we've seen extreme nepotism, with his children who know zero about governmental affairs being aligned for key positions within his inner circle, lobbyists for regulatory positions and now Flynn an outside the out candidate for a top security post.
I did not vote for Trump but candidly was hopeful that post election we'd finally see him take a different tack and rise to the occasion. Thus far, he seems to be surrounding himself with lightweights.
We all learned during the W Administration the damage a neocon with poor judgement can do to the country. This slide show is shaping up to be even worse.
15
we are so far beyond the norm, the bad dudes are now in office
9
I find the headline misleading. I would hope that any person elected or appointed to public office in the US would be anti-islamist. I would also hope that each one would be pro-Islam and extend the hand of friendship to the *vast* majority of Islam which is peaceful and does not wish any harm to us. This Flynn seems a dangerous person likely to radicalize disaffected Islamic youth and cause serious harm. He could easily end up being what Margaret Thatcher was to the IRA - the main recruiter.
7
I'm wondering if given the unraveling of our republic at this time, would the electoral college have voted the same? I would hope and pray not. If those 'esteemed' electors so disproportionately tasked with deciding the state of a nation when many of them have not even left this continent or even their home state knew even one third of what it is transpiring, could they, in conscience have agreed to Trump? And most importantly, seeing what is transpiring, will any of them invoke their so-called 'faith-based' judgment and vote the orange swine (sorry, pigs!) out of candidacy and turn the vote around? Of course not.....
5
Say the deplorables, "it's all worth it if we repeal Obamacare and overturn Roe"
12
Why does Trump need National Security Advisors, Secretary of Defense or Secretary of State? To hear him tell it during the campaign, he knows better than anyone how things work, that only he can fix things.
We are finding out otherwise.
We are finding out otherwise.
13
The role of intelligence is to perceive real threats, not to create or exaggerate them. The latter is the precursor for oppression.
19
What do you expect? This is just the beginning. GOP is drinking the kool-aid while pretending to celebrate each appointment.
America that we know will be much different for the next four years.
America that we know will be much different for the next four years.
11
The question of whether Islamist militancy poses an 'existential threat' is not so easily written off. Someone who is hyper-vigilant given American sensitivities may be an excellent choice. The problem is only half Islamic Militancy. The other half of the threat is the extreme and life altering response that government and citizens fall into after such an attack. It is an unnecessary and harmful overreaction but clearly that is the 'existential' in existential threat. In Israel when a bus is blown up, you get on the next one. When we can do that, there will be no more 'existential' threat. Until then, better to be hyper-vigilant which given Europe's recent experience's perhaps we can learn from.
9
Well, we now clearly have more to fear than we may have previously thought: there is nothing in Mr. Trump's recent cabinet and staff choices that illustrates anything remotely like compromise or moderation of his campaign rhetoric, much less bringing the county together. Trump apparently meant everything he said during the campaign.
And maybe even worse, the media, in this case the New York Times, continues to support a not so subtle shading of the facts, in this case calling Mr. Trump "a president with little experience in military or foreign policy issues."
The clear and present fact is that Mr. Trump has absolutely NO experience in either military affairs or foreign policy. The Times' claim is an ongoing case of the press promoting a patently false equivalency between Mr. Trump and pretty much any presidential candidate in the last two decade. This self-serving behavior by the fourth estate, such as it is, does not serve the public well. Can you say: informercial?
And maybe even worse, the media, in this case the New York Times, continues to support a not so subtle shading of the facts, in this case calling Mr. Trump "a president with little experience in military or foreign policy issues."
The clear and present fact is that Mr. Trump has absolutely NO experience in either military affairs or foreign policy. The Times' claim is an ongoing case of the press promoting a patently false equivalency between Mr. Trump and pretty much any presidential candidate in the last two decade. This self-serving behavior by the fourth estate, such as it is, does not serve the public well. Can you say: informercial?
10
Oh please, you're quibbling between "little" and "no"?
Sigh.
Sigh.
2
I see today that our Cowardly Bully of a President has done what most Bully's do when smacked in the mouth. They talk nice to your face to get out of the situation then run away out of reach and start running their mouth again.
True to form Obama can't control his mouth and had to run to Germany to start spouting his version of facts again.
#truecolors
#nolegacy
True to form Obama can't control his mouth and had to run to Germany to start spouting his version of facts again.
#truecolors
#nolegacy
10
Hashtags don't make your wild version of truth any more valid. Maybe expose you as a paid plant, but not validate you.
President Obama has been bending over backwards--far more than our new Community-Disorganizer-in-Chief-Elect deserves--to make Trump's transition succeed, even great. It's not Obama's fault, nor due to any "bullying" of his (that one Nerd Prom long ago, maybe, aside) that Trump repays the President's charitable cooperation with white-supremacist Cabinet appointments and Christie-esque radio silence to fundamental executive departments.
President Obama has been bending over backwards--far more than our new Community-Disorganizer-in-Chief-Elect deserves--to make Trump's transition succeed, even great. It's not Obama's fault, nor due to any "bullying" of his (that one Nerd Prom long ago, maybe, aside) that Trump repays the President's charitable cooperation with white-supremacist Cabinet appointments and Christie-esque radio silence to fundamental executive departments.
8
Obama vs Trump - you're calling Obama a bully? Better ask Trump, that's the opposite of what he accused Obama of being.
3
Our current President has more class in his little finger than you will ever hope to attain. Enjoy your new Reichsführer, Maybe you will be one of the lucky ones he or his henchmen don't come after...first.
9
I kept telling people to separate their ambivalent and hopefulness of Trump with the basket of deplorables that he will pick to run the government. Think these are of concern? Wait until the Supreme Court nominations are announced. This is just the beginning of the storm heading our way.
11
The ones that might decide to use "2nd Amendment remedies" may not be the ones we all assume by that sentiment.
2
These appointees are all hard liners presaging an administration hellbent on being tough and bellicose to get its way. Inevitably this will lead to growing protective isolation putting strains on the economy and additional financial burdens. The middle class feels hard done by now but with these developments its going to worse ... a lot worse and fast.
14
I suspect that Trump, with his refusal to listen to anyone but a handful of alt-right types, will be able to wreck the economy even quicker than Bush did. We Democrats, better start recruiting decent replacements for Trump and his lot immediately!
6
The most important job of the National Security Advisor, traditionally at least, is to coordinate policy formulation among all the agencies involved including State, Treasury, Defense, USAID, and the intelligence community. Fulfillment of that role is critical to providing the "decider," the President, with options and alternatives supported by fact and which are capable of being implemented in the real world. This, obviously, is a non-traditional presidency. Nevertheless, the President would be well-served with alternatives and competing views. My fear is that instead of coordinated policy options Flynn will filter out competing views leaving the President, especially one with no national security credentials of his own, with myopic and potentially impractical and even dangerous policy choices.
28
Myopic? You mean like Obama and his team?
4
Filtering? What about actually inserting opinions as facts.
2
Well one consolation is that one of Trump's favorite phrases is "You're fired." These guys may not last long. Another thing is that if Flynn is so completely bound by his own opinions, it won't take long for the whole Middle East to blow up. Not a good thing, but it is bound to get him fired.
We will just have to wait and see how he does. But it is a relief to see that we now have some people who make it okay to say "radical" Islam so as to differentiate this minority of bad actors from the rest of good Islam.
5
It has always been okay to say "radical Islam". You seem to be searching for something to be angry about.
2
Still wrong. I've coined the term psuedo-Islam, because we shouldn't dignify the publicly espoused beliefs and aims of the terrorists by allowing them any claim to the Islamic faith. It would be like Satan using the Bible to convince you to do evil. Would that make Satan a Christian?
3
Headline is typical NYT softballing. Michael Flynn isn't against Islamists, he is against Islam period. Headline should read, Michael Flynn, who considers Islam a terrorist Religion, offered security post. .
6
I'm laughing because Trump supporters say the NYT is hardballing Flynn and anti-Trump people are saying they're softballing.
Guess that means they're probably doing their job and being unbiased?
Guess that means they're probably doing their job and being unbiased?
The most important thing to do with Trump now appointing these odd people to powerful posts is to maintain open voting practices. Remember Trump was soundly trounced in the popular vote. If we fail to do that then it is entirely possible that they will be able to maintain their minority power base for a very long time. I live in a highly gerrymandered district. Our congressman, Darrell Issa, is ineffective and headline seeking rather than helping us. He gets reelected everytime because the state legislature has drawn up a safe district for him. If I'm still alive in 2022 maybe that will change. That's why open voting is more important right now than any other issue.
4
Also remember that only roughly a quarter of eligible voters voted for Trump.
Mandate indeed...
Mandate indeed...
3
NYT is not helping the debate by resorting to titles using the term anti-Islamist as if it had a pejorative connotation. An Islamist is an advocate or supporter of Islamic militancy or fundamentalism. An anti-Islamist is not an anti-Islam or anti-Muslim, it is someone who opposes a variance of Islam whose purpose is to impose Islam to the non-Muslim through militancy which implies the use of the most violent means that one can imagine.
I’m having a hard time understanding how a person whose duty is to protect his country would not adamantly oppose those who want to destroy it. After suffering 9 11 being anti-Islamist in the US, is like being anti-IRA in UK, anti-ETA in Spain, anti-FARC in Colombia, etc.
Islamism is the enemy of democracy and must be defeated. If the NYT and its readers are afraid that Islamism will be persecuted by a Trump administration, they have a serious problem.
I’m having a hard time understanding how a person whose duty is to protect his country would not adamantly oppose those who want to destroy it. After suffering 9 11 being anti-Islamist in the US, is like being anti-IRA in UK, anti-ETA in Spain, anti-FARC in Colombia, etc.
Islamism is the enemy of democracy and must be defeated. If the NYT and its readers are afraid that Islamism will be persecuted by a Trump administration, they have a serious problem.
8
Yes we know that. The problem is that our country stands for allowing everyone to have whatever opinions they want -- as long as they follow our laws. Mr. Trump's anti-Islamist supporters are proposing rounding up Muslims for nothing but their religious beliefs which is illegal under the laws of the US. So, for this reason anti-Islamist **is ** a pejorative. It means a person proposing to break the law on a grand national scale.
1
It's your interpretation that the term anti-Islamist was used pejoratively. That reveals your own bias.
And in 2020 or 2024, who will be apologizing for, and who will be denying their support, for the war in Iran?
3
Seems self evident that the Times which was so virulently against Trump would be against any and all of his choices. So why all the righteous indignation? Point being that he won and they are his choices, not yours. I don't think the people who elected him would be supportive of him 'recalibrating', 'pivoting' or 'evolving' a la Obama.
In the words of Obama - "Elections have consequences and I won". Maybe the Times can find something positive to say about something. I also don't remember Bush traveling abroad and lecturing Obama on how to govern and I seem to remember that there were scores of unfilled positions well into his Presidency.
In the words of Obama - "Elections have consequences and I won". Maybe the Times can find something positive to say about something. I also don't remember Bush traveling abroad and lecturing Obama on how to govern and I seem to remember that there were scores of unfilled positions well into his Presidency.
9
Still waiting to see evidence in the text of the article that shows the NYT is against Trump and his choices. Not reporting the facts that they did would be an affront to journalism, and as far as I can tell they reported whatever positive Flynn info that they could. If you know different, now's your chance to let us in on the secret.
4
Perhaps you recall that Bush was in no position to tell anyone how to govern. He, wisely, fled to Texas where he has been hiding out and painting.
2
Will corporate America sit by and watch Trump and his hand picked delusional paranoids destroy THEIR American Dream? Are working class families who provided Washington DC republicans with the flesh, blood and treasure of their children going to countenance the socio/economic justice they yearn for vanish in an orgy of nepotism and croneyism outrageous even by Russian standards?
Climb on board, watch the show. Still plenty of good deck chairs on this titanic ship of state.
Climb on board, watch the show. Still plenty of good deck chairs on this titanic ship of state.
8
OK, here we go! What a just plain bizarre choice from the Donald, although most of his choices during the long and tortured campaign and since....what can anyone normal in America say?
I think it would be wise for President Obama to pardon Mrs. Clinton, even though it's obvious she has never committed any crime. Trump and the gang of deplorables hate Mrs. Clinton so mightily that they will drag her through the mud for the rest of her life. Look at that spectacle Trump put on before the second debate, parading a bunch of questionable women who got their only minute of fame in the 1990's by accusing Bill Clinton of all sorts of bizarre sexual activities, up to and including rape! Like they didn't all get their "day in court" years ago, and as if they didn't help the Republicans destroy Mr. Clintons presidency as much as they could ages ago. I personally think Trump will do anything to keep the circus going.
I think it would be wise for President Obama to pardon Mrs. Clinton, even though it's obvious she has never committed any crime. Trump and the gang of deplorables hate Mrs. Clinton so mightily that they will drag her through the mud for the rest of her life. Look at that spectacle Trump put on before the second debate, parading a bunch of questionable women who got their only minute of fame in the 1990's by accusing Bill Clinton of all sorts of bizarre sexual activities, up to and including rape! Like they didn't all get their "day in court" years ago, and as if they didn't help the Republicans destroy Mr. Clintons presidency as much as they could ages ago. I personally think Trump will do anything to keep the circus going.
8
Nothing like a scapegoat to take the blame off oneself! Please Obama, protect Hillary. Trump has made clear what he plans to do to her. Don't let it happen. We don't need another Joan of Arc.
2
While I agree with both you and Pajaritomt - that there is a strong possibility that Trump - either on his own or on the advise of his cabinet of deplorables along with his even more deplorable advisor (Bannon) - may indeed go forward with appointing a special prosecutor (persecutor) to go after Hillary.
But I would hate to see Obama pardon her. If Obama does that there will be no end to the right wing rantings of how that proves she is guilty of criminal acts. There has been a 20+ year witch hunt of the Clintons - initiated by the Republicans for political gain. Right wing media has been promoting it non stop for those 20+ years, and their followers who are unable or unwilling to employ any critical thinking skills accept and then even falsify and embroider the stories. It depresses me to see how far they would take their stories if Obama were to pardon Hillary.
At the same time I don't wish to see her and her family go through any more witch hunts and cruelness should Trump appoint a special prosecutor. And I can see him doing it to divert attention from all his numerous law suits. I believe he is in the process of settling the law suit against that arose out of Trump University.
But I would hate to see Obama pardon her. If Obama does that there will be no end to the right wing rantings of how that proves she is guilty of criminal acts. There has been a 20+ year witch hunt of the Clintons - initiated by the Republicans for political gain. Right wing media has been promoting it non stop for those 20+ years, and their followers who are unable or unwilling to employ any critical thinking skills accept and then even falsify and embroider the stories. It depresses me to see how far they would take their stories if Obama were to pardon Hillary.
At the same time I don't wish to see her and her family go through any more witch hunts and cruelness should Trump appoint a special prosecutor. And I can see him doing it to divert attention from all his numerous law suits. I believe he is in the process of settling the law suit against that arose out of Trump University.
1
Islamic militancy isn't a serious threat to the United States.
Flynn would do better focusing his security apparatus on leftist rebels at home, such as the ones rioting in the streets.
Flynn would do better focusing his security apparatus on leftist rebels at home, such as the ones rioting in the streets.
2
Yes, lets surpress freedom of speech! How American! ( or rather Chinese).
4
I have heard several things about Michael Flynn that disturbs me, his spending time giving speeches on Russian Television and accepting money from them, his views on Putin, NATO which seems to have changed and warmed towards what Putin and Russian would desire, his money ties with Turkey.
Flynn did rub some people wrong in the DOD, and there is also his son, who seems to be trolling Alt-right websites and a proponent of some odd conspiracy theory's.
I think his ties with Russia, and views of the Ukraine, Crimea and possible Russian aggression towards the NATO protective umbrella and his financial gains from Russian Oligarchs and Turkey, it wouldn't be the first time an ex-military brass has been turned and used by our enemies. Flynn's son's activities and involvement needs to be looked at too.
Flynn did rub some people wrong in the DOD, and there is also his son, who seems to be trolling Alt-right websites and a proponent of some odd conspiracy theory's.
I think his ties with Russia, and views of the Ukraine, Crimea and possible Russian aggression towards the NATO protective umbrella and his financial gains from Russian Oligarchs and Turkey, it wouldn't be the first time an ex-military brass has been turned and used by our enemies. Flynn's son's activities and involvement needs to be looked at too.
10
He wouldn't have to be explicitly turned. He seems whacko enough to be used as an unwitting dupe who seems to check his intelligence at the door on certain subjects.
3
Mr. Flynn is not inconsistent as stated. Rather, he possesses the intellectual ability to hold two differing opinions about the same subject matter, i.e., islam is not a religion, rather an odious, perfidious ideology, while still having muslim friends. Life is ambiguous. Mr. Flynn is not.
12
The "in like Flynn" expression coined during WW2 with lewd allusions has now taken on new meaning and not necessarily all that innocent either.
5
"In like Flynn" was coined in the early 20th century, and it referred to a corrupt New York Tammany Hall politician, Ed Flynn.
From the New Yorker:
The Greeks have a word for the emerging Trump Administration: kakistocracy. The American Heritage Dictionary defines it as a “government by the least qualified or most unprincipled citizens.” Webster’s is simpler: “government by the worst people.”
The Greeks have a word for the emerging Trump Administration: kakistocracy. The American Heritage Dictionary defines it as a “government by the least qualified or most unprincipled citizens.” Webster’s is simpler: “government by the worst people.”
9
I think when any of us think "oh, it will be alright" that we shuld take a hard look at the folks Trump et al are proposing to have in Government. Are you sure your family is "WHITE ENOUGH"? You need to be able to go back 16 generations, and you need to examine the census info on you and the folks that married into your family back at least to the 1840s. Then you need to make sure your religion is "PURE" and that means pure according to the standards of not only the KKK but Conservative and Evangelical Christian, America's version of ISIS. You know the type, reveled in the hate and didn't care about what Christ actually said. They felt getting control of the Supreme Court so they could force us to obey their religious beliefs was more important than any of Christ’s teachings. That will be harder to trace but it must be done. This is so when you are put on one of the "TRUMP lists" you have a way to fight back. SCARE THE DAYLIGHTS OUT OF YOU YET? IT SHOULD. IT IS OUR NEW NORMAL BECAUSE FOLKS VOTED IT IN.
4
Can we get a quick headcount as to who is serving in the Executive Branch who we are certain IS NOT on the Russian Government's payroll?
Just curious, asking for a friend.
Just curious, asking for a friend.
8
Ah, that's the trick, isn't it? When can you be really certain :)
"General Flynn is a retired intelligence officer who believes Islamist militancy poses an existential threat."
Gee, why would he think that?
Gee, why would he think that?
4
I hope General Flynn moves some of the 'careerist' generals out and while
he is at some of the 'careerist' State Department types who rather see
Americans placed in danger rather than 'offend' those countries who
harbor terrorists.
he is at some of the 'careerist' State Department types who rather see
Americans placed in danger rather than 'offend' those countries who
harbor terrorists.
5
Would that things were as simple as such sentiments assume...
1
"Yet General Flynn still nurses the grudge of an outsider, believing he never quite got the respect he deserves."
You EARN respect, you don't just deserve it, especially in the military.
Article is consistent with what I have heard from those who know and have worked with him. Good intelligence officer, but that is about it. That doesn't qualify one to become the NSA.
You EARN respect, you don't just deserve it, especially in the military.
Article is consistent with what I have heard from those who know and have worked with him. Good intelligence officer, but that is about it. That doesn't qualify one to become the NSA.
7
Flynn is but one symptom of a far deeper danger, brought to us by those wonderful folks from the American electorate. Now we have a blatant racist selected for AG, a white nationalist as Chief Strategic Adviser, and an ideological Hillary-hating hack to head the CIA.
We hear that folks took Trump seriously but not literally; we should have taken him literally, but that's in the rear view mirror now. Letters to our reps won't hurt but a more robust voting effort among folks whose futures are really at-stake would have helped a lot more. I'm not at all optimistic that we'll ever learn this lesson.
Calls to rescind the Bannon appointment now seem like minor belches into a raging tornado.
www.endthemadnessnow.org
We hear that folks took Trump seriously but not literally; we should have taken him literally, but that's in the rear view mirror now. Letters to our reps won't hurt but a more robust voting effort among folks whose futures are really at-stake would have helped a lot more. I'm not at all optimistic that we'll ever learn this lesson.
Calls to rescind the Bannon appointment now seem like minor belches into a raging tornado.
www.endthemadnessnow.org
9
Bannon might be worse than a white nationalist (if that's a possible concept). He might be the type of slimy toad willing to use such sentiments to further his own nebulous aims.
2
Can someone explain how THE most critical position (NSA head) is not required to go before the Senate? I was troubled by George W's inner circle. Flynn makes them look like pacifists. And Flynn's appointment looks like Putin will have a pass to do what he pleases against Ukraine, the Baltic states, and NATO. This is really scary.
9
So far, no African Americans, no Latinos, a couple of women.
4
Nor is that surprising. However all perfect 10 women are welcome to stand around Trump and look decorative while waiting to be groped.
2
Wake up America! Russia is and has always been the top existential treat to the United States followed by alt-right extremists embraced by Trump. ISIS is a treat du jour, unsustainable because of their suicidal and extreme brutality, cloaked in extreme Islamic religious fervor. To say that this is a war of civilization/religions is totally self-destructive to all of human civilization. American democracy is the ideal hope of the world. We either survive together or perish divided.
If after two years of suffering, hopefully the American voters will wake up to the fraud of Republican Trumpism and limit its damage to American democracy and the Constitution. We were already on the right path to gradual sustainable economic recovery. Let Trumpism be what it is, a failed populist experiment, a fluke of temporary voter weakness took in by a self-promoting flim-flam man, promising everything but the stars.
If after two years of suffering, hopefully the American voters will wake up to the fraud of Republican Trumpism and limit its damage to American democracy and the Constitution. We were already on the right path to gradual sustainable economic recovery. Let Trumpism be what it is, a failed populist experiment, a fluke of temporary voter weakness took in by a self-promoting flim-flam man, promising everything but the stars.
17
Hear! Hear!
Certainly when Putin took over, Russia resumed that level of threat lost since the death of the Soviet Union.
For all of my African-American, Hispanic-American, and Muslim-American brothers and sisters who didn't vote, or who voted for Donald Trump, congratulations. You are about to get what you so richly deserve.
And to my sisters, the majority of whom voted for President-Elect Trump, what were you thinking, prey tell?
And to my sisters, the majority of whom voted for President-Elect Trump, what were you thinking, prey tell?
9
To those of you whose self righteousness propelled you to vote for 3rd party candidates or trump in order to protest against Clinton - thank you for putting us in this mess. Your protest vote served nothing other than put this country down a very dark path.
17
For a man who said he'd "drain the swamp" it looks like an awful lot of far right gators are making themselves very comfortable indeed.
8
Cue up "Dr. Strangelove". Flynn is a hothead ideologue, a bombastic tweeter in the Trump mode. The NS Advisor is meant to related intelligence and information to the President without skewing it to their own political point of view. Interestingly Flynn has accepted money to shill for Turkey and has been to Russia and sat with Putin at a dinner (having accepted money again, I believe). So Putin has already flattered and played him as he did Trump. He is not the man for this job as he will not be able to see the world without it being through the lens of his politics. His reputation is not one of an analytical thinker as is requisite to the NSA.
6
I am heartened that President-Elect Trump picked General Flynn.
This appointment means a fight to the death (theirs) with ISIS, Al-Nusra and sundry similar murderous Sunni Muslim fanatics set loose by an unholy alliance between Saudi Arabia and the Obama administration.
It most likely also means rapprochement with the Russia Federation and a new era of commercial and strategic partnership between two great nations.
This appointment means a fight to the death (theirs) with ISIS, Al-Nusra and sundry similar murderous Sunni Muslim fanatics set loose by an unholy alliance between Saudi Arabia and the Obama administration.
It most likely also means rapprochement with the Russia Federation and a new era of commercial and strategic partnership between two great nations.
3
I love the pick. Someone who actually was against destabilizing Syria out of concern that an ISIS type group would rise? Sounds like a reasonable person.
7
Wow, when Trump is done with the Republican party, no one will recognize it. So far in his choices, White Nationalist, Islamaphobes, Anti-Semites, and Misogynists. Oh, yea, Xenophobes. I realize I change no ones mind by suggesting such extreme words to describe some of these picks, but really moderate Republicans, look what you are getting. Will be hard to walk back all of that hate and exclusion from normal patterns of decency.
5
Maximum brutality is the common thread in these appointments. Military tactics will disregard utterly the lives of Muslim civilians, given that Islam is a "cancer" in Flynn's scholarly opinion, and torturing suspected terrorists, not to mention killing their families, will multiply hatred for the USA and attacks against Americans. The problem with true believers impervious to evidence contrary to their own beliefs, particularly individuals equipped only with an impulse to violence in response to conflict, is that their actions inevitably result in more violence. This seems to goes well for them in the beginning, but Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan illustrate how things actually play out. Where Operation Barbarossa ultimately led is my greatest fear, and of course white supremacists pumped up on a political victory they feel grants them license to brutalize the weak cannot conceive of this happening to the USA.
3
Liberals " how dare anyone say all Muslims are bad! 0nly a few are"
Liberals now " all 60 million trump voters are racist bigots! Every single one of them"
Elections have consequences
Liberals now " all 60 million trump voters are racist bigots! Every single one of them"
Elections have consequences
5
The most powerful person in the world is clearly unprepared, uneducated, and undisciplined. America and the world are in for four or more years of exceptionally dangerous unpredictability, instability, agony and remorse. Eligible voters who voted for this guy and the more than half that didn’t bother to vote at all will come to regret the election of 2016—regret it swiftly and deeply.
13
This is one reason we have confirmation hearings. Write & call your representatives.
6
Unfortunately news reports are stating that the position Flynn has been appointed to is not required to go through a confirmation hearing.
Portlandia?
Not sure if you're asking me - but if so - yes - Portland.
America, a country of hope, human dignity, openness, optimism, vision, geopolitical genius on the global stage under Obama, turning into a fascist state. This is unbearable.
10
....and unbelievable too.
2
How much sense does it make to take Trump to task for appointing racists and liars when he ran on a platform of racism and lying? The GOP has been banking on extremist media hoaxers and smear campaigners for decades
8
If Rumsfeld and Cheney were afflicted with tunnel vision, this guy sounds willing to ignore other threats to security to prove his point.
The Flynn Intel Group? Dinner with the demagogue(s)? we hope that he doesn't start going after reporters and news media for reporting on US intelligence activities or for criticizing the administration - like those to whom he has apparently decided to sell intelligence services.
The Flynn Intel Group? Dinner with the demagogue(s)? we hope that he doesn't start going after reporters and news media for reporting on US intelligence activities or for criticizing the administration - like those to whom he has apparently decided to sell intelligence services.
3
I'm waiting for other shoes to drop such as a special prosecutor to go after Clinton for alleged crimes and be put in jail, not withstanding that we already have a president elect under criminal investigation for fraud.
14
Until we have a full investigation into Russia’s interference with the recent election (interference intended to favor Trump) no one with ties to Putin or his stooges should be allowed into the government. This is a serious national security issue, and it seems as if there is a conspiracy of silence on this fifth column attack on our democracy. The investigation must be open and must be conducted by a joint congressional committee since the FBI also conspired to throw the election to Trump. The American People deserve to know the full truth of these matters.
47
Since when did Democrats become fans of 'Tail Gunner' Joe McCarthy, and start seeing a 'Red under every bed'?
2
Get over it. Hillary lost.
2
@Visitor: I agree with the first and the last word of your comment as my reply to you.
3
A spectacularly poor choice, even without considering his multiple conflicts of interest. He may be even less suitable for the position than Steve Bannon is to be a presidential counselor.
20
All throughout the presidential campaign when Bernie Sanders' supporters were ranting about what a warhawk Clinton is, and how some of them would rather vote for Trump, I always replied that they should a closer look at his Foreign Affairs advisers, of which Gen. Flynn was one .... and here's why.
You ain't seen nothin' yet.
You ain't seen nothin' yet.
14
It looks like the easiest and quickest way to pick those needed in the cabinet to change the course of this country would be to first let NYT list everyone they hate or are afraid of and then just pick them.
9
Of course, NYT does not hate a lot of these people until they are picked by Trump.
3
"they have both at times crossed the line into outright Islamophobia."
Is this a news article or an opinion piece? The Times is losing sight of the distinction.
Is this a news article or an opinion piece? The Times is losing sight of the distinction.
12
That Islamic radicalism is a threat really isn't the issue. It is, how do we combat it? That is where I have issues with Flynn. See Lindsay Graham, a Republican that I share little with, for a more sane view.
5
Right now, the only "existential threat" to the United States is its own government.
35
The only reason he looks like an extremist is that the appeasement crowd took over in the Obama White House. He believes the same that about 90% of America does. I did not vote for Trump but a three star general in this position is a good start at fighting terrorism.
8
Isn't calling Islam an ideology and not the religion of 3 billion people a good recruit message for Isis wannabes?
2
Sounds like General Flynn gets pretty excited about whatever is looping in his mind but fails to see the bigger picture. Trump's gang is filled with this type. We should save them the trouble and let them know now that their fear-based approach will not help this country.
At any rate, none of Trump's cabinet picks surprise me but they do make me feel a little ill. Here comes the parade of old white men...
At any rate, none of Trump's cabinet picks surprise me but they do make me feel a little ill. Here comes the parade of old white men...
10
Big mistake. Flynn retired not because he went against the previous Administration but because he became a fanatic and lost his professional competence. The man stopped being able to separate his personal concerns and biases from his perceptions and decision making. An example of unprofessional behavior in high places was the decision to invade Iraq when we did. It was based upon improperly vetted intelligence largely because Cheney and Rumsfeld decided that they could find better information from raw intelligence data than could career professionals in the established intelligence agencies without any preconceived ideas about what they would find. Flynn is full of preconceived ideas, which is how his fanaticism has manifested. Trump seems not to have spent much time in serious thought and so is unfamiliar with the fallacious ways that people's minds can work and cause things to develop which those with better disciplined minds could anticipate.
21
I have not asked... but will venture that our friends the Kurds and Yazidis and Israelis are pleased... for some of the same reasons, and some quite different.
I will ask.
Ask Nadia Murad of YAZDA.org how she and her people feel about Gen. Flynn. The Yazidis are fabulous. The Kurds are fabulous. Someone tell Erdogan.
Putin is not pleased, he's thrilled. It's easier when your counter party is not wracked with ambivalence.
War is war. Russia knows. The trouble comes from Russia's southern flank. China knows from their northwestern flank, among others. India knows, Pakistan and Afghanistan know. But we seem not to know, today.
Trump knows.
Departed Generals Flynn, Petraeus, and Stanley McChrystal know..
The rules are changing. Russia and the USA have the same enemy.
France, too.
Radicals rule. Let not nomenclature divide us.
Raped and killed, the Yazidis will rejoice when Mr. Ambivalence retires.
The UN is a talk show. Ambassador Samantha Power has a good heart.
Her boss is all heart. He has an informed heart. But... the poor man..
He is ambivalent.
President elect Trump is forming a team that would gratify Socrates in Plato's best.
The Republic offered philosopher kings, gladiators, and sophists.
We see where we are going. Delineated, the team is forming. Our guardians will have their orders. Our sophists will be outed. Our philosophy will be understood.
So far, so good.
Mr. Trump is rolling. So much to do, so few will get it, at first.
I will ask.
Ask Nadia Murad of YAZDA.org how she and her people feel about Gen. Flynn. The Yazidis are fabulous. The Kurds are fabulous. Someone tell Erdogan.
Putin is not pleased, he's thrilled. It's easier when your counter party is not wracked with ambivalence.
War is war. Russia knows. The trouble comes from Russia's southern flank. China knows from their northwestern flank, among others. India knows, Pakistan and Afghanistan know. But we seem not to know, today.
Trump knows.
Departed Generals Flynn, Petraeus, and Stanley McChrystal know..
The rules are changing. Russia and the USA have the same enemy.
France, too.
Radicals rule. Let not nomenclature divide us.
Raped and killed, the Yazidis will rejoice when Mr. Ambivalence retires.
The UN is a talk show. Ambassador Samantha Power has a good heart.
Her boss is all heart. He has an informed heart. But... the poor man..
He is ambivalent.
President elect Trump is forming a team that would gratify Socrates in Plato's best.
The Republic offered philosopher kings, gladiators, and sophists.
We see where we are going. Delineated, the team is forming. Our guardians will have their orders. Our sophists will be outed. Our philosophy will be understood.
So far, so good.
Mr. Trump is rolling. So much to do, so few will get it, at first.
8
Like Trump, Flynn's connections with Russia are highly suspicious. In particular, Flynn received a payment to attend a gala dinner for RT, the Kremlin's house organ, and met with Vladimir Putin. It is extremely disturbing that an American military officer or former officer would accept money from such a source, and would engage in some kind of private conversations with Putin, a highly repressive authoritarian ruler who is an opponent of the United States.
Flynn's RT appearance is a matter of public record, and I wish the NYT had addressed it. In general, the press should be delving into Trump's Russian connections more fully.
Flynn's RT appearance is a matter of public record, and I wish the NYT had addressed it. In general, the press should be delving into Trump's Russian connections more fully.
14
Just how much money did the clinton foundation receive?? I get so confused by all the hate from the liberals of the nation.
1
The Hillary Clinton conversation has ended, she's not our President-Elect. Our President-Elect is a man who is currently under criminal investigation for fraud. His connections with Russia will continue to be questioned and deserve to be. It's time for his supporters to stop defending him by turning the attention to Hillary. She's out, Donald Trump now has to take the full glare of the spotlight.
2
“...they have both at times crossed the line into outright Islamophobia.”
This is an editorial opinion.It has no business appearing as a didactic statement of a reporter in a news article.
"Islamophobia” is a Newspeak neologism. It obscures more than it reveals. It can mean anything. It is often employed like the word bigot to describe those with whom one vehemently disagrees.
Sorry to see the partisan, politicized “reporting” still ongoing. More light and less heat is what is needed — less interjection of opinions smacking of cocksure zealotry into news reports.
This is an editorial opinion.It has no business appearing as a didactic statement of a reporter in a news article.
"Islamophobia” is a Newspeak neologism. It obscures more than it reveals. It can mean anything. It is often employed like the word bigot to describe those with whom one vehemently disagrees.
Sorry to see the partisan, politicized “reporting” still ongoing. More light and less heat is what is needed — less interjection of opinions smacking of cocksure zealotry into news reports.
8
What exactly do you call this quote here, if not Islamaphobia?
"Islamist militancy poses an existential threat on a global scale, and the Muslim faith itself is the source of the problem, he said, describing it as a political ideology, not a religion. He has even at times gone so far as to call it a cancer."
There are other, very clear examples in the article, you just need to read it.
"Islamist militancy poses an existential threat on a global scale, and the Muslim faith itself is the source of the problem, he said, describing it as a political ideology, not a religion. He has even at times gone so far as to call it a cancer."
There are other, very clear examples in the article, you just need to read it.
3
these guys are going to declare war on California and install their own governor.
4
This is the first salvo in the Trump administration for world wide war, not world war but world wide war. Even god for those that believe will not save our children from the next wave of war mongers. And i am or was a Republican
3
The Trumpers must be so proud. You must certainly be thrilled to have KGB alliances receiving sensitive US security info. Oh, you didn’t know- yes Trumps head security guy, Flynn, runs a business where he works for Russian heads of state in their quest for furthering Russian KGB and Kremlin stuff. In plain terms, the guy gets briefings everyday about top secret US military information to pass out to Russian clients of his on how to take the US over. Hope it isn’t your kids who will be in the world war Trump promised.
9
Let' just get real......what are Donald J. Trump's ties to Russia and Putin...
and who else in his close circle is now or has been tied to Russia..
Ask yourselves are you inaugurating a traitor...That is a very clear question.
and
needs to be answered...soon..!!!
and who else in his close circle is now or has been tied to Russia..
Ask yourselves are you inaugurating a traitor...That is a very clear question.
and
needs to be answered...soon..!!!
18
Yes! -- And while answering those questions, let's demand to see Trump's income taxes, which will also reveal the SOURCES of his income and foreign investments.
10
The article states that Trump has "little experience in military or foreign policy issues". Little experience? How about none, unless you attribute Trump opening a golf course overseas as foreign policy experience.
19
No military experience? YOu mean like Obama?
2
This guy is a contradiction. He is a supposedly a fervent opponent of radical Islamic terrorism but does business with and seems to support the leader of Turkey who is a ruthless demagogue who wants to extinguish Kurds (surely not a moderate believer of Islam). Also he does business with Russia and wants their support in Syria but what about Russia's allegiance with Iran? What does he think about the Saudis? I suppose he thought Obama was a chicken hawk in how he took out Bin Laden as well.
44
Let's see. An Islamiphobic loose cannon with economic ties to Russia and Turkey (!) who leads chants of "Lock her up!" for NSA; a racist for AG and one of the hounds of the Benghazi Committee for CIA; what could possibly go wrong?
OMG
PS that's not to mention the alt-right purveyor of false news and bigoted lies who will be the chief adviser; and the daughter who sits in on everything in violation of National Security and other protocols, and the son-in-law - and the businesses -
Is this a movie?
OMG
PS that's not to mention the alt-right purveyor of false news and bigoted lies who will be the chief adviser; and the daughter who sits in on everything in violation of National Security and other protocols, and the son-in-law - and the businesses -
Is this a movie?
14
if this was a movie, it would bomb (unless, perhaps, it was a comedy) because no one would have believed it before the reality.
3
No, unfortunately it's reality TV come to, well, reality. I just can't believe how many people bought into this joke.
3
Yes,Sophia this is like a classic horror movie. Unfortunately, it is our reality now. God help us.
2
In his Twitter feed, he retreats false news stories. Someone in this position must have their beliefs based on actual facts. Our lives depend on it.
6
Mary: I also looked at his twitter account this morning and was shocked and disgusted seeing the fake news stories that he's retweeted.
1
The New York Times, the think tanks, The Blob in DC and the rest of the foreign policy establishment doesn't like Trump's picks for CIA Director and National Security Advisor.
At least Trump is doing something right
At least Trump is doing something right
9
Do you care to elaborate on your position that Trump is doing something right? Something other than a paper says he isn't?
4
Actually, nowhere in the article does the writer say Trump is doing something wrong. It merely provides a set of facts, you can make up your mind whether to like them or not.
One can dispute the facts, if there is evidence to support that, but anyone claiming that the article says that Trump is doing something wrong is actually showing that they know these facts are disturbing and they are upset with the NYT for pointing them out.
One can dispute the facts, if there is evidence to support that, but anyone claiming that the article says that Trump is doing something wrong is actually showing that they know these facts are disturbing and they are upset with the NYT for pointing them out.
3
I know virtually nothing about General Flynn and voted for Clinton
But this piece will be singled out by the public editor as a prime example of opinion journalism.
But this piece will be singled out by the public editor as a prime example of opinion journalism.
7
What are the opinions? Just reread the article, and all I see are facts. Those who don't like them will call them opinions. Possibly bias caused the writer to leave out facts not in evidence, but what is in the article looks like facts to me. Anyone saying they aren't needs to show evidence of that and not merely whine about opinion.
4
Reporting on what a person has says and what he has done is not opinion. That kind of thinking is what got us Trump in the first place. He kept claiming it was "unfair" for people to report on his own words and people bought that hook, line and sinker. To paint a picture of who Flynn is, you need to include this information. Anything less is an insult to us all.
4
I was tempted to cancel my subscription to the Times when they had a Clintons Odds of winning the presidency at over 80%, and she lost the electoral college "bigly". I thought maybe I was reading news that was too biased and it blinded me, because I was so shocked by Donald Trump's election. Now I see the Times using headlines containing the phrase "Anti-Islamist" and it is continuing to push me away. Islamist wasn't a word until we applied it "Radical Islamist Terrorism". No the Times uses it in headlines. We need to do better.
7
Wait a minute! Do we need a National Security Advisor who accepts money from Putin?
"General Flynn also took a paid speaking engagement last year with Russia Today, a television network funded by the Kremlin, and attended the network’s lavish anniversary party in Moscow, where he sat at Mr. Putin’s elbow"
"General Flynn also took a paid speaking engagement last year with Russia Today, a television network funded by the Kremlin, and attended the network’s lavish anniversary party in Moscow, where he sat at Mr. Putin’s elbow"
12
What are Flynn's ties to Vladimir Putin...........perhaps you at the NYTimes should
hire some journalists who are really good investigative reporters...like
Dan Rather.....and we could revive this austere journal to its former high
standards.
What are Flynn's ties to Russia and Vladimir Putin....that is the question.
hire some journalists who are really good investigative reporters...like
Dan Rather.....and we could revive this austere journal to its former high
standards.
What are Flynn's ties to Russia and Vladimir Putin....that is the question.
6
"They also both exhibit a loose relationship with facts: General Flynn, for instance, has said that Shariah, or Islamic law, is spreading in the United States (it is not)."
It is not? Can the Times back that assertion up with any hard data?
It is not? Can the Times back that assertion up with any hard data?
7
You mean the data that doesn't exist because it's not happening?
2
How about the fact that no court in America uses Sharia law as a basis for decisions? Or that the US Constitution prohibits our government from establishing religion? What evidence do you have that it is spreading? Isn't it time that reporting calls out falsehoods?
3
All indications are that Flynn is a trainwreck and that the only thing worse than his extremist views are his inability to manage an office.
11
Trump won of his views which now defines them as mainline. The NYT, should seek to understand why America sees his views as main line, rejecting those of HRC instead of appearing to do all it can to damage the new administration. This other article from today's NYT makes make point
From http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/19/us/politics/donald-trump-administratio...®ion=top-news&WT.nav=top-news
CAPS added for emphasis.
"WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald J. Trump moved quickly on Friday to begin filling national security posts at the top echelons of his administration, announcing that he had tapped a group of HAWKS and CONSERVATIVE loyalists who reflect the HARD-LINE views that defined his presidential campaign."
No, he is filling posts with people supporting his main line views as indicated that choices made in this election including the Presidency, the Senate, the House, as well as State government and legislatures. In all areas the electorate leaned toward the conservative side. and in the case of the Presidency, where the contrast was perhaps the most stark, they clearly accepted Trumps views over those of HRC.
When ever I hear relative terms like Hard-Line, Hawk, or conservative, I ask compared to what. In this case compared to the NYT views. The people have spoken and Trumps views are now main line unless perhaps you are a progressive hard liner yourself. Think about it.
From http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/19/us/politics/donald-trump-administratio...®ion=top-news&WT.nav=top-news
CAPS added for emphasis.
"WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald J. Trump moved quickly on Friday to begin filling national security posts at the top echelons of his administration, announcing that he had tapped a group of HAWKS and CONSERVATIVE loyalists who reflect the HARD-LINE views that defined his presidential campaign."
No, he is filling posts with people supporting his main line views as indicated that choices made in this election including the Presidency, the Senate, the House, as well as State government and legislatures. In all areas the electorate leaned toward the conservative side. and in the case of the Presidency, where the contrast was perhaps the most stark, they clearly accepted Trumps views over those of HRC.
When ever I hear relative terms like Hard-Line, Hawk, or conservative, I ask compared to what. In this case compared to the NYT views. The people have spoken and Trumps views are now main line unless perhaps you are a progressive hard liner yourself. Think about it.
16
What is the basis that his views were accepted and HRC's views were rejected. She won more votes than he did. And did any of his supporters know his views on foreign policy past the wall he will never build and certainly never get Mexico to pay for.
8
RE "people supporting his main line views as indicated that choices made in this election"
Trump did not win the popular vote. Less than half of all eligible voters voted.
Polls showed that Trump is disliked by more people than HRC. This is not a convincing mandate by any means.
Trump did not win the popular vote. Less than half of all eligible voters voted.
Polls showed that Trump is disliked by more people than HRC. This is not a convincing mandate by any means.
3
Ummm. No. Since most voters voted against Trump it's clearly not the case that his views reflect those of most voters. At that point the rest of your argument is moot. The majority of Americans have shown in poll after poll that they don't agree with these views and that was reflected (your own argument) at the ballot box. For any issue facing us there is a range of views from, in this case, a calls for direct military action, through indifference and the leftward to making "peace" with Daesh. His views are clearly to the right of the majority of US voters.
Rgrds-Ross
Rgrds-Ross
2
Well, he is anti-Islamist but he likes radical Islamist Erdogan. He against ISIS but He support countries who support ISIS. He contradicts himself a lot. Such a great choice. thanks Trump.
7
In other news sources not reported by this outlet, Apple is looking into bring iPhone production back to the U.S. This is 690,000 jobs and great news. Why isn't this being reported by NYT? No matter how you voted it seems you need to read both the left and right wing news sources. My guess is the truth and full story lies somewhere in between.
6
Maybe check in the business section and not in the comments on the appointment of National Security advisor?
2
This guy is straight out of Dr Strangelove. Terrifying choice.
8
I suggest life insurance for all Americans. I think the survivors will thank us!
As for the announced appointees, I guess loyalty is the only qualification since Trump doesn't seem to know many qualified people nor does he make a practice of finding them. It seems if he's heard of you, you'll do.
I wish I could have faith in what follows but too many ties to Russia, too much finger pointing and loose lips do not bode well. Tight control instead of democracy and personal aggrandizement over country makes me uneasy. It's going to be bumpy out there.
As for the announced appointees, I guess loyalty is the only qualification since Trump doesn't seem to know many qualified people nor does he make a practice of finding them. It seems if he's heard of you, you'll do.
I wish I could have faith in what follows but too many ties to Russia, too much finger pointing and loose lips do not bode well. Tight control instead of democracy and personal aggrandizement over country makes me uneasy. It's going to be bumpy out there.
4
Well, remember that Trump didn't think he would win, so he didn't want to put in any work to find people that would be good to have in his administration beyond the handful whispering in his ear during the campaign. Do you really think that Trump himself is coming up with these picks by himself? The guy who wouldn't or couldn't prepare for campaign debates? If he is, that might be worse than him listening to these close advisors, because he obviously doesn't know what the heck he's talking about beyond broad talking points and campaign slogans.
Trump has done away with the swamp and replaced it with an asylum. Who could've seen this coming?
10
In normal times an investigation into The Flynn Intel Group's ties to foreign bad guys would prevent Flynn's conformation as our next national security adviser, but normal times left on a fast train to Canada on November 8th.
We, as Americans must realize that The Deplorables are taking over & Trump will get lots of help in the future from 2 of his biggest supporters, Vlad Putin & Bibi Netanyahu, and won't that be fun!
Old shoe-pounding Nikita Khrushchev was right when he said “We will take America without firing a shot ... we will bury you! ... “We do not have to invade the United States, we will destroy you from within.”
We, as Americans must realize that The Deplorables are taking over & Trump will get lots of help in the future from 2 of his biggest supporters, Vlad Putin & Bibi Netanyahu, and won't that be fun!
Old shoe-pounding Nikita Khrushchev was right when he said “We will take America without firing a shot ... we will bury you! ... “We do not have to invade the United States, we will destroy you from within.”
9
Trump does everything he can to gather incompetent and inacceptable heads of administration. He *wants* to be impeached. Pence will take over and pick new personnel. Good luck, USA!
5
What "ilk" are you talking about? All you know about Logoz is this one theory.
But of course, your "ilk" loves to make broad, sweeping statements and categorize people in neat little ideological boxes.
But of course, your "ilk" loves to make broad, sweeping statements and categorize people in neat little ideological boxes.
1
I hope you liked the 1800's and war, lots of war. That's where these regressives are taking us. They will roll back every protection this country has built over the last century. They will gut Medicare and Social Security, the crash that will come after they deregulate the banks (again) will be bigger than the great depression, the wars they will start will be staggering, and the inflation will make the 70's look like a cheap thrill ride. Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it.
1
I'm Swiss, a World citizen without a vote in this. I would have preferred Sanders over Clinton. Someone like Michael Bloomberg would have been even better for the US, even at his age, someone able to build bridges...
Soon for America with Pence it's out of the frying pan into the fire.
Soon for America with Pence it's out of the frying pan into the fire.
The inconsequential quotes or errors cited here by the staff partisans are exactly the same things all Democrats and others have trailing behind them as they become public figures.
At this time eight years ago we were seeing a loony cavalcade of progressive zealots who had SERIOUS tax issues and had hired people who weren/t legally in the country.
When the ''news'' being printed is founded on the hope that the readers have NO memory of previous administrations, you know this process is unsustainable.
At this time eight years ago we were seeing a loony cavalcade of progressive zealots who had SERIOUS tax issues and had hired people who weren/t legally in the country.
When the ''news'' being printed is founded on the hope that the readers have NO memory of previous administrations, you know this process is unsustainable.
4
Trump's wife is here illegally (though she could get a marriage citizenship now).
'Nuff said.
'Nuff said.
Who the heck was a Progressive Zealot that was put in a top position in Obama's administration. Name just one....
1
I used to have so much respect for the NYT. After this election, that has changed. I realized that the Times takes a tone with its articles that while it initially seems as though it is objective, it really is not. During the election, I would read the Times daily. Almost every article was a negative about Trump. Clinton had potential negative thing to write about as well, but they were not covered with the same veracity as Trump. After the election, this has continued. In this article, the tone is set that General Flynn is unfit, a renegade, and improperly divisive. Whether he is or not, this reporting is not objective. I think it is most brought to light in that the write says "(He was right, in all fairness.)". For one thinking objectively, the need for the distinction comes across because the tone of the article is that he is wrong, and not right, except in this instance. Perhaps this is why "the media and pollsters got it wrong". I do not say this as a grieved Trump supporter, or to come to the defense of Trump's choices. I voted for neither Trump nor Clinton because I believe them both to be unfit for President. However, this election has opened my mind to how manipulative the media, and reporters, are in the information they communicate to the public. There is always an agenda.
9
Clinton didn't have as many new negatives as Trump. After a while, when more emails just rehash the same old same old, why cover it? Notice that when Comey did his thing right before the election, the NYT could have buried it, even though it seemed likely to quash Clinton's momentum going into Election Day. They didn't.
One has to be careful impugning another's objectivity when they merely report facts that you find hard to bear. If the facts say that someone is wrong ten times and right one, it isn't biased reporting to display that. What, you think unbiased reporting means if someone is right one time, you only report one time that they were wrong? LOL
One has to be careful impugning another's objectivity when they merely report facts that you find hard to bear. If the facts say that someone is wrong ten times and right one, it isn't biased reporting to display that. What, you think unbiased reporting means if someone is right one time, you only report one time that they were wrong? LOL
1
Have you stopped to think it appears that Flynn is unacceptable because he is? The article does quote people who support him, but if the Times did not write about his extreme positions, they would be doing us a disservice. Leaving out that information helps no one. It's not as though they are making up facts, they are reporting on his words and actions. These have direct bearing on his fitness to be NSA head. Don't you think?
1
Trump is on fire with these appointments. Keep it up Mr. Trump!
3
I'm shocked at the comments imploring the NYT and other readers to calm down and accept the nomination. Flynn supports registering individuals based on religion. Have we already forgotten about the first amendment, my fellow patriots?
13
These are patronage appointments to the few not so bright or competent men who supported Trump early on. The only consideration to trump is feeding his ego and annihilating his "enemies".
7
I didn't think it could be done , choosing a national security adviser who could be worse than Conti Rice.
10
Get ready for dark days ahead and more body bags coming back. Did not know how many hawks Harvard has produced, more education does not mean that you will learn to respect all human beings.
5
They might respect all human beings. Doesn't help if that is low on the list of considerations for your actions.
I thought journalists were suppose to offer us objective information rather than promote their political bias. For example, Sharia law and it's incompatibility with our civil laws is a growing problem. Check it out here...
http://www.billionbibles.org/sharia/america-sharia-law.html
http://www.billionbibles.org/sharia/america-sharia-law.html
4
I checked it out, and it is clear that billionbibles.org is not journalism.
9
Sharia is incompatible with Western values, but your sources are full of baloney.
3
Maybe it is. My problem is the interpretation of all of that - assuming it is all true - as Sharia Law taking over in America. We already have Christian and Jewish school holidays, if we now have a significant number of Muslim children, why not one of theirs? (Truth be told, they kind of got cheated if they have to use a day that is already a holiday.)
If we insist on people swearing to God (even though there is supposed to be separation of Church and State), why can't they say Allah instead of God? Technically, it's the same One.
Opposing burning someone's Quran is an example of Sharia law?
I could go on and on, but basically: c'mon!
If we insist on people swearing to God (even though there is supposed to be separation of Church and State), why can't they say Allah instead of God? Technically, it's the same One.
Opposing burning someone's Quran is an example of Sharia law?
I could go on and on, but basically: c'mon!
ISIS was helped to its rise by Turkey and Saudi Arabia. The US played a secondary role but was caught in its designs to have regime change in Syria. The Bush's Iraq war and the collapse of the Shiite Army before Mosul was the biggest factor bringing ISIS forth to torment that region and the world. Ukraine is a total mess thanks to the USs interference in the internal politics of Ukraine. The loss of Crimea to Russia was the price of the ill fated coup. Xi of China, Putin of Russia and Trump are going to form the big shot triumvirate that will dominate the world. Flynn fits perfectly with Trumps anti-Islam fear mongering.
2
While Trump's America allows Russia to gobble up more and more territory over there and China's 1.4 billion population out-competing us by sheer numbers, while we dumb down our economy, which of that triumvirate is most likely to become the sometimes-annoying little brother? And eventually...
Well, which do you prefer, learning to speak Russian or learning to speak Chinese...?
Well, which do you prefer, learning to speak Russian or learning to speak Chinese...?
I feel sorry for those who voted for Trump, especially Democrats, who thought they were getting a job and they are getting an authoritarian government. If we didn't have the kind of spread out centers of power that we are lucky to have, we would be looking at the first phase of a dictatorial process: the need for "strong" leadership, demonization of enemy, lists of possible enemies, need to strengthen the military, immediate threat from enemy forces, economic self-reliance, dismantling of alliances, juridical threats to the opposition (see the 135 journalists that Erdogan has arrested). Let's hope that there are enough clear minded people in Congress who will keep these disturbing tendencies in check.
15
well said we can only hope!
Americans have some serious issues since the election and they better act fast. It isn’t just that Hillary Clinton won the popular vote by a significant margin. It’s that the NSA already reported that the Soviets hacked into the election, and this is after the DNC data was breached. There must be an immediate and full investigation into this because no country should have its elections tampered with. Sorry, Congress, but get your cabooses back to Washington after Thanksgiving.
This is critical because in less than 10 days of being declared President-Elect, Trump chosen a white supremacist as his chief strategist, an anti-Muslim for security, a racist for AG, lobbyists for other national positions, and the head of the Benghazi panel to head the CIA (an oxymoron right there). This isn’t about sour grapes because a Democrat didn’t win the election. This is a clear warning that Trump is a national train wreck.
Do the investigation and if it turns out that the presidential election was indeed manipulated, there must be a new election with only the Republican and Democratic candidates on the ballet. The U.S. cannot afford to let itself become the next pre-World War II Germany.
This is critical because in less than 10 days of being declared President-Elect, Trump chosen a white supremacist as his chief strategist, an anti-Muslim for security, a racist for AG, lobbyists for other national positions, and the head of the Benghazi panel to head the CIA (an oxymoron right there). This isn’t about sour grapes because a Democrat didn’t win the election. This is a clear warning that Trump is a national train wreck.
Do the investigation and if it turns out that the presidential election was indeed manipulated, there must be a new election with only the Republican and Democratic candidates on the ballet. The U.S. cannot afford to let itself become the next pre-World War II Germany.
45
lol. boo hoo. i will send you a hanky.
1
Good People, The Con Don is not President yet. The Electoral College voters have not finalized their votes yet. Here is a link to an excellent article regarding how they can find their courage and true love for America and prevent the catastrophe-in-waiting we face. There is a link in the article that lists GOP EC voters in each the states that matter. Please Good People, do the right thing and contact these decision makers. America and OUR democracy count on it. Thank You.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/president-trump-isnt-a-done-deal-ele...
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/president-trump-isnt-a-done-deal-ele...
13
I wish, I wish, the EC would do the right thing, the courageous thing - but what are the odds of that?
This is all we have left though - a handful of people to vote on behalf of their country and the rest of the world.
This is all we have left though - a handful of people to vote on behalf of their country and the rest of the world.
2
1. You side lost; deal with it like an adult.
2. The HuffPo blog doesn't run ''excellent stories.''
3. You are calling for an American national vote to be stolen for the first time in history. What makes you think the American people, or even the Clintons, would want to proceed on that basis?
4. You really want us to become a banana republic? Or have we become one already after years of a poor leader?
Those calling Mr. Trump a fascist are generally fascists themselves because it is free speech that frightens them the most.
2. The HuffPo blog doesn't run ''excellent stories.''
3. You are calling for an American national vote to be stolen for the first time in history. What makes you think the American people, or even the Clintons, would want to proceed on that basis?
4. You really want us to become a banana republic? Or have we become one already after years of a poor leader?
Those calling Mr. Trump a fascist are generally fascists themselves because it is free speech that frightens them the most.
3
L'Osservatore,
Exactly what kind of fruit is our republic when our elections are determined by Russian interference and the machinations of our own secret police?
Exactly what kind of fruit is our republic when our elections are determined by Russian interference and the machinations of our own secret police?
2
Very much in Flynn's favor, this below appears to be the emerging major-media conventional-wisdom line on the Obama administration 'line' on the strength and trajectory of ISIS and/or all Islamist terrorism and insurgencies when he was forced to resign two years ago - with the added editorial note that Flynn was right and the rest of the Obama national security wrong at that time, and presumably since. This seems simplistic and historically questionable in the first instance, both in terms of the Obama Administration analysis and the evolving reality on the ground, and highly dubious in the second, about Flynn's reported unique prescience and outlier status in the national security establishment then.
“General Flynn insists that he was fired from the intelligence agency because he refused to toe the administration’s line that Islamist militants were in retreat. (He was right, in all fairness.)” - NYT, Nov. 17 (Matthew Rosenberg and Maggie Haberman)
“Flynn says his removal came because he testified in 2014 before a congressional committee that the jihadist terrorist threat was growing, not declining, as was the official Obama administration line at the time. Flynn, of course, was right about the growing threat.” - CNN, Nov. 18 (Peter Bergner)
“General Flynn insists that he was fired from the intelligence agency because he refused to toe the administration’s line that Islamist militants were in retreat. (He was right, in all fairness.)” - NYT, Nov. 17 (Matthew Rosenberg and Maggie Haberman)
“Flynn says his removal came because he testified in 2014 before a congressional committee that the jihadist terrorist threat was growing, not declining, as was the official Obama administration line at the time. Flynn, of course, was right about the growing threat.” - CNN, Nov. 18 (Peter Bergner)
6
In politics as in the military,Once the debate is over and a decision is made ,you either toe the line or resign or get fired,or in the military you get passed over or sent to Siberia
1
He could have been wrong, but subsequent missteps caused conditions to blossom that simulate his being right. ISIS military success in taking geographical areas is not the sole measure of the jihadist terrorist threat. Back biting among those supposedly allied to combat such threats is more at fault, with participants trying to squeeze out of it their own expansionist or regime solidifying needs instead of just getting the job done.
At last someone who is honest about the threat Islam poses to the world and can do something about it.I wonder if my comment make it past the "tolerant ,liberal" attitutdes of people here.
5
Mik
Yes, so far, freedom of speech is still an American virtue but your address belies something of a Stockholm syndrome, no?
Yes, so far, freedom of speech is still an American virtue but your address belies something of a Stockholm syndrome, no?
2
if you want to turn the 1.6 billion Muslims in the world into a real threat, instead of realistically dealing with the few million that subvert Islam for their own uses (most of them dupes of religion-czars, some of whom may not even actually believe in Islam in their hearts), keep going down this road.
3
...and now Pompeo. Brings to mind the stoats taking over Toad Hall.
10
House of Horrors!
8
An "Islamophobe" with "a loose relationship with facts" and over-the-top self-promoter in charge of national security? What could possibly go wrong?
Imagine the different world we'd live in if Bush & Co. has declared war on the Taliban and terrorists in Afghanistan and not on Islam overall?
Imagine the different world we'd live in if Bush & Co. has declared war on the Taliban and terrorists in Afghanistan and not on Islam overall?
7
What's the fuss? We're talking about the choice of a National Security Adviser, not a religious diversity coordinator. Flynn says something a majority of Americans (not NY Times readers) agree with: "Islamist militancy poses an existential threat on a global scale, and the Muslim faith itself is the source of the problem, he said, describing it as a political ideology, not a religion." From the World Trade Center to Bataclan, Islamism has proven to be an existential threat - just ask the survivors of those atrocities.
13
You are correct. Unfortunately their is a delusional left wing as well as a right wing in this country.
3
The National Security Advisor has the President's ear in order for national policy to be made. If that person gives advice based on false or misinterpreted information, even more mistakes will be made in that region of the world - as well as here in America - which only aids pseudo-Islamist militancy.
3
It is a serious threat. Not an 'existential one'. They are not anywhere close to being able to destroy the US or take down our country.
2
Mr. Trump's presidency is a far more dangerous existential threat to America than Islamic terrorism.
60
One loud idiot in Washington, D.C. even blared out that climate change is a greater threat to Americans than Islamist terrorists - even the Iranians who recently got $100 billion for... something, we never got a straight answer.
How many Americans did Trump let got killed in Benghazi, again? Oops, wrong person....
How many Americans did Trump let got killed in Benghazi, again? Oops, wrong person....
1
Great! An Islamophobe Russophile. Next he’ll be pictured dinning in between Bashar al-Assad and Vladimir Putin while Aleppo’s children continue to be mascaraed. And then there’s General Flynn’s crackpot conspiracy theorist son – Michael G. Flynn – will he be at the table as well?
13
*massacred
Yes, Islamophobe given all the attacks on this country coming from the same group. Rightttttttttt. Keep your head in the sand a little longer.
If those things actually happen, then NYT please report it. If you can refute anything that was portrayed as fact, please do so. Otherwise, your sarcasm misses the mark.
1
" ... believes Islamist militancy poses an existential threat ..."
Well it actually does. But when your head's buried in the sand and you believe we'll be ok if we just make nice with people who hate us and want to kill us, someone posing a threat is simply too hideous to comprehend.
A tiny, militant fraction of any religion (or organization, country, etc.) poses a threat to all of us. Which is all any reasonable, thinking, non-hysterical person could take from Gen. Flynn's well-centered belief.
The hand-wringing, NYT - sheesh, you're beginning to sound like the Daily News gossip pages.
Well it actually does. But when your head's buried in the sand and you believe we'll be ok if we just make nice with people who hate us and want to kill us, someone posing a threat is simply too hideous to comprehend.
A tiny, militant fraction of any religion (or organization, country, etc.) poses a threat to all of us. Which is all any reasonable, thinking, non-hysterical person could take from Gen. Flynn's well-centered belief.
The hand-wringing, NYT - sheesh, you're beginning to sound like the Daily News gossip pages.
8
And the fundamentalist christian pose the same threat via their anti-science and anti-anything that is not specifically spelled out in the bible.
3
Sorry, but spouting false information like Sharia law spreading in the US shows that Flynn himself is an unreasonable, hysterical person. Reacting to a threat based on false information means you will make mistakes - as the US continues to do in the Middle East as it has for generations, and will again if someone like Flynn has significant influence in the matter.
5
An existential threat? It is a serious threat, but not an existential one. They can't take down the US.
2
I am confused,
Aren't people in our security apparatus and defense supposed to be non-partisan , so that when an order is given by our civilian Commander in Chief, that they follow said order, even if their ''politics'' are not in line ?
Oh , never mind.
Aren't people in our security apparatus and defense supposed to be non-partisan , so that when an order is given by our civilian Commander in Chief, that they follow said order, even if their ''politics'' are not in line ?
Oh , never mind.
7
Such people are supposed to be chosen for their abilities, one of which is to be able to put aside partisan beliefs (everyone has them) in order to do their duty. When someone publicly states their partisan beliefs, over and over, especially when they are based on false information, they prove that they are unfit for that type of duty.
6
Flynn is supposedly a luminary in military intelligence, yet, in my personal experience dealing with military intelligence, those 2 words together might constitute the ultimate oxymoron.
17
He was forced to " retire" and the people that know him say he's not qualified. Maybe we have different definitions of luminary?
7
luminary in my comment was meant to be written thus: 'luminary'
This administration is going to make the fall of Rome look like a cocktail party.
43
America has been falling for over the last 30-40 years. If you think otherwise you haven't been paying attention. Nice try though.
Why arre you arguing with someone on your side?
I believe what he is saying is that this will be the straw that spectacularly broke the camels back.
1
On NPR, the Carnegie Endowment's Sarah Chayes, who shared an office with Flynn, gave a thorough detailed reason why he is a terrible choice. Audio here; transcript should follow shortly. http://www.npr.org/2016/11/18/502568434/trump-offers-key-posts-to-sen-se...
12
Let's see how long the supposed middle American Trump voter still loves him after he starts endless wars and we have to bring back the draft and their sons and daughters start getting killed and maimed. Because that's the world we're looking at. Especially if the rest of the cabinet are various Fox News "advisors" who couldn't be employed any place else.
14
Apparently liberals didn't love Hillary enough either. How about that?
The President-elect is putting together a cabinet to bring about the 'end of days'. This just might be the ultimate triumph of the Christian Right. Get me on that mission to Mars. It can't leave soon enough.
13
LOL. Suppose we were so worried about "Radical Islamic Terrorism" that we let the anti-Christ take power?
JK.
I hope...
JK.
I hope...
Anybody who Trump picks will get the same treatment. If Trump picked Hillary Clinton to a position it would no longer be Hillary Clinton. It would be Hillary , FBI scandal ridden ex-sec of state, with allegations of racism calling blacks to heal,and was against gay marriage, Clinton.
3
But he wuldn't pick somebody fact-based, so what's your point?
1
If the things said about her are facts (and yes, she is FBI scandal ridden, has had allegations against her of racism, etc.), more power to it. I have to object when selections are guilty of propagating outright lies. But of course, if Trump picked Clinton for a position it would be just one more hypocritical action to add to the list, based on Trump's assessment of her - not the media's.
With the appointment of Flynn, which does NOT require Congressional approval, the Trump Administration has a means of sharing our national security strategy with Putin's Russia.
The last time we saw such a sharing was between allegedly independent Vichy France and the German occupiers of the rest of the country. In those days, instead of "radical Islamic terrorism," the manipulated danger was "international Jewry."
When you come after one group, you come after ALL groups.
The last time we saw such a sharing was between allegedly independent Vichy France and the German occupiers of the rest of the country. In those days, instead of "radical Islamic terrorism," the manipulated danger was "international Jewry."
When you come after one group, you come after ALL groups.
9
When the call comes to for Muslims to register, ALL concerned Americans should proudly step forward and sign up. We share an obligation to protect innocent people from governmental discrimination.
2
Flynn is an actual Islamophobe.
He hates the religion and he hates its adherents.
While his portfolio is foreign oriented, his islamophobia will have impacts both at home and abroad.
He will give succor to Sessions at Justice in moves against American muslims.
And he will provoke Muslims abroad.
This has the potential for self-fulfilling prophecy.
In time, more and more Muslims, in America and elsewhere will see themselves as our enemy.
This does not need to happen, But the new cabinet will push things in this direction.
O tempora, O mores!
He hates the religion and he hates its adherents.
While his portfolio is foreign oriented, his islamophobia will have impacts both at home and abroad.
He will give succor to Sessions at Justice in moves against American muslims.
And he will provoke Muslims abroad.
This has the potential for self-fulfilling prophecy.
In time, more and more Muslims, in America and elsewhere will see themselves as our enemy.
This does not need to happen, But the new cabinet will push things in this direction.
O tempora, O mores!
10
No he isn't or maybe the thousands of American and European lives lost due to Islamic attacks in America and Europe do not matter to you.
Some of them want to. A segment of the country does quite well during wars. beyond satisfying favorite neocon theories.
Just listened to NPR program in which a person was interviewed who worked in the same office (adjoining desks) with General Flynn for several years in Afghanistan (2009-11). This person's "heart sank" when they heard he'd been picked. While he could be a brilliant (on the ground) intelligence officer, the main job of National security advisor is to "keep the trains running on time" for the council, to get appropriate input from intelligence agencies, to winnow important information from the noise, and to make sense of all this for the POTUS. According to the interviewee, while mercurial, Flynn had difficulty sorting out conflicting ideas/conclusions generated from his own intel and showed poor managerial skills - one of the reasons he was eventually canned! Colin Powell on the firing of General Flynn as DIA head in 2014: "Abusive with staff, didn’t listen, worked against policy, bad management, etc. He has been and was right-wing nutty every [sic] since.” God help us!
135
Geneal Flyn's views of Islam being intoleratn and then saying that he has Muslim friends and that we should do a better job of understanding and fostering it's tolerant side IS ABSOLUTLEY CORRECT. IT IS NO CONTRADICTION. Give credit to the general for standing up to Obama's lies about the end of Al Qaeda. It cost him his job. We all know tha tbeyond any doubt. So, let us just wait and see how he does in his new job before condeming him. I think he would do a bang up job.
3
Flynn understands radical Islamic terrorism a phrase Obama refused to let cross his lips. That legacy was properly discarded in history's trash can in November 8. Those entering our country from the middle east must be severely vetted. Imams spewing hatef hatred from Muslim pulpits must be monitored along with those Muslims who absorb such hatred. Every person from the Middle East who has overstayed their visa must be tracked down by ICE deportation forces, locked up deported. Deport the illegals . The wall was on the ballot and Trymp won. Biuild the wall . America has spoken .
7
Look in your back closet -- there might be one of those radical terrorists hiding out there. Oh, did I leave out the word "Islamic"?
2
Nonsense. The wall was not on the ballot, and a majority of "America" voted against your candidate.
3
Smart comment.
If Flynn ends up in the national security post, I hope Sarah Chayes has his ear. She was right about much of what has happened in Afghanistan, Iraq and the wider Middle East beginning with her 2003 book, "The Punishment of Virtue" followed by "Thieves of State" which provides the context for the Arab Spring uprisings. I wonder if General Flynn has read them?
3
Aren't you doing the same thing?
"So the National Security Advisor has a myopic view of the world and has eyes only for Islamophobia. The Russians, Chinese, Saudis, Iranians and others will [be ignored as threats]..."
Some of us DON'T consider the "Russians, Chinese, Saudis, Iranians" to be threats simply because they are "Russians, Chinese, Saudis, Iranians."
You appear to be criticizing Flynn not because he focuses on one group, but rather because he "ignores" the groups on which you think we should focus.
"So the National Security Advisor has a myopic view of the world and has eyes only for Islamophobia. The Russians, Chinese, Saudis, Iranians and others will [be ignored as threats]..."
Some of us DON'T consider the "Russians, Chinese, Saudis, Iranians" to be threats simply because they are "Russians, Chinese, Saudis, Iranians."
You appear to be criticizing Flynn not because he focuses on one group, but rather because he "ignores" the groups on which you think we should focus.
3
Flynn: "..the United States is in a “world war” with Islamist militants.."
That may sound like a ridiculous statement to many, but the fact is the US has been at war with Islamist countries since it accused bin Laden of the 911 attacks - which is still just an assertion, not backed by facts.
Working on a common goal with Russia will be a positive sign that both nations have moved beyond the 1950's.
That may sound like a ridiculous statement to many, but the fact is the US has been at war with Islamist countries since it accused bin Laden of the 911 attacks - which is still just an assertion, not backed by facts.
Working on a common goal with Russia will be a positive sign that both nations have moved beyond the 1950's.
6
Actually, the United States has been fighting Muslims since the days of the Barbary pirates when Thomas Jefferson spearheaded the formation of the United States Marine Corp to counter the capture of U.S. shipping and the enslavement of their crews.
We are engaged in a true "Clash of Civilizations" and to think otherwise is very naive, which spelled backwards gives you "Evian", overpriced water in an environmentally unfriendly plastic bottle.
We are engaged in a true "Clash of Civilizations" and to think otherwise is very naive, which spelled backwards gives you "Evian", overpriced water in an environmentally unfriendly plastic bottle.
1
I am from Eastern Europe. You don't get to do deals with Russians (and by Russia read KGB) without giving something in return. I would be the first one to applaud Trump & Flynn if they manage to work with Putin without compromising the democratic process in those countries. But having lived there...I am skeptical and cannot help but fearing that the hard-won, long-awaited freedom of other countries is at stake. I understand the American taxpayer does not care. It's a fact. Let's accept it as is. People around the world will be forced to relinquish the same freedoms that are so cherished here...too bad...but who cares? They are small countries. In this world only the big ones survive. It's called natural selection.
2
The Russians have moved beyond the 1500s in their quest for empire.
1
There is a clear pattern in these appointments and it is getting really, really scary. Forget trade deals, disenfranchised coal miners and hatred of women and minorities. That's small potatoes. It is men like Trump, Flynn, Giuliani, Bannon and Sessions that launched two world wars.
25
Democrats were in the White House when the two world wars were launched. A Democrat was in the White House when the Korean conflict was launched, and a Democrat was in the White House when Vietnam was launched and escalated. That's four to W's one. Looks like the Republicans have some catching up to do.
At least they kicked out Christie.
Does it count if it wasn't because of his politics, but because Trump's son-in-law wanted revenge on the man who rightly convicted his father of a crime?
Does it count if it wasn't because of his politics, but because Trump's son-in-law wanted revenge on the man who rightly convicted his father of a crime?
1
Michael Flynn retweeted the following on November 2: U decide - NYPD Blows Whistle on New Hillary Emails: Money Laundering, Sex Crimes w Children, etc...MUST READ! http://truepundit.com/breaking-bombshell-nypd-blows-whistle-on-new-hilla...
Jefferson Sessions is Attorney General, a good old Southern boy who misses the good old Southern days of Jim Crow. A kook nationalist, Stephen Bannon, who runs Breitbart and has some really out-there ideas about the world (he reads Julius Evola and such), is chief strategist and senior counselor. Mr. Benghazi (along with Rep. Jim Jordan), Mike Pompeo, is the CIA Director. And now Michael Flynn, who is paid by tyrannical governments and has appeared on Russia Today, has an evident paranoia about Islam, and thinks it's rational to fear Muslims, all of them, is the National Security Advisor.
And Trump is president. Undereducated and narrow-minded people who veer easily into conspiracy will shortly be running the country. There will be terror in America in the next four years. How might the Trump administration respond? What about Iran, North Korea, Russia, China? Are these the people we want in charge of security? Dropping our concerns with human rights and democracy and supporting genocidaires and thugs in an attempt to "defeat" jihadism isn't just unnecessary and amoral; it's counterproductive.
I honestly hope these people are not what they seem to be.
Jefferson Sessions is Attorney General, a good old Southern boy who misses the good old Southern days of Jim Crow. A kook nationalist, Stephen Bannon, who runs Breitbart and has some really out-there ideas about the world (he reads Julius Evola and such), is chief strategist and senior counselor. Mr. Benghazi (along with Rep. Jim Jordan), Mike Pompeo, is the CIA Director. And now Michael Flynn, who is paid by tyrannical governments and has appeared on Russia Today, has an evident paranoia about Islam, and thinks it's rational to fear Muslims, all of them, is the National Security Advisor.
And Trump is president. Undereducated and narrow-minded people who veer easily into conspiracy will shortly be running the country. There will be terror in America in the next four years. How might the Trump administration respond? What about Iran, North Korea, Russia, China? Are these the people we want in charge of security? Dropping our concerns with human rights and democracy and supporting genocidaires and thugs in an attempt to "defeat" jihadism isn't just unnecessary and amoral; it's counterproductive.
I honestly hope these people are not what they seem to be.
15
Too late night now to cry! America's Trump lovers will regret who they voted for hugely!
2
This is all so depressing. And no, I don't mean Trump and his hiring choices. I mean the same old tired reaction from the readership of this newspaper.
No, we don't like that one. He made a racist comment twenty years ago.
No, we don't like that one either. He calls out radical Islamic terrorism as a threat to our safety.
No, not that one either. Or that one. Or that one. Or that one.
Guess what? The good guys, your guys, lost this election, stayed home in a fit of pique and are directly responsible for what is happening here right now.
Up here in Canada in our last federal election, the longest ever at six weeks, we threw out the old corrupted entrenched Conservatives and voted a new administration,
In red necked Alberta we voted in the left leaning New Democrats throwing out the old corrupted entrenched Conservatives. We got mad and we voted. What happened to you? If you all were so darned angry at the establishment and the way money runs your democracy, why didn't more of you turn out and do something about it instead of just whining about how awful the offerings were?
This is your watershed now. Protesting is not going to change a thing. Getting out and doing something positive about the state of your union is going to change everything. There are a thousand things you could be doing, or saying, even here in this forum that would make a difference. Complaining about the choices being made by the people your country voted into office isn't one of them.
No, we don't like that one. He made a racist comment twenty years ago.
No, we don't like that one either. He calls out radical Islamic terrorism as a threat to our safety.
No, not that one either. Or that one. Or that one. Or that one.
Guess what? The good guys, your guys, lost this election, stayed home in a fit of pique and are directly responsible for what is happening here right now.
Up here in Canada in our last federal election, the longest ever at six weeks, we threw out the old corrupted entrenched Conservatives and voted a new administration,
In red necked Alberta we voted in the left leaning New Democrats throwing out the old corrupted entrenched Conservatives. We got mad and we voted. What happened to you? If you all were so darned angry at the establishment and the way money runs your democracy, why didn't more of you turn out and do something about it instead of just whining about how awful the offerings were?
This is your watershed now. Protesting is not going to change a thing. Getting out and doing something positive about the state of your union is going to change everything. There are a thousand things you could be doing, or saying, even here in this forum that would make a difference. Complaining about the choices being made by the people your country voted into office isn't one of them.
21
Thought you were going to make a point until the "red necked" bit.
Totally agree. As I observed in a separate comment, elections have consequences. It should be pointed out, however, that in the popular vote, Secretary Clinton is on her way to winning over Trump by 2,000,000 votes.
If we didn't have this electoral college, which has no basis in reason today, Clinton would be hard at work on assembling her team to govern the country.
So it is our watershed now, and I for one am going to get out and try at least to do something positive about the state of our union. It's our tradition and our strength if only we claim it.
If we didn't have this electoral college, which has no basis in reason today, Clinton would be hard at work on assembling her team to govern the country.
So it is our watershed now, and I for one am going to get out and try at least to do something positive about the state of our union. It's our tradition and our strength if only we claim it.
1
If Clinton lost the popular vote but won the electoral college I bet you would love the electoral college. Right? Of course.
P.S. The electoral college exists so that all states besides California, New York and Illinois have a voice in the election. Sorry.
P.S. The electoral college exists so that all states besides California, New York and Illinois have a voice in the election. Sorry.
1
Elections have consequences.
14
Elections in powerful countries have worldwide consequences.
this may be sound foolish but i can't stop thinking of Spider Man (of all movies!)... the dying uncle's last words to Peter - "Remember, Peter, with great power comes great responsibility."
this may be sound foolish but i can't stop thinking of Spider Man (of all movies!)... the dying uncle's last words to Peter - "Remember, Peter, with great power comes great responsibility."
But he has done one thing right, I read . . . he did register as a Democrat. Well what are you complaining about?
4
So our new National Security Adviser has been on the Kremlin payroll. Good grief - I'd rather give the job to Charlie Brown.
18
Please NYT: stop reporting on rumours!! "So and so is said to be considered for... according to persons close to the transition team." Rumours are not fit to print, and create fake news (as happens on Facebook). A few days ago all the media outlets were fretting over Giuliani being "said" to be considered for Sec of State. Now he isn't. Same for Gingrich. Just let us know the minute Trump announces an appointment.
1
As long as rumors are identified as such they can be worthy of print --- if the sources are somewhat reliable and the stakes are somewhat significant.
Printing a rumor about Justin Beibers gay amour is not newsworthy.
Printing a rumor about the next secretary of state appointment (from someone who appears to be positioned to know) is print worthy, but not headline worthy
Printing a rumor about Justin Beibers gay amour is not newsworthy.
Printing a rumor about the next secretary of state appointment (from someone who appears to be positioned to know) is print worthy, but not headline worthy
1
Who was the idiot who appointed Flynn to the directorship of the Defense Intelligence Agency? These incompetents need to be vetted before they are given positions in the federal government. If a couple of beat reporters from the Times could expose Flynn's glaring biases and incompetencies so easily, surely the foreign policy establishment could have done the same thing.
5
Wouldn't that be President Obama, or one of his lackeys?
I think he's referring to the Trump appointment, despite his mistaken jargon.
Don't be scared of radical Islam. Fight it. Both in our military response and in out social response. We are not cowards.
7
ISLAMOPHOBIA
A word created by fascists and used by cowards to manipulate morons.
A word created by fascists and used by cowards to manipulate morons.
8
anything irresponsible, dangerous, stupid, unheard, you can think of, is going to happen now. We have the same situation here in Poland.
19
An awful choice! Mr Flynn will cause discord where none should exists, an unnecessary burden in an already conflicted world as is. Will he listen more, consider other wiser and more reasonable choices but his own? We must stay alert, denounce abuse of power in real time, to minimize the damage.
17
Former mavericks and others falling from grace in previous administrations now see an opportunity for a career comeback under Trump. Michael Flynn's appointment as national security adviser is a remarkable change in fortunes, but a disaster for the country. He and Trump will shift closer to Russia, fall out with Iran and start a new war in the Middle East to fight the - already shrinking - Islamic State. As Flynn has little political acumen, he doesn't know that eradicating ISIS wouldn't mean the end of its ideology.
13
This article represents the type of reporting that blurs the distinction between straight news reporting and opinion. Unattributed innuendo like “Mr. Trump and General Flynn…have both at times crossed the line into outright Islamophobia” and “The Flynn Intel Group…has hazy business ties to Middle Eastern countries and has appeared to lobby for the Turkish government” could have been lifted straight out of Breitbart and InfoWars. This is not what I expect from The New York Times.
Please keep your factual reporting separate and visually distinct from your analysis and opinion pieces. I am old fashioned and, in this matter, I’m glad that I am. A news outlet like the Times must continue to be a source of spin-free information that readers can trust to help them form their own view of the world.
Please keep your factual reporting separate and visually distinct from your analysis and opinion pieces. I am old fashioned and, in this matter, I’m glad that I am. A news outlet like the Times must continue to be a source of spin-free information that readers can trust to help them form their own view of the world.
20
HEY, NYTIMES!!! 11 out of 12 stories on my First Draft page are about TRUMP!!! Enough already. We get it.
It's a big world.
It's a big world.
12
Another NYT hit piece. Gen. Flynn is highly qualified for the position.
Sorry NYT, you lost the election and your influence was negligible.
Sorry NYT, you lost the election and your influence was negligible.
11
No, America lost the election. Trump will now take us back to what he calls better times, the period before the Revolution.
5
Flynn was NOT fired by Obama.
"On April 30, 2014, Flynn announced his retirement effective later in 2014, about a year earlier than he had been scheduled to leave his position. He was reportedly effectively forced out of the DIA after clashing with superiors over his allegedly chaotic management style and vision for the agency."(from Wikipedia).
Please report the facts, not a loose cannon's mythical personal narrative.
"On April 30, 2014, Flynn announced his retirement effective later in 2014, about a year earlier than he had been scheduled to leave his position. He was reportedly effectively forced out of the DIA after clashing with superiors over his allegedly chaotic management style and vision for the agency."(from Wikipedia).
Please report the facts, not a loose cannon's mythical personal narrative.
13
thank you for your INTERPRETATION
as i am sure you KNOW wikipedia is subject
to.....how shall i say.....obamaization ( def. changing
things online to make obama seem ok and others to seem bad )
and this is a good example....
lets judge based on what the man believes....not what some
online thing says....
ck back in 6-8 months....
i think you will whistle a diff tune then
as i am sure you KNOW wikipedia is subject
to.....how shall i say.....obamaization ( def. changing
things online to make obama seem ok and others to seem bad )
and this is a good example....
lets judge based on what the man believes....not what some
online thing says....
ck back in 6-8 months....
i think you will whistle a diff tune then
Any attempt at an intelligent argument is negated by using Wikipedia as a source of information.
A cursory look at these comments show quite a few posts with the words "islamophobia" or "islamophobe" in them.
No such thing. It is perfectly rational to be fearful of Islam, the word itself comes from the word "surrender", as in if you are an infidel, you either surrender or we kill you and take your wife and things as bounty. What is on the public domain regarding what Flynn has said about Islam is 100% correct. Islamist militancy does pose an existential threat to the West. An assessment Obama and the like refused to make primarily because they were busy selling 110 billion dollars of arms to Saudi Arabia.
No such thing. It is perfectly rational to be fearful of Islam, the word itself comes from the word "surrender", as in if you are an infidel, you either surrender or we kill you and take your wife and things as bounty. What is on the public domain regarding what Flynn has said about Islam is 100% correct. Islamist militancy does pose an existential threat to the West. An assessment Obama and the like refused to make primarily because they were busy selling 110 billion dollars of arms to Saudi Arabia.
12
Evidence?
1
And, we all saw the photo of Obama bowing low to the Saudi king.
So the National Security Advisor has a myopic view of the world and has eyes only for Islamophobia. The Russians, Chinese, Saudis, Iranians and others will only be seen in the context of how they contribute to the so-called "War on Terror," and not in terms of the other 99% important issues that are unrelated to this chimeral fight.
These guys make a mountain out of a molehill with regard to terrorism, they gin up fear using the mainstream media they otherwise decry. Terrorism is categorically not a major concern, compared to regional and world wars it is a grain of sand, and the imposters make it into an existential threat because it is good business and a good tool to control the jingoism of the low-information masses.
These guys make a mountain out of a molehill with regard to terrorism, they gin up fear using the mainstream media they otherwise decry. Terrorism is categorically not a major concern, compared to regional and world wars it is a grain of sand, and the imposters make it into an existential threat because it is good business and a good tool to control the jingoism of the low-information masses.
10
If you think terrorism is a grain of sand -- compared to anything -- perhaps you really do, as your monker suggests, live in a cave.
1
So how many of the wars currently going on do not have militant Islamist involved?
Note the answer to this question will be number, not some diatribe about how I am part of the problem, or that people like me are racists, or whatever other huff po talking point you can remember first.
Note the answer to this question will be number, not some diatribe about how I am part of the problem, or that people like me are racists, or whatever other huff po talking point you can remember first.
Phil, you are acting like the Bernie or bust folks, in setting what subjects are acceptable for inclusion in the answer. Sorry, not playing your game either.
1
Flynn is a great choice! Islamist militancy IS an existential threat.
15
Phil, you do understand the definition of the word "existential," right? What you are saying is that ISIS threatens the very existence of our country, as if ISIS has the ability to destroy America. Destroy it. A country of well over 300 million people, with the largest economy, industrial capacity, best-armed and prepared military, and well-armed civilian populace.
If you know anything of American history, you know the dangers we faced in the past. Two World Wars. Korea, Vietnam, the spread of Communism, nuclear weapons, recession, Depression, a Civil War, revolution, et., et., etc. None of those things or others destroyed this country. The combined efforts of three nations using tremendous industrial capacity and mobilized populations couldn't do it. The military and industrial might of the Soviet Union couldn't do it. The Taliban and Al Qaeda couldn't do it.
Pull yourself together. 20,000-30,000 fighters in the Middle East, supported by an ideology of hate that is rejected by most of the human race, cannot destroy our country. ISIS is not an "existential" threat, and asserting that it is a lie and fear mongering. Anyone who asserts that it is is either stupid, a coward, or has an agenda that will be aided by making people more afraid of ISIS than they should be.
If you know anything of American history, you know the dangers we faced in the past. Two World Wars. Korea, Vietnam, the spread of Communism, nuclear weapons, recession, Depression, a Civil War, revolution, et., et., etc. None of those things or others destroyed this country. The combined efforts of three nations using tremendous industrial capacity and mobilized populations couldn't do it. The military and industrial might of the Soviet Union couldn't do it. The Taliban and Al Qaeda couldn't do it.
Pull yourself together. 20,000-30,000 fighters in the Middle East, supported by an ideology of hate that is rejected by most of the human race, cannot destroy our country. ISIS is not an "existential" threat, and asserting that it is a lie and fear mongering. Anyone who asserts that it is is either stupid, a coward, or has an agenda that will be aided by making people more afraid of ISIS than they should be.
9
Existential Threat????
Phil, are muslim militants going to bring the existence of the United States of America to an end? I don't think so.
Might they blow up an Apple Store at a Minneapolis Mall. Absolutely.
For americans they are a threat, to be sure, but not an existential one.
If you are a Christian in Mosul they pose an existential threat to you and to your family.
But that is in Mosul.
Phil, are muslim militants going to bring the existence of the United States of America to an end? I don't think so.
Might they blow up an Apple Store at a Minneapolis Mall. Absolutely.
For americans they are a threat, to be sure, but not an existential one.
If you are a Christian in Mosul they pose an existential threat to you and to your family.
But that is in Mosul.
5
Tell that to the families of the 49 people killed in the Florida nightclub by an ISIS adherent.
1
General Michael Flynn recalls the real lunacy of U.S. Air Force General Curtis LeMay and General Douglas MacArthur and the fictional craziness of U.S. Air Force General Jack Ripper and General Buck Turgidson.
War and peace are much to important subjects to be left to the generals.
Donald Trump's New York Military Academy educational experience does not make him the 2nd Coming of Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, Genghis Khan, Napoleon, Erwin Rommel nor Dwight Eisenhower.
War and peace are much to important subjects to be left to the generals.
Donald Trump's New York Military Academy educational experience does not make him the 2nd Coming of Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, Genghis Khan, Napoleon, Erwin Rommel nor Dwight Eisenhower.
22
Much like your ability to type does not make you a geo political strategy expert.
But let's don't get caught in the details and what not.
But let's don't get caught in the details and what not.
1
Can the Democratic Party withdraw his membership? Does he also believe that all Muslims are terrorists?
3
One thing is positive: Flynn, being a paid regular on RT, has already demonstrated a close tie with Putin's propaganda machine.
Hard to believe that the a USA retired military officer is regularly speaking on Russian TV supporting Russian propaganda and programs.
All the GOP clap-trap about Mrs Clinton's E-mails and now they back the Russian stooge Flynn . . .unbelievable.
Hard to believe that the a USA retired military officer is regularly speaking on Russian TV supporting Russian propaganda and programs.
All the GOP clap-trap about Mrs Clinton's E-mails and now they back the Russian stooge Flynn . . .unbelievable.
9
Excellent choice. After eight years of a justice department that arbitrarily decided which laws to enforce or not enforce, we will finally have an AG who will enforce all laws.
Great start President-Elect Trump.
Great start President-Elect Trump.
4
This guy tweeted antisemitic remarks, fake news about Hillary sex-crimes with children, and obscene memes during the campaign. I can't comprehend how this election actually happened. Another sad day of many ahead for a once great nation. "Make America Great Again" is going to turn into it's demise.
17
I think the invasion of Afghanistan was a total misreading of the role of the Taliban in the Afghan perception of justice.
As our computer friends so aptly observe: GIGO - Garbage In, Garbage Out
5
The current AG, Lynch, pled the Fifth recently.
You read that right - PLED THE FIFTH. A sitting AG. And of course the Times buried it.
So we cant do worse than that, and a whole lot better actually.
You read that right - PLED THE FIFTH. A sitting AG. And of course the Times buried it.
So we cant do worse than that, and a whole lot better actually.
5
This would be a better comment if it were on an article actually having to do with the AG position...
1
The fact that Obama fired General Michael Flynn as the director of the DIA is a badge of honor of his. This patriot will help us eliminate ISIS and tell it as it is.
Now I just hope that Trump doesn't appoint the neocon John Bolton to anything. That would be really, really bad.
Now I just hope that Trump doesn't appoint the neocon John Bolton to anything. That would be really, really bad.
5
I wonder how long it will take General Jack Ripper to convince Trump that ISIS is the real reason that we're losing our precious bodily fluids? Or to quote the first General Ripper: "Your commie (read Muslim) has no regard for human life, not even his own. And for this reason, men, I want to impress upon you the need for extreme watchfulness. The enemy may come individually, or he may come in strength. He may even come in the uniform of our own troops. But however he comes, we must stop him." It's probably the fluoride in the water.
8
Tremendous! Just tremendous!
You're getting everything you wanted, Uhmurican people.
I can't wait for the upcoming endless wars. With any luck, they'll be funded by drastic income and corporate tax cuts. Awww yeahhh.
Gonna be YUGE!
You're getting everything you wanted, Uhmurican people.
I can't wait for the upcoming endless wars. With any luck, they'll be funded by drastic income and corporate tax cuts. Awww yeahhh.
Gonna be YUGE!
24
Oh geez. Another guy who makes up his own own "facts" to match his world view. Someone comfortable with chanting, "Lock her up," at rallies. On the plus side, General Barry McCaffrey described him as brilliant, and one of the security people who has foiled a number of terrorist plots over the years. On the negative, besides, “If you listen to him, in 10 minutes you’ll hear him contradict himself two or three times.” he sees things that aren't there. America being overtaken by Sharia law is just one.
It's just not an accident that a group who share many of Trump's attributes are drawn to him. Trump, Flynn, Giuliani, Christie, Gingrich. The description; bombastic, fact-challenged, abrasive, self-satisfied, conspiracy-prone, seems to more or less, fit all of them during this campaign. Birds of a feather.
And Flynn's connections to Putin, as well as Trump and other members of the Trump band, past and present, are just creepy. Putin sees no problem with killing political opponents and troublesome reporters. Somehow in Trumpland he is seen as a strong leader, someone we can partner with to get things done. Someone who shouldn't be blamed for hacking the Democrats' computers in order to help Trump's campaign. Did I mention yet that all those connections with Putin are creepy? Just one look in his eyes reveals a cold, calculating, ex-KGB officer. But not to them.
Flynn advising Trump? I'm just not sure how much fact-free advice is going to help us deal with international issues.
It's just not an accident that a group who share many of Trump's attributes are drawn to him. Trump, Flynn, Giuliani, Christie, Gingrich. The description; bombastic, fact-challenged, abrasive, self-satisfied, conspiracy-prone, seems to more or less, fit all of them during this campaign. Birds of a feather.
And Flynn's connections to Putin, as well as Trump and other members of the Trump band, past and present, are just creepy. Putin sees no problem with killing political opponents and troublesome reporters. Somehow in Trumpland he is seen as a strong leader, someone we can partner with to get things done. Someone who shouldn't be blamed for hacking the Democrats' computers in order to help Trump's campaign. Did I mention yet that all those connections with Putin are creepy? Just one look in his eyes reveals a cold, calculating, ex-KGB officer. But not to them.
Flynn advising Trump? I'm just not sure how much fact-free advice is going to help us deal with international issues.
128
The only way that radical Islamic terrorism becomes an existential threat is by the response given to it. If you are terrified, and you consequently undermine the Constitution and democracy by acquiescing to the terrorists goals through mass paranoia and internal "purification," then indeed our existence can become threatened. But terrorism alone cannot pose such a threat, only those who succumb to its goals can do that.
76
Baloney.........................
1
Well said, Peter. Terrorists on American soil are not going to bring down our nation. They may cause damage, but we will survive.
ISIL is an existential threat to a Christian family in Mosul.
Bot not in Minneapolis. They might blow up a bridge in Minneapolis, but they will not collapse our nation.
People who allow themselves to feel terrorized are the greatest fuel for terrorists. People who see terrorists for what they are, and scorn them, are the best firewall against terrorism.
Be strong America, but do not be afraid and do not act foolishly.
ISIL is an existential threat to a Christian family in Mosul.
Bot not in Minneapolis. They might blow up a bridge in Minneapolis, but they will not collapse our nation.
People who allow themselves to feel terrorized are the greatest fuel for terrorists. People who see terrorists for what they are, and scorn them, are the best firewall against terrorism.
Be strong America, but do not be afraid and do not act foolishly.
2
To Barb,
During his campaign DT offered us the chance to consider "what (we) have to lose" by voting for him. I don't think he meant to, but he was telegraphing something important. Peter has come up with a very cogent answer to just a couple of the things we have to lose in the coming four years. Terrorism is not an "existential threat" to any nation where liberty and justice are scrupulously tended to. When the government begins to contemplate setting up its own terror apparatus -- mass round-ups, registries, scapegoating, etc. -- then we are on the path to totalitarianism which, as history shows, is the real existential threat.
During his campaign DT offered us the chance to consider "what (we) have to lose" by voting for him. I don't think he meant to, but he was telegraphing something important. Peter has come up with a very cogent answer to just a couple of the things we have to lose in the coming four years. Terrorism is not an "existential threat" to any nation where liberty and justice are scrupulously tended to. When the government begins to contemplate setting up its own terror apparatus -- mass round-ups, registries, scapegoating, etc. -- then we are on the path to totalitarianism which, as history shows, is the real existential threat.
1
Another act of perversion against democracy.
31
The new TNYT cannot even get past the third and fourth paragraphs before their editorial bias comes in. This, on today's lead article. Please, just tell me what happened yesterday. Just the facts, please, please.
21
I think you're confusing editorial bias for "facts."
1
So to get an appointment from Trump you merely have to be an early supporter, no experience or morality required.
42
Gen. Michael Flynn is one of the most experienced and cool-headed patriots there is. What are you even talking about?
8
Kinda like Sid Blumental and Jon Podesta? Hillary has many long time loyal fans too......heard James Carville rant lately
1
Did you read the article?
Between Flynn and the CIA dude there will be boots on the ground in the Middle East by summer. The jihadists will blow up an embassy or some "American" target with the purpose of sucking in US ground troops in order to help their recruiting. 130,000 troops in the Middle East by Labor Day.
23
Good-bye, money for infrastructure...
1
Paul, there have been boots on the ground in the Middle East for fifteen years. But don't worry, any new boots won't de your boots.
1
Are you a military expert? Where did you serve? Or, get experience like this?
One thing to remember about war: the path to happiness will be the first thing obliterated when it breaks out.
12
Putin, Assad and Hezbollah are ecstatic today at the news of the Flynn appointment.
13
Trump ran as a right-wing extremist. We shouldn't be shocked that we're getting an administration of right-wing extremists.
37
Joe--That's what we, thinking people, understood. That's NOT what the low information, low motivation, white population understood.
2
Flynn has stated that being Muslim is not a religion but rather a dangerous ideology disguised as a religion. He also says Sharia Law is spreading in the US but refuses to qualify his assertion. So, essentially, we could be very well be looking at the delegitimization of an entire religion in which case they will not be protected by the Freedom of Religion Act. This is downright unsettling.
24
There is no separation of church and state in any majority Muslim nation, and Islam is equally a civic creed as well as a religion. Sharia law (defined as Western communities where Sharia, not local civil law, prevails) may not have reached the US yet but has spread throughout section of the UK and France. That is 'downright unsettling', particularly as mainstream Islamic thought is violently opposed to religious diversity, LBGT rights etc.
Who made Flynn the authority?
Jolie--Anything like evangelist "Christianity," which scares me more than American Muslims. Way more.
3
Poor choice, those who know, know.
Those who do not, don't.
Existential threat, I know big words too....
Those who do not, don't.
Existential threat, I know big words too....
7
If the new administration attempts to set up a Muslim registry, then every freedom-loving American, regardless of their faith (or lack of it) should simply declare themselves a Muslim so as to remind these so-called lovers of the Constitution that we are all equal under the law. This country was founded in the name of religious liberty. So much for "making America great again" -- sullying everything it supposedly stands for is more like it.
42
Jeffrey--I will. Where do I sign?
2
"...potentially putting a retired intelligence officer who believes Islamist militancy poses an existential threat in one of the most powerful roles in shaping military and foreign policy."
Don't be sad, General Flynn, in viewing Islamic fascism as an existential threat, is in good company. that line of thought includes some our major allies like Israel, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, but they do not really count. Nor does King Hussein of Jordan who opined last year that the first shots of WWIII have already been fired from different corners of the Middle East.
The only country whose opinion on this topic is really important is Iran. and they told me that they deny that Islamic fascism is an existential threat to the West. so how can Flynn be correct?
Anyway, those of us who are calm and erudite know that there is no Islamic fascism supported by tens of millions Muslims from Pakistan to Indonesia. 99.9 % of the Muslim population is democratic, supports transgender bathrooms, and can't wait to stream the latest episode of King of Thrones.
Don't let those "workplace accidents" give you pause.
Don't be sad, General Flynn, in viewing Islamic fascism as an existential threat, is in good company. that line of thought includes some our major allies like Israel, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, but they do not really count. Nor does King Hussein of Jordan who opined last year that the first shots of WWIII have already been fired from different corners of the Middle East.
The only country whose opinion on this topic is really important is Iran. and they told me that they deny that Islamic fascism is an existential threat to the West. so how can Flynn be correct?
Anyway, those of us who are calm and erudite know that there is no Islamic fascism supported by tens of millions Muslims from Pakistan to Indonesia. 99.9 % of the Muslim population is democratic, supports transgender bathrooms, and can't wait to stream the latest episode of King of Thrones.
Don't let those "workplace accidents" give you pause.
13
Let's give you "Islamic fascism supported by tens of millions Muslims". Don't know how you know that number, since in areas controlled by Islamic fascism there is no way to know how much of the population would rather live differently if they weren't afraid of getting beheaded. But let's give you that count.
There are well over 1.6 BILLION Muslims in the world. By your numbers, 1% of them are "Islamic fascists". Thus, it's ludicrous to castigate the whole religion for a percentage of nuts that probably exists similarly for any major religion or political group. Blacks in the USA back in the day would have loved it if only 1% of the population supported slavery, or the KKK, or Jim Crow, etc. etc. etc. Crime in the US would be an easy problem if only 1% of the population were criminals (over 8% are convicted felons - obviously there are more criminals than that lurking around).
Pseudo-Islamic threat does exist. To fear all of Islam and treat Muslims accordingly just swells their numbers, making anyone who might have some reason to turn in that direction say - to paraphrase Trump - "What have I got to lose?"
There are well over 1.6 BILLION Muslims in the world. By your numbers, 1% of them are "Islamic fascists". Thus, it's ludicrous to castigate the whole religion for a percentage of nuts that probably exists similarly for any major religion or political group. Blacks in the USA back in the day would have loved it if only 1% of the population supported slavery, or the KKK, or Jim Crow, etc. etc. etc. Crime in the US would be an easy problem if only 1% of the population were criminals (over 8% are convicted felons - obviously there are more criminals than that lurking around).
Pseudo-Islamic threat does exist. To fear all of Islam and treat Muslims accordingly just swells their numbers, making anyone who might have some reason to turn in that direction say - to paraphrase Trump - "What have I got to lose?"
1
To Barry:
You do not have to "give" me anything.
The areas controlled by Islamic fascism are well-known, such as Iran, Hams-controlled Gaza, Hezbollah territories, certain parts of Africa, Libya, Algeria and Sinai.
What is also known, although not empahsized in Western media for fear of "offending," are the tens of millions of Muslims who give explicit or tacit support to Islamic fascist ideology. http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2016/07/22/muslims-and-islam-key-fi...
The percentage of world Muslims who wish to impose Sharia law on their respective countries is higher than Muslims who support ISIS, but the fact is that when 30 % of Pakistanis support Islamic fascism as expressed by ISIS or Al Qaeda, the number is immediately over 35 million, since the pop. of Pakistan is about 175 million.
You also repeat the nonsense of 1960s liberalism that when you confront the enemy you "only swell his numbers." Actually, when you fight him, and do not cut and run, as The US army did during the surge in the Sunni tribe area in Iraq, you win.
You remind me of Hillary telling the families of the dead Benghazi Americans that it was the Florida pastor's tape which killed them, and not the planned murder by Islamic insurgents.
Not matter how nice you wish to be to this Islamic fascist enemy, they will still hate you, just because you are such a nice Western guy.
Daniel Pearl knows this truth. But he could not be here with us today.
You do not have to "give" me anything.
The areas controlled by Islamic fascism are well-known, such as Iran, Hams-controlled Gaza, Hezbollah territories, certain parts of Africa, Libya, Algeria and Sinai.
What is also known, although not empahsized in Western media for fear of "offending," are the tens of millions of Muslims who give explicit or tacit support to Islamic fascist ideology. http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2016/07/22/muslims-and-islam-key-fi...
The percentage of world Muslims who wish to impose Sharia law on their respective countries is higher than Muslims who support ISIS, but the fact is that when 30 % of Pakistanis support Islamic fascism as expressed by ISIS or Al Qaeda, the number is immediately over 35 million, since the pop. of Pakistan is about 175 million.
You also repeat the nonsense of 1960s liberalism that when you confront the enemy you "only swell his numbers." Actually, when you fight him, and do not cut and run, as The US army did during the surge in the Sunni tribe area in Iraq, you win.
You remind me of Hillary telling the families of the dead Benghazi Americans that it was the Florida pastor's tape which killed them, and not the planned murder by Islamic insurgents.
Not matter how nice you wish to be to this Islamic fascist enemy, they will still hate you, just because you are such a nice Western guy.
Daniel Pearl knows this truth. But he could not be here with us today.
2
How about an option on the NY Times app to minimize the Trump news? The entire front page is all Trump except for a bottom-of-the-page mention of President Obama meeting Chancellor Merkel. Surely there are more things going on in the world?
6
It's been like that for over a year.
1
Yeah, but Trump sells. The New York Times Corporation is trashing Trump all the way to the bank. Just like the rest of the MSM.
It's the bottom line, stupid.
It's the bottom line, stupid.
1
Are we sure this man isn't a Russian agent? He's an extremist of one brand or another. Anyone trust him?
10
Americans need to prepare to send their military sons, daughters, husbands, wives, and other family members, as well as military friends into war. Flynn will certainly take America there. To the degree it could be done, while she would not allow aggressors act against America, Hillary set negotiation as the first step in dealing with those who would attack our country. Many Americans were foolish in their voting choice and now we all will suffer their consequences. So will they.
20
I support a U.S.-Russia-Syria alliance against ISIS and the terrorist groups that ran 9/11. The American people is tired of crazy wars like the U.S.-Russia war Hillary promised us.
2
Shenonymous, isn't joining the armed forces voluntary? Do you think the US will reinstate the draft? If not, nobody needs to go anywhere. It seems to me that people who go to war today, choose to go. What am I missing?
In 2014, President Obama nominated General Flynn as Director of National Intelligence. I would assume that he must be competent on the field of National Security.
Even if i am a big anti trump, I would admit the choice to be clever.
Even if i am a big anti trump, I would admit the choice to be clever.
8
Dollars-to-Donuts, DAVID A. CLARK, JR, replaces James Comey at the FBI.
4
So, Comey get the stick, either way. It was part of the bargain. He's headed to a very financially secure retirement.
3
President-elect Trump has said he wants to be President for all Americans. Whether he means well in what he is saying is to be seen. In the meantime, protests still continue around the country. In a recent CBS 60 minute interview, Mr.Trump is expressing concern over the treatment of minorities. Simply saying "STOP IT" does not suffice. Words do not mean well. Mr.Trump would do well to come out in the open and to speak to all people. Our country is so much divided. This was seen before the elections and continues to be seen today. With the selection of certain personnel to serve in the new Trump Administration, the notion of unifying the country, will become remote and harder. Just like Mr. Trump, these individuals have an extreme view of Muslims and the Islam religion. This ugly rhetoric will in no way help Mr.Trump. My advise to Mr.Trump and to the individuals in his inner circle, including those individuals appointed to lead Security related functions, is to spend time to study and analyze the root causes for rise of Islamist terrorism. As rightly quoted by the authors, in the last paragraph of today's article "the United States needed to do a better job of understanding Islamic culture and fostering its tolerant side" we in the US, should be doing more in truly portraying ourselves to the outside world, and learning and understanding the culture, language, beliefs and religion of all people around the world. There is so much ignorance around us.
5
Don the Con Trump does not wish to be president, and he does not wish to be president of ALL Americans.
2
I don't know which of these contradictions is worse:
- The fact that Trump is breaking his pledge to "drain the swamp," and is filling his Cabinet mostly with insiders?
- The fact that instead of filling his Cabinet mostly with experienced insiders is better than filling them with inexperienced people?
- The fact that most of the people that he's choosing have histories of questionable words, decisions, and actions?
It doesn't surprise me that Trump hasn't kept to his campaign promises. But I don't know whether I should be please about that!
- The fact that Trump is breaking his pledge to "drain the swamp," and is filling his Cabinet mostly with insiders?
- The fact that instead of filling his Cabinet mostly with experienced insiders is better than filling them with inexperienced people?
- The fact that most of the people that he's choosing have histories of questionable words, decisions, and actions?
It doesn't surprise me that Trump hasn't kept to his campaign promises. But I don't know whether I should be please about that!
11
" hasn't kept his campaign promises ..." - let us be reminded that Mr. Trump hasn't even been sworn in, and his detractors (with Kool-Aide stained lips) are all beating their drums in time with the far-left media. Grow a brain, why don't you. It's not scary to have an independent thought, once you get the hang of it. You might learn why the people of this great nation voted overwhelmingly for this man.
1
There seems to be a smear campaign against Trump and the people he has appointed so far. Most accusations are based on old comments taken out of context.
3
Drain the swamp and fill it with a slimier one. Oh yes, just what this country needs...
3
Thus far, the cabinet picks have done nothing to assure even the most lenient watchdogs of the Trump regime that he won't surround himself with hard-right wing zealots who have been at odds with much of the political mainstream. It resembles what critics term a neo-nazi mindset that is as unsettling as his circus-like campaign rhetoric and overall ignorance of governance.
16
At odds with the political mainstream? Try, at odds with many of the people who have had to work with them.
1
I think there's a case for and against Gen Flynn, but there's no excuse for the bias against Gen. Flynn in this article.
"(...)crossed the line into outright Islamophobia''
(not objective at all, subjective judgment; because of the problematic nature of the term, a lot of intellectuals, including Rushdie, even argue that the term shouldn't be used at all)
"subordinates came up with a name for the phenomenon: (...) Flynn facts"
(very one-sided and misleading, subordinates tend to give nicknames, plus: absolutely no mentioning at all of Gen. Flynn's positive qualities/capabilities only at the very end of the article some are mentioned in VERY RELUCTANT terms and/or through quoting others: "Once counted among the most respected military officers of his generation", “He is a very talented information gatherer, (...) BUT")
"Take his views on Islam. In the interview before the election, he characterized Islam as intolerant. Then he said that he had many Muslim friends, and that the United States needed to do a better job of understanding Islamic culture and fostering its tolerant side"
(How is this a contradiction? Can you not characterize something as predominantly intolerant and acknowledge a tolerant side? And how is Genn. Flynn an "Islamophobe" when he urges the US to foster its tolerant side?? Maybe the writers of this article are the ones contradicting themselves?)
This should have been an opinion piece. It's unworthy to pass off as objective covering of the news.
"(...)crossed the line into outright Islamophobia''
(not objective at all, subjective judgment; because of the problematic nature of the term, a lot of intellectuals, including Rushdie, even argue that the term shouldn't be used at all)
"subordinates came up with a name for the phenomenon: (...) Flynn facts"
(very one-sided and misleading, subordinates tend to give nicknames, plus: absolutely no mentioning at all of Gen. Flynn's positive qualities/capabilities only at the very end of the article some are mentioned in VERY RELUCTANT terms and/or through quoting others: "Once counted among the most respected military officers of his generation", “He is a very talented information gatherer, (...) BUT")
"Take his views on Islam. In the interview before the election, he characterized Islam as intolerant. Then he said that he had many Muslim friends, and that the United States needed to do a better job of understanding Islamic culture and fostering its tolerant side"
(How is this a contradiction? Can you not characterize something as predominantly intolerant and acknowledge a tolerant side? And how is Genn. Flynn an "Islamophobe" when he urges the US to foster its tolerant side?? Maybe the writers of this article are the ones contradicting themselves?)
This should have been an opinion piece. It's unworthy to pass off as objective covering of the news.
22
Islam is generally intolerant, as are all religions. Religion poisons everything.
7
"I don't agree with these facts" ipso facto "they're opinions." Newt Gingrich logic.
3
(He [Flynn] was right, in all fairness.)
2
When it comes to dealing with Islam at large, NYT is off the mark by a wide margin. Fattah el-Sisi came to power through a coup because Mohamed Morsi is a member of the Muslim Brotherhood whose purpose is to turn the entire Muslim world into Islamic states.
Jihad which is a divine institution of Islam is dedicated to propagating Islam in the dār al-harb, which is the non-Islamic world, i.e. the rest of the world, which is “invited” to convert to Islam. Should it fail to convert, then war becomes legitimate.
By heavily betting on the Arab Spring, Obama nearly turned Egypt into an Islamic State and by betting on the rebels in Syria it enabled Moscow to call the shots in any negotiations that will take place while allowing Erdogan to turn Turkey into a powerful Islamic state, i.e. a totalitarian state.
In view of all that, one would have to be very naïve not to question Iran’s bona fides which is currently abiding by its side of the deal just to gather much needed economic strength that will enable the country to resume its nuclear program on a much stronger footing when it deems it fit. This is where lies the danger of a major all-out war and not the South China Sea.
The US foreign policy is in shreds in the Middle-East. I don’t know if Trump is going to do any better but if he tries too quickly to strengthen the currently very weak US position, we are going to go through some very stressful times.
Jihad which is a divine institution of Islam is dedicated to propagating Islam in the dār al-harb, which is the non-Islamic world, i.e. the rest of the world, which is “invited” to convert to Islam. Should it fail to convert, then war becomes legitimate.
By heavily betting on the Arab Spring, Obama nearly turned Egypt into an Islamic State and by betting on the rebels in Syria it enabled Moscow to call the shots in any negotiations that will take place while allowing Erdogan to turn Turkey into a powerful Islamic state, i.e. a totalitarian state.
In view of all that, one would have to be very naïve not to question Iran’s bona fides which is currently abiding by its side of the deal just to gather much needed economic strength that will enable the country to resume its nuclear program on a much stronger footing when it deems it fit. This is where lies the danger of a major all-out war and not the South China Sea.
The US foreign policy is in shreds in the Middle-East. I don’t know if Trump is going to do any better but if he tries too quickly to strengthen the currently very weak US position, we are going to go through some very stressful times.
7
Jihad is only in the mind. War is not holy.
2
What is an "existential threat" anyway? I learned that existentialism is a philosophy concerned with questions about how and whether life has meaning, and why we exist. While it may be interesting to General Flynn to sit around and ponder the existence of ISIS, shouldn't we be concentrating on actual threats to our security, rather then philosophizing about the meaning of existence?
Americans kill other Americans every day in this country. Husbands and wives kill one another, children kill parents, parents kill children, strangers kill strangers. Around 44 murders per day. Seems like Americans killing Americans is a bigger threat to our national security than the existential threat that has General Flynn worried.
Americans kill other Americans every day in this country. Husbands and wives kill one another, children kill parents, parents kill children, strangers kill strangers. Around 44 murders per day. Seems like Americans killing Americans is a bigger threat to our national security than the existential threat that has General Flynn worried.
22
First, thank you to both authors. I see this article as part of the NYT's rededication to thorough, factual reporting.
Like Trump, Flynn is dangerous - loose and deceptive in his talk, inconsistent in his reasoning and willing to bend the truth to fit his own skewed agenda.
My fear is that early-on in a Trump administartion one or more of the truly irrational elements in he world, be it North Korea or ISIL, will "test" it. Based on what we have seen so far, it's response could be catastrophic.
Like Trump, Flynn is dangerous - loose and deceptive in his talk, inconsistent in his reasoning and willing to bend the truth to fit his own skewed agenda.
My fear is that early-on in a Trump administartion one or more of the truly irrational elements in he world, be it North Korea or ISIL, will "test" it. Based on what we have seen so far, it's response could be catastrophic.
37
All the cabinet choices made by Mr.Trump as of today are excellent. The media should get out of his way to report all the negatives of his actions and processes. The public should get the most accurate information on national matters. The reporters should be careful to present such news to people.
3
I dare say that if "the public should get the most accurate information on national matters" they would reject most, if not all, of Trump's cabinet choices. Talk about the blind leading the blind !!!
14
Clearly, Trump has not made excellent choices for his cabinet. Rep. Mike Pompeo who was tapped for the CIA hardly has the background necessary to be appointed to that position. His government experience, only since 2010, is as the Kansas Rep. and he's served on the Energy and Commerce, the House Intelligence committees, and the notorious House Select Benghazi Committee! While he is a Harvard Law School trained lawyer l & West Point grad with distinction, that doesn't come close to excellent!
Flynn is a hothead, just like Trump. It's a curious appointment as Flynn, with his agressive hawkish views will clash with the Donald's isolationist agenda. It that is actually real. I wonder about that. He is a craven attention seeker. I think it's more likely he will solicit attention and approval on the world stage next.
We need people who have demonstrated abilities and sufficient knowledge of their field to fill those positions. You would think that Trump should appoint people who will be able to handle the job and make Trump look good. But, it seems he prefers to select people to whom he can feel superior.
I gather you do not know much about our constitution. What you want the media to stop doing is exactly what they have a responsibility to do! It's called the first amendment, you know, free press, free speech &d all. And if the media had done their job right in the first place, they would not have to be reporting on his poor choices. He wouldn't be president.
Flynn is a hothead, just like Trump. It's a curious appointment as Flynn, with his agressive hawkish views will clash with the Donald's isolationist agenda. It that is actually real. I wonder about that. He is a craven attention seeker. I think it's more likely he will solicit attention and approval on the world stage next.
We need people who have demonstrated abilities and sufficient knowledge of their field to fill those positions. You would think that Trump should appoint people who will be able to handle the job and make Trump look good. But, it seems he prefers to select people to whom he can feel superior.
I gather you do not know much about our constitution. What you want the media to stop doing is exactly what they have a responsibility to do! It's called the first amendment, you know, free press, free speech &d all. And if the media had done their job right in the first place, they would not have to be reporting on his poor choices. He wouldn't be president.
3
"General Flynn and Mr. Trump also agree that the United States needs to sharply curtail immigration from predominantly Muslim countries, and possibly even force American Muslims to register with the government."
From Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti Defamation; 11/17/16
Leaguehttp://blog.adl.org/greenblatt/neverisnow?_ga=1.196355180.1145441261.147...
[quote] [...] And let me say this. There recently have been reports that the new Administration plans to force Muslim-Americans to register for some sort of master government list.
Look, Islamic extremism is a threat to us all. But as Jews, we know what it means to be registered and tagged, held out as different from our fellow citizens.
As Jews, we know the righteous and just response. All of us have heard the story of the Danish king who said if his country’s Jews had to wear a gold star…all of Denmark would too.
So I pledge to you right here and now, because I care about the fight against anti-Semitism, that if one day in these United States, if one day Muslim-Americans will be forced to register their identities, then that is the day that this proud Jew will register as a Muslim.
Because fighting prejudice against the marginalized is not just the fight of those minorities. It’s our fight. Just as the fight against anti-Semitism is not only the fight of us Jews. It’s everyone’s fight. [...] [end quote]
From Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti Defamation; 11/17/16
Leaguehttp://blog.adl.org/greenblatt/neverisnow?_ga=1.196355180.1145441261.147...
[quote] [...] And let me say this. There recently have been reports that the new Administration plans to force Muslim-Americans to register for some sort of master government list.
Look, Islamic extremism is a threat to us all. But as Jews, we know what it means to be registered and tagged, held out as different from our fellow citizens.
As Jews, we know the righteous and just response. All of us have heard the story of the Danish king who said if his country’s Jews had to wear a gold star…all of Denmark would too.
So I pledge to you right here and now, because I care about the fight against anti-Semitism, that if one day in these United States, if one day Muslim-Americans will be forced to register their identities, then that is the day that this proud Jew will register as a Muslim.
Because fighting prejudice against the marginalized is not just the fight of those minorities. It’s our fight. Just as the fight against anti-Semitism is not only the fight of us Jews. It’s everyone’s fight. [...] [end quote]
67
Is there anyone in this new cabinet who isn't either a racist, or emotionally volatile, or severely compromised by their personal and shady international wheelings and dealings? Is there anyone who doesn't have severe ethical lapses? Anyone who hasn't been fired or booted or denied position because of their extremist views? These cretins are "the best" and "most spectacular" people Trump could find?
I have strong reservations about the selection of Lt. General Flynn. He seems incredibly eager to paint with a broad brush against millions of Muslims which has the very real potential to erupt into another pointless, catastrophic war abroad. This says nothing of what he would support against American citizens who are Muslim.
In "draining the swamp" Trump is apparently replacing it with sewer water.
I have strong reservations about the selection of Lt. General Flynn. He seems incredibly eager to paint with a broad brush against millions of Muslims which has the very real potential to erupt into another pointless, catastrophic war abroad. This says nothing of what he would support against American citizens who are Muslim.
In "draining the swamp" Trump is apparently replacing it with sewer water.
36
The answer to your first 3 questions is no. The answer to your 4th is yes.
2
Sounds like a serious guy who appreciates the threat of Islamic militancy and will help Trump keep the threat out of America.
I'm all for helping out refugees where we can, but there are hundreds of millions of people in Africa who want to come to USA who pose 0 threat. Let's be smart and choose from them. Immigration is a privilege not a right and we don't HAVE to choose Syrians or Iraqis or Afghans or Yemenis.
Otherwise we might have a Trojan horse situation like what has happened in Paris, Nice, Brussels, etc.
I'm all for helping out refugees where we can, but there are hundreds of millions of people in Africa who want to come to USA who pose 0 threat. Let's be smart and choose from them. Immigration is a privilege not a right and we don't HAVE to choose Syrians or Iraqis or Afghans or Yemenis.
Otherwise we might have a Trojan horse situation like what has happened in Paris, Nice, Brussels, etc.
4
Trump is Russia’s Trojan horse. He’s a mole.
5
Not mole; stooge. A mole (in espionage as in your lawn) knows what he is doing.
1
It might be wise for you to look up the difference between a refugee and someone wanting to immigrate here. Of course you aren't alone. No one understood that about the South Americans fleeing the dangers in their respective countries either. They were all just considered illegal immigrants. The US has a responsibility to assist refugees. It's not just a thing we do if we have the inclination or extra space. Refugees don't compete with immigrants. It's apples and oranges, both are fruit. But not of the same tree. And we have the most extensive evaluation processes in the world.
2
And now we know where we can find Clinton's "basket of deplorables": Trump is collecting them in the West Wing, with an attorney general known for his racist remarks and support of homophobic legislation, a national security adviser with ties to Russia who (when coherent) indulges religious discrimination, his son-in-law in the real estate business, a political operative connected to a white supremacist website, and the list goes on. In this way Trump plans to "unite the country," so long as the country consists of straight white men.
32
The 'deplorables' are the majority of Americans who voted Trump in. You don't know three things about Flynn (or Trump for that matter) that the media hasn't programmed you to believe. Read One of Trumps books, and you would see that he is far from a homophobe, a misogynist or a hater of Muslims. Oh, and there's a Kool Aide stain on your upper lip.
1
Well, at least they're all in one place:)
Flynn's extreme views, his serious conflicts of interest in the Middle East, in Turkey, in Russia, and his belligerence toward others in government make him ill suited for this critically important role. The misdirections of Team Trump has shades of February 27, 1933.
15
Remember when we used to bar communists from entering the country because they espoused the imposition of a philosophy which we found inimical to our values?
When you apply for admission to our country, not as a tourist but as a potential resident, it is appropriate that you express a desire to abandon most of your old ways in favor of adopting our way of life and becoming one of us.
When you apply for admission to our country, not as a tourist but as a potential resident, it is appropriate that you express a desire to abandon most of your old ways in favor of adopting our way of life and becoming one of us.
6
What does this mean, "Becoming one of us?" What is the standard for that? White? Christian? What do you mean by "our way of life?" I thought that the criteria for coming to this country was that it is a melting pot of many beliefs and ways of living. That we accept those yearning to be free. When did this change?
7
To Tamara,
The change began on Nov. 8, 2016. One of those days "that will live in infamy".
The change began on Nov. 8, 2016. One of those days "that will live in infamy".
6
Becoming one of us, means tolerance of others. Islam has no concept of tolerance for non-believers, independent women, LBGT individuals etc. If you cannot get with that tolerance, there is zero incentive to ADMIT you to the USA. We have plenty of intolerant home-grown types here, but ejecting the home-grown intolerant is a different legal proposition altogether. No reason at all to import adherents of an intrinsically intolerant worldview.
2
Step by step all the "isim's" are embedded into the foundation of Donald Trump's system of governing. Down the rabbit hole we go .
11
Mr. "Lock Her Up" himself, as National Security advisor? Wonderful - we will get the Patriot Act on steroids with extrajudicial and secret surveillance, arrests and, very likely, rendition and torture of the worst kind à la Trump.
If he was willing to lock up a political opponent for no reason other than hatred (lets be honest), what is he willing to do to the rest of us - the popular majority - and the rest of the world?
Trump, Flynn, Bannon, et al. represent an existential threat to the US Constitution they will be sworn to protect. Thugs in exploding cars and armed pickup trucks do not pose an existential threat to the world's wealthiest military - Russian nukes, even North Korean nukes possibly, pose an actual existential threat to us. What is he going to do about that?
If he was willing to lock up a political opponent for no reason other than hatred (lets be honest), what is he willing to do to the rest of us - the popular majority - and the rest of the world?
Trump, Flynn, Bannon, et al. represent an existential threat to the US Constitution they will be sworn to protect. Thugs in exploding cars and armed pickup trucks do not pose an existential threat to the world's wealthiest military - Russian nukes, even North Korean nukes possibly, pose an actual existential threat to us. What is he going to do about that?
11
Registering all Muslims?! We, as a nation, do understand that historically this is how the persecution of the Jews in Germany in the 1930s and 1949s began, yes? Naming an religious group with a strong ethnic definition/stereotype as a scapegoat for economic problems, rallying the nationalists around that scapegoat and starting by forcing them to register.
We as Americans must speak up vociferously against this!
(Also, can we stop with the "boy from Queens" rhetoric? Donald Trump is a wealthy scion who got his start in the job his father gave him. He's had everything in life handed to him. He's the definition of an insider.)
We as Americans must speak up vociferously against this!
(Also, can we stop with the "boy from Queens" rhetoric? Donald Trump is a wealthy scion who got his start in the job his father gave him. He's had everything in life handed to him. He's the definition of an insider.)
16
To Rose,
Thank-you. As a Queens "boy" myself, and a child of its immigrant working class, Queens was, and still is, one of the most diverse places on earth. Perhaps that's why Trump left.
Thank-you. As a Queens "boy" myself, and a child of its immigrant working class, Queens was, and still is, one of the most diverse places on earth. Perhaps that's why Trump left.
7
If your father gave you a million dollars what would you do with it? If you were average, you would save it and live off it. If you were stupid, you would squander it. But if you were truly brilliant, you would take what your father gave you (and taught you) to grow it into a sum 4000 times greater. Don't besmirch his business savvy. America needs someone who knows how to make a good deal that benefits us.
To Brandogrey,
Please, do not be deceived. Trump "started" with far more than $1 million. Much of what he actually acquired/built he lost - the casinos, the airline, the football team. He reported losses of almost $1 billion in the mid 1990s. He inherited hundreds of millions in 1999 when his father died. He does not know how to make a good deal. He has been out-smarted and rolled over by many of his competitors. All of this is well-documented both in the general media and by those who have written biographies of him.
If you voted for him, fine. If you support him, fine.
But, listen to Mike Bloomberg, a billionaire contemporary of his from NYC, and a former mayor - Trump is a con man. Period.
Please, do not be deceived. Trump "started" with far more than $1 million. Much of what he actually acquired/built he lost - the casinos, the airline, the football team. He reported losses of almost $1 billion in the mid 1990s. He inherited hundreds of millions in 1999 when his father died. He does not know how to make a good deal. He has been out-smarted and rolled over by many of his competitors. All of this is well-documented both in the general media and by those who have written biographies of him.
If you voted for him, fine. If you support him, fine.
But, listen to Mike Bloomberg, a billionaire contemporary of his from NYC, and a former mayor - Trump is a con man. Period.
3
Flynn Facts and Trumpspeak. O Brave New World, is there any hope for truth to have a voice over the static?
10
Islam is a threat to gays, to women and to free, civil society. I am pleased to have a National Security Advisor who recognises that Islam is an existential threat to our way of life. We need less immigration from Muslim countries and more awareness about the fundamental incompatibility of our value system with theirs.
5
Evangelical Christianity is a threat to gays, to women and to free, civil society.
Yet somehow we tolerate its existence.
Yet somehow we tolerate its existence.
3
A rag tag mercenary group fighting in the desert on the other side of the world with no Air Force, Navy or ICBM's is an existential threat. While our enemies in Russia are his BFF's. This must be the General Trump was referring to when he said he knows more than the Generals.
5
...and Mr. Bengazi, -Pompeo-, has just been named CIA director, finally somebody on the direct Koch payroll. The Wacky Horror Trump Show casting continues....
7
Well he has a lot in common with the President elect, both appear willing to play loose with the truth, have a better opinion of themselves than others that know them do, and they both see Putin as part of the solution to international affairs. He said, " But Putin is smart and savvy, and he has taken actions in Ukraine and elsewhere that have limited our options, and the U.S. and NATO response has been timid. I think Trump’s strength lies in being a master negotiator, and he wants as many options as possible in dealing with Russia."
It is particularly disturbing how close the General got to the Russians after having clearance and access to America's top secrets. We do not need to be lead by Flynn Facts into more conflicts and fewer successes. Trump desperately needs support outside of his tiny circle of advisers.
It is particularly disturbing how close the General got to the Russians after having clearance and access to America's top secrets. We do not need to be lead by Flynn Facts into more conflicts and fewer successes. Trump desperately needs support outside of his tiny circle of advisers.
6
Am I missing something, or wasn't it New York that was reduced to a smoking pile of rubble and ash by radical Islamic terrorists? What does it take to learn they are the enemy and must be stopped? The article seems to take issue with Flynn for wanting to do the obvious.
This, in a nutshell, is how the politically correct establishment elite missed the entire thrust of the recent political upset. By ignoring the facts on the ground, and calling the opposition intolerant, the "smart" set is unable to tell what time it is.
This, in a nutshell, is how the politically correct establishment elite missed the entire thrust of the recent political upset. By ignoring the facts on the ground, and calling the opposition intolerant, the "smart" set is unable to tell what time it is.
5
If the country does begin to register Muslims, we should be like the students in the movie In and Out who became "gay" to save their teacher....we can all register! Good citizens much stand up for the rights of all.
5
General Flynn seems to have no idea what the word "existential" means. That is particularly disturbing coming from someone who lived through the Cold War, when there were real existential threat. Outside of a few states in the Middle East, radical Islam poses an "existential threat" to no state. It is, at best, the source of occasional terrorist attacks. Indeed, the threat posed by radical Islam is not from the ideology itself but, rather, the gross exaggeration of its threat and the profound overreaction it seems to so easily inspire in the Western world. From that perspective, General Flynn fits right into the pattern of blowing the "threat" vastly out of proportion and then, presumably, grossly overreacting, which then leads to more violence, more death, and an endless cycle of reprisal and oppression
In surveying the various names that Trump has, so far, put forward as possible appointments, I'm struck by how truly terrible they are. These are the people who, in any other Western country, would be regarded as far right whack jobs. Yet, in the US, many of them are part of the Republican establishment, underlining precisely how deplorable that establishment is. After eight years of sane, reasonable Obama policies, it looks like the US is poised to plunge right back into the netherworld of Republican extremism - extreme jingoism, extreme ignorance, extreme stupidity, that was all part of the Bush years. This really is the beginning of the end of the American empire.
In surveying the various names that Trump has, so far, put forward as possible appointments, I'm struck by how truly terrible they are. These are the people who, in any other Western country, would be regarded as far right whack jobs. Yet, in the US, many of them are part of the Republican establishment, underlining precisely how deplorable that establishment is. After eight years of sane, reasonable Obama policies, it looks like the US is poised to plunge right back into the netherworld of Republican extremism - extreme jingoism, extreme ignorance, extreme stupidity, that was all part of the Bush years. This really is the beginning of the end of the American empire.
5
If you think Attorney General Jeff Sessions will wink at legalized cannabis, better toke up while you can, suckers.
3
This guy has business dealings with Erdogan of Turkey. He wants to work with Putin. What is wrong with this appointment? EVERYTHING!! I will make sure I call my Representatives and tell them NOT to confirm this guy.
4
If you're referring to Flynn, he doesn't get to be "confirmed." Done deal.
All you have to do is go back to the RNC and look at the comments made there by the people that Trump is filling his cabinet with.
Truly frightening.
Truly frightening.
8
If General Flynn actually goes after the house of Saud and the other wealthy members of Sunni sects who are helping finance radical Islam then I'm all in. These people are the worst allies we could have.
5
It is a sad comment on the NYT that I had to go elsewhere to learn about this guy, beyond the we-hate-Trump minimum.
Flynn has been a critic of the wars. His focus was on the blundering ignorance of them. He once said we'd been in Afghanistan 10 years and still knew nothing about the place.
His view of Islamic terrorism was formed from extensive interrogations he did of leaders of al Qaeda in Iraq. He noted that they were well educated, intelligent, seemingly reasonable men. He saw as the common theme an ideology of extreme fundamentalism.
When he says radical Islam, his emphasis is on the radical, not the Islam. He has been quite willing to work with Muslims, just not the radical ones. His view of what is radical is formed from talking to them at length, leaders of al Qaeda.
He does not want confrontations with Russia and China. He wants to finish the terrorist problem. He identifies terrorism is a very specific ideology that is NOT all of Islam.
He rejects the approach of Hillary at near every step. But those differences are her propensity for confrontation and war, not his. They are his identification of non-radical Muslims, not his smearing of all Muslims as radical.
The NYT owes us a much more complete report on who this guy is and what he means. There is a lot to know, more than a few hundred characters can convey.
Flynn has been a critic of the wars. His focus was on the blundering ignorance of them. He once said we'd been in Afghanistan 10 years and still knew nothing about the place.
His view of Islamic terrorism was formed from extensive interrogations he did of leaders of al Qaeda in Iraq. He noted that they were well educated, intelligent, seemingly reasonable men. He saw as the common theme an ideology of extreme fundamentalism.
When he says radical Islam, his emphasis is on the radical, not the Islam. He has been quite willing to work with Muslims, just not the radical ones. His view of what is radical is formed from talking to them at length, leaders of al Qaeda.
He does not want confrontations with Russia and China. He wants to finish the terrorist problem. He identifies terrorism is a very specific ideology that is NOT all of Islam.
He rejects the approach of Hillary at near every step. But those differences are her propensity for confrontation and war, not his. They are his identification of non-radical Muslims, not his smearing of all Muslims as radical.
The NYT owes us a much more complete report on who this guy is and what he means. There is a lot to know, more than a few hundred characters can convey.
11
So that being said, how about a link or two to credible sources, not Wikipedia, where you found out all of this information, it would save me a lot of time. Not that you need to be the NYT, but reading this makes me wonder. I just recall his belligerence from the boob tube, and a lot has happened since then.
Thanks.
Thanks.
7
Steve -- The first two pages of Google gave me a long list of crackpot sites, and a few solid ones.
I started with Glenn Greenwald's publication:
https://theintercept.com/2016/07/13/an-interview-with-lt-gen-michael-flynn/
I started with Glenn Greenwald's publication:
https://theintercept.com/2016/07/13/an-interview-with-lt-gen-michael-flynn/
2
I don't think anyone in Trump's orbit has any idea what "justice" means to anyone else but themselves.
4
Remind me again the word for doing the same things repeatedly but expecting a different result? I didn't support either of the two primary candidates but willing to give this guy a shot to help rid the world of what he accurately describes. As Jon Stewart just said, "Muslims aren't a monolith" but radical Islam is inarguably a cancer that must be cured.
6
Then you are advocating genocide - because that is the only way you will "cure" what "is inarguably [sic] a cancer".
2
General Flynn is completely central to the Alt Right coterie that is taking over our national politics.
This ideology sees Islam as pursuing a plan to colonize Western countries and to slowly introduce shari'a law & then to take over the government. As in Houellebecq's novel Submission.
These are the same people who think that President Obama is actually a Muslim pretending to be a Christian and that Obama has pursued policies to advance Muslim interests.
This extremist rhetoric against Muslims short-circuits nuanced discussions of international policies as well as discussions of refugee and immigrant rights in the USA. International law, to which the United States is obliged to adhere, grants refugees the right of asylum. Nuanced policy would focus on how to admit refugees and how to integrate them successfully into our society. The Alt Right wants us to understand the refugees as disguised jihadists intent on destroying Western Democracy. They believe this is a civilizational and quasi-racist battle and fight for the triumph of White Christian patriarchal civilization.
In opposition to this crudely polarizing vision, the rule of law. particularly human rights law so painstakingly built up after the ruins of World War II, needs to be defended. Human rights law guarantees rights for all individuals, regardless of sex, race, or religion.
This ideology sees Islam as pursuing a plan to colonize Western countries and to slowly introduce shari'a law & then to take over the government. As in Houellebecq's novel Submission.
These are the same people who think that President Obama is actually a Muslim pretending to be a Christian and that Obama has pursued policies to advance Muslim interests.
This extremist rhetoric against Muslims short-circuits nuanced discussions of international policies as well as discussions of refugee and immigrant rights in the USA. International law, to which the United States is obliged to adhere, grants refugees the right of asylum. Nuanced policy would focus on how to admit refugees and how to integrate them successfully into our society. The Alt Right wants us to understand the refugees as disguised jihadists intent on destroying Western Democracy. They believe this is a civilizational and quasi-racist battle and fight for the triumph of White Christian patriarchal civilization.
In opposition to this crudely polarizing vision, the rule of law. particularly human rights law so painstakingly built up after the ruins of World War II, needs to be defended. Human rights law guarantees rights for all individuals, regardless of sex, race, or religion.
6
"In the intelligence business, we would say that Mr. Putin had recruited Mr. Trump as an unwitting agent of the Russian Federation."
That's what a former acting director of the CIA said. And now Trump hires Flynn, a paid RT (Kremlin) consultant, as national security adviser.
Really, unbelievable. Putin must be so pleased.
That's what a former acting director of the CIA said. And now Trump hires Flynn, a paid RT (Kremlin) consultant, as national security adviser.
Really, unbelievable. Putin must be so pleased.
21
So what do you plan to do about it?
Dig through his Twitter account to get an idea who he is. Hateful of Hillary and retweets of Breitbart.
10
Color me not surprised. Since the Senate has no say in this, he goes national security. Flynn is a throw back to a xenophobic and bigoted nationa and an insult to the scores of military officers who have and do serve this country so well. His intolerance is well known as is his lack of judgement. In short, very much like Trump.
9
With Gen. Flynn calling the shots, World War III increasingly likely, with Jeff Sessions at the Justice Department, a race upheaval all but assured, with Pompeo to the CIA, distortion of truth will prevail and likely many retirements/departures from those unable to swallow the Coolaide. America, you have elected an amateur, a follower, who already makes George W. Bush appear sage. I do not wish him to fail since his failure is the nations failure, but with this cast of characters plus Bannon, it is impossible to foresee anything else. He is a figurehead and not a wise one, his son-in-law is the puppet master and Donald is the florid, lips moving puppet.
We have reason to be terrified. Can the Senate confirmation process halt some of this insanity?
We have reason to be terrified. Can the Senate confirmation process halt some of this insanity?
15
"His dubious assertions..."
My God, this is journalism? I thought the Times pledged to examine its shortcomings in its campaign reporting. The word "dubious" belongs on the editorial pages, not in a news story.
My God, this is journalism? I thought the Times pledged to examine its shortcomings in its campaign reporting. The word "dubious" belongs on the editorial pages, not in a news story.
6
@HurryHarry,
I agree!
If Flynn says things that are not true, like
"Shariah, or Islamic law, is spreading in the United States."
the NYT should not merely say "(it is not"
They should call it a LIE.
I agree!
If Flynn says things that are not true, like
"Shariah, or Islamic law, is spreading in the United States."
the NYT should not merely say "(it is not"
They should call it a LIE.
4
Flynn is not well-liked by the military or the intelligence community. I suspect he will have someone carefully watching his 6.
3
The one good thing about the Trump candidacy was that it potentially was a break from the warmongering of the neocons and their fellow traveler Hillary Clinton. It appears that one good thing is no more. Hopefully this new crowd does not go full Obama/Clinton and start poking the Russian bear in their borderlands but I bet that's next.
4
Playing right into ISIS' hands. These sort of appointments are proof to them that there is a clash of civilizations that justifies their violence.
17
Your comment is proof that we need Men like Flynn. That is one of the most horribly debased, morally relativist sentences I've read. The goals of ISIS and other Islamist terrorists are not contingent on American policy.
2
I believe General Flynn is a character from "Dr. Strangelove: Or How I Stopped Worrying And Learned To Love The Bomb". Is he the General at Command and Control or was he the yahoo riding the Bomb down to its target? Trivia experts, anyone?
DD
Manhattan
DD
Manhattan
9
Please don't bring Kubrick into this. And no Frank Zappa did not write any songs against Trump either.
It looks we are on the same self-destruct path Imperial Germany and later the Third Reich followed since the second half of the 19th century. This is not America as we know and this is not the America we want to leave to the future generations.
9
Islamic Terrorism is a threat - to the entire world. Its about time someone simply said that - or heaven forbid, the NYT Ed. Bd. printed it outside the comments section. You know, its part of the whole "we are just trying to be honest again" thing. But if you think Trump is a war hawk, I'd say you are wrong. I'm surprised the NYT hasn't brought forward a racial smear on Flynn. Oh yeah, that will come Monday when it is revealed that a Trump pick is a white man who once simply mentioned the topic of race and/or minorities.
8
Anybody who describes an entire world religion as cancerous needs to be taken very very seriously and brought to justice immediately.
These kinds of comments where made in the 1920's by the wrong people in Germany.
We shall not make that mistake again!
These kinds of comments where made in the 1920's by the wrong people in Germany.
We shall not make that mistake again!
17
You are right, and that is the impression conveyed by the NYT report.
Fortunately, that is just bad reporting. Flynn is very clear that it is not the whole world religion. He's got interesting things to say, based on working there and talking to them.
Fortunately, that is just bad reporting. Flynn is very clear that it is not the whole world religion. He's got interesting things to say, based on working there and talking to them.
2
OK, I still haven't pulled the plug on my subscription but...is being concerned about Radical Islamic violence around the world a disqualification for a general in 2016?
You are really out of touch at the NY Times.
You are really out of touch at the NY Times.
11
No. But being an Islamaphobe and neo-fascist IS.
4
Does the NY Times maintain that General Flynn is just wrong about there being a threat from Islamic extremists? In view of 9/11, Charlie Hebdo, Bataclan, San Bernardino and the atrocities of the Islamic State; it seems that he is right.
The NY Times persists in preferring Russophobia to Islamophobia.
Russian culture is close to ours in terms of individual freedoms to drink alcohol, worship whomever, enjoy representational art, create and listen to music, write and read wide ranging literature, develop science and technology, separate religion and government and avoid royal dynastic succession.
Islamic culture, as displayed especially in Saudi Arabia, provides none of those benefits. Rather, it maintains theocracy and dynasty, limits women's rights, beheads or mutilates the condemned, and fuels religious and tribal hostilities.
I voted for Hillary despite her interventionism and her plans to perpetuate wars encouraged by the Saudis, especially the war against the secular Syrian government. I voted for Hillary despite her the dubious interpretation of events in the Ukraine that she shares with the NY Times.
I'm happy that Hillary is not the president elect because her Russophobia combined with her ideologically political correct tolerance for Islam would, in the long run, likely be worse than a presidency of a narcissistic philistine who at least will seek rapprochement with secular, civilized Russia.
The NY Times persists in preferring Russophobia to Islamophobia.
Russian culture is close to ours in terms of individual freedoms to drink alcohol, worship whomever, enjoy representational art, create and listen to music, write and read wide ranging literature, develop science and technology, separate religion and government and avoid royal dynastic succession.
Islamic culture, as displayed especially in Saudi Arabia, provides none of those benefits. Rather, it maintains theocracy and dynasty, limits women's rights, beheads or mutilates the condemned, and fuels religious and tribal hostilities.
I voted for Hillary despite her interventionism and her plans to perpetuate wars encouraged by the Saudis, especially the war against the secular Syrian government. I voted for Hillary despite her the dubious interpretation of events in the Ukraine that she shares with the NY Times.
I'm happy that Hillary is not the president elect because her Russophobia combined with her ideologically political correct tolerance for Islam would, in the long run, likely be worse than a presidency of a narcissistic philistine who at least will seek rapprochement with secular, civilized Russia.
6
Thus says a Russian puppet.
5
Yeah, how's that "freedom" thing working out over in Russia? Last I heard their dictator-in-chief Putin was murdering political dissidents. Great argument, though: the Russians drink alcohol so that makes them our natural allies.
5
If we're going to engage in name-calling, let me quote Trump from the presidential debate: "No puppet, no puppet - you're the puppet".
Wonderful! Keep that crowd where they belong. Is your audience mainly Muslim? You still have not learned the lesson from your last defeat.
1
Jeff Sessions, Steve Bannon, and now this guy. The fascist, sociopathic, racist oligarchy is taking shape.
Thanks New York Times for helping to push a totally unelectable candidate and giving us this nightmare.
Thanks New York Times for helping to push a totally unelectable candidate and giving us this nightmare.
8
Muslims possessing oil and opium fields pose an existential threat to Uncle Sam's credit card limit.
3
"brash outsiders who hustled their way to the big time." Frequent tweeters. ..."both at times crossed the line into outright Islamophobia."
"...a loose relationship with facts: General Flynn, for instance, has said that Shariah, or Islamic law, is spreading in the United States (it is not)" .... "His dubious assertions are so common that when he ran the Defense Intelligence Agency, subordinates came up with a name for the phenomenon: They called them “Flynn facts.”"
Donald Trump has picked for another cabinet post a reflection of himself, albeit in military gear. God help us. No wonder President Obama fired him in 2014.
Since he will hold the position of "security adviser", I guess it's just another brick in the wall of a Trump's imminent police state.
When Trump talked about building a wall, I doubt people thought this wall would be anywhere else but on our southern borders.
Walls can be imaginary, theoretical, psychological, and fear-inducing, in addition to physical. Welcome, General Flynn, to Trump's makeover of America into a conspiracy-driven police state based on fear and reprisal.
"...a loose relationship with facts: General Flynn, for instance, has said that Shariah, or Islamic law, is spreading in the United States (it is not)" .... "His dubious assertions are so common that when he ran the Defense Intelligence Agency, subordinates came up with a name for the phenomenon: They called them “Flynn facts.”"
Donald Trump has picked for another cabinet post a reflection of himself, albeit in military gear. God help us. No wonder President Obama fired him in 2014.
Since he will hold the position of "security adviser", I guess it's just another brick in the wall of a Trump's imminent police state.
When Trump talked about building a wall, I doubt people thought this wall would be anywhere else but on our southern borders.
Walls can be imaginary, theoretical, psychological, and fear-inducing, in addition to physical. Welcome, General Flynn, to Trump's makeover of America into a conspiracy-driven police state based on fear and reprisal.
35
National Security Advisor is primarily a foreign policy post, intermediating between State and Defense, etc. It has nothing to do with the U.S. becoming a "police state." And by the way, enforcing the border, and deporting those here illegally, doesn't make the U.S. a police state either. It returns us to merely being a law abiding country, enacting policies that are mainstream in the western world. But I'm sure you knew that.
6
@DRS: you know, as well as I, that many of the "plans" of the incoming President have to do with "first steps." Our current President has already deported 3 million people. The "problem" of renegade immigrants does not exist--it's a smoke screen to stoke the fears of Trump's target audience.
Of course borders need to be secure. But Flynn's Islamaphobia is bound to have the precisely opposite effect on our ability to fight terrorism. You can't deny the sharp increase in hate crimes since the election.
But you knew that, didn't you?
Of course borders need to be secure. But Flynn's Islamaphobia is bound to have the precisely opposite effect on our ability to fight terrorism. You can't deny the sharp increase in hate crimes since the election.
But you knew that, didn't you?
6
I just wonder with Flynn as the National Security Adviser what will happen to US alliances in Middle East. Is Trump going to undercut what appears to be a relatively successful alliance between USA, and the Syrian Kurds and if Flynn will encourage Turkey ti enter Iraqi Kurdistan and attempt to annex part or of Mosul. After all Mr. Flynn has very close relationship and likely being paid by Erdogan. I hoping these issue will discussed both by press including NY Times and during his confirmation hearing.
2
It's remarkable how led around by the nose some readers are. This article had... just a bit of a slant to it. I don't think that many of the commentators picked up on, this, but... The NY Times hates Trump. The NY Times always makes this guy out to be an idiot - just because he speaks bluntly and seeks to cut through the doublespeak and lies of the establishment and the establishment's mouthpieces - such as the NY Times. This is why the majority of Americans voted out the mainstream thoughtstream this cycle and connected with alternative news sources. When you mark a man like General Flynn so blatantly and with such nonchalance, (and with such obvious disdain) as you just did, readers such as myself immediately think, "If The NY Times is taking cheap shots at this guy, I better find out the truth about him... elsewhere on the internet". Reading an article by a sold-out newsgroup such as The NY Times and seeing comments by its koolaide drinkers doesn't move any of the important conversations that we are having as a nation forward. All you're really telling me is, "Get ready for 4 years of us picking this administration apart like the media vultures that we are." NY Times, let it be known that I've got you, as the majority of Americans do, on the 'Pay No Mind' list. I don't even take your words with a grain of salt anymore. And I think you'll have to agree that your shrinking audience is a testament to that sentiment.
22
First of all, the majority of people did not vote out of the mainstream. Hillary won the popular vote even though a huge number of Dems did not vote. So Trump won with a minority of half the eligible voters. Clearly not a mandate. Second, if you read the article you see why the NYT included this article. He's a dangerous person with nutty ideas, like many who Trump appealed to and listens to.
12
Feel free not to come back.
6
It's the role of the press to pick "this administration apart." It is perfectly okay to point out conflicts of interest. That's what the press should do. It wouldn't be okay to insist that these new administration officials be aligned with the previous ones, but it seems entirely justifiable to insist that they be *balanced* in their views. Claiming that the "Muslim faith itself is the source of the problem" is a problem -- the Muslims didn't invent holy war, Christians did! (see the Crusades). I agree that the article seems more anecdotal than analytical in nature, but it does quote sources that both support and criticize Flynn.
4
Gee. I thought the Times, after its biased and dismal reporting on the election, was trying to turn a new leaf and be more objective and factual and leave the editorializing to the editorial section? I guess I was wrong if this article is any example.
18
So reporting key facts is not being objective? It is definitely not "Trump-like" to report facts but the public deserves to know when Trump is naming dangerous people to key positions.
4
Gee! You're right. Now that Trump is President, when either he or one of his subalterns lie, we're supposed to ignore it the way his supporters do.
6
The NY Times knows exactly what it's doing.
So Benedict Flynn will be cooperating with the most ignorant and mentally deficient president since George W. God help us!
On top of that, the megalomaniac has chosen a undesirable racist to be attorney general. It seems the incompetent is determined to take us back to the 1930s. I hope Dems and some decent Republicans (if any) stop this madness. After all Sessions has already been rejected to a federal bench for racist.
On top of that, the megalomaniac has chosen a undesirable racist to be attorney general. It seems the incompetent is determined to take us back to the 1930s. I hope Dems and some decent Republicans (if any) stop this madness. After all Sessions has already been rejected to a federal bench for racist.
20
Trump values loyalty, not competence. People who disagree with him will likely be fired.
33
Flynn is a Democrat who was fired for speaking his mind.
2
No, Mark, he was fired because he is an irrational blowhard who lost his way.
Next?
Next?
5
were now being told about existential threats from isis. come on what folly. isis is not coming here to america. there might be a contingent of arab americans or muslim americans, but they do not want isis here any more than i do. they see isis for the jokes they truly are. they are not attacking us in our home land. the ones attacking us in our home land is the thuggish trolls who are being elevated to positions of authority in this current time.
7
Seems like Putin has found two useful tools, Trump and Flynn.
Political terrorism is the tool the militarily weak use to prod the militarily powerful into doing foolish things and to convince the populace to side with the terrorists.
Responding to the limited threat posed by a bunch of radical Islamic terrorists by targeting all Muslims is as foolish as responding to Radical Christian terrorists like Tim McVeigh and the Branch Davidians by targeting all Christians.
Oppressive treatment of Muslims will force more Muslims to turn against us and to fear cooperating with authorities. Not only is this morally wrong but politically wrong as well.
And adopting the Russian approach to halting the Syrian War by siding with Assad by bombing hospitals and indiscriminately bombing will put more blood of innocents on our hands. And just continue the cycle of hate and violence that marks the modern Mid East.
But Putin did ultimately have a grand idea about dealing with the Chechen rebels. He bought off their leaders and gave them free rein in those territories. Trump has a lot of money, who knows what good he could do.
I extend my sympathy in advance to the good people who work at the NSA. And to our military who are now at the mercy of leaders who like conspiracy theories because they are so much easier to understand and because facts aren't necessary.
Political terrorism is the tool the militarily weak use to prod the militarily powerful into doing foolish things and to convince the populace to side with the terrorists.
Responding to the limited threat posed by a bunch of radical Islamic terrorists by targeting all Muslims is as foolish as responding to Radical Christian terrorists like Tim McVeigh and the Branch Davidians by targeting all Christians.
Oppressive treatment of Muslims will force more Muslims to turn against us and to fear cooperating with authorities. Not only is this morally wrong but politically wrong as well.
And adopting the Russian approach to halting the Syrian War by siding with Assad by bombing hospitals and indiscriminately bombing will put more blood of innocents on our hands. And just continue the cycle of hate and violence that marks the modern Mid East.
But Putin did ultimately have a grand idea about dealing with the Chechen rebels. He bought off their leaders and gave them free rein in those territories. Trump has a lot of money, who knows what good he could do.
I extend my sympathy in advance to the good people who work at the NSA. And to our military who are now at the mercy of leaders who like conspiracy theories because they are so much easier to understand and because facts aren't necessary.
8
New Normal: Shout, scream, bluster, lie, decry your weak, embarrassing country--and you get rewarded, HANDSOMELY.
President, Cabinet, Congress, statehouses...
President, Cabinet, Congress, statehouses...
32
And not a one of them cares about the United States as a whole.
3
Unfortunately both Islamic militancy and Donald Trump are existential threats - perhaps not in that order.
9
Flynn is a horror and his appointment to the NSA truly frightening. However, this article, which comes only days after the apology by the NYT for its election coverage, is snarky beyond the words that describe Flynn. Has the NYT learned nothing about objectivity and balanced reporting? Flynn is quite bad enough without the bitchy embellishments.
8
Okay, we've got the crazy general ready to burn the whole world down in order to protect "our way of life" and the clueless president-elect, eager to go along. Now all we need is Dr. Strangelove...
16
During the last election, many in the media suspended journalistic standards, in order to work to defeat Trump. I understand why the media felt this way, since they viewed Trump as being unfit and normal reporting objectivity didn't provide the correct lens from which to view the campaign process. Unfortunately, Trump won, the campaign is over and he will be President. Now, any story written by a reporter that was complicit in that movement must be viewed skeptically, since they've demonstrated that they will divert from those journalistic standards of objectivity. One of those reporters was Maggie Haberman, who was outed in Wikileaks as being willing to write stories that were "friendly" to Clinton. And this story is a great example of why that skepticism is necessary.
14
Journalists don't necessarily need to be objective. They need to be accurate, and factual. But I'm amused and baffled by all the people expecting the NYT to be some pure, unbiased source of news. It's always been biased! Just like every other newspaper and news outlet in existence. Some are more blatant about it than others.
3
Between Bannen and Flynn, every Muslim in this country has a bullseye on their back. We now get a clearer picture of the fascist that the electoral college is about to put in office as our President. His buddies will be people like Putin, Erdrogan, Sisi,and Duterte . Curtailing the press, rounding up enemies of the state and limiting due process rights of criminal suspects, minorities and immigrants will be the order of the day. Certain rich GOP contributors like the Mercers will dictate who gets selected for the inner circle and they will all influence decision making that favors mutual business interests.
Buffoonery will be made into an art under the Orange Clown's reign.
Buffoonery will be made into an art under the Orange Clown's reign.
20
Simplistic decision - you are fighting Muslims, so find someone who is a dyed-in-the-wool Muslim hater.
Government of the Donald, by the Son-In-Law, and for the 1%, may cause us all to perish from the earth.
Government of the Donald, by the Son-In-Law, and for the 1%, may cause us all to perish from the earth.
20
The beginnings of this cabinet makes Bush's picks look enlightened.
13
Greedy. Conflicts of interest. Loose with the facts. Cozy with Putin. What more could we possibly want and what more can we possibly want from the most ignorant President to be ever? Oh yeah, a stone cold racist who is dumber than dirt as attorney general and a religious fanatic as vice president.
30
I remember when I didn't wake up in the night thinking of Trump. I remember when I felt secure that our national security was in the hands of knowledgeable professionals who would keep us safe. Hard to believe that was only a few weeks ago. I can't imagine how we can survive years of this. God help us.
38
I also wake up every night fearful for the harm these people can do to the country.
1
My question is how Flynn was allowed to sit in on security briefings when he was being paid by a foreign power. Maybe somebody ought to look at his e mails, and rather than Hillary, he can be locked up.
102
He's a frightening man. I've seen him on the boob tube several times and each time I've come away thinking, yep, he's one who has gone round the bend.
Yeah, Sharia Law and people of the Muslim religion are our worst fear here in America, Gen. Flynn? I beg to differ. People such as yourself and our president -elect and Giuliani and Gingrich and all the rest - that's my biggest far as an American.
Gen. Flyn reminds me of the army guy in Dr. Strangelove who is so afraid of floride. That same craziness.
This does not make me feel good at all.
Yeah, Sharia Law and people of the Muslim religion are our worst fear here in America, Gen. Flynn? I beg to differ. People such as yourself and our president -elect and Giuliani and Gingrich and all the rest - that's my biggest far as an American.
Gen. Flyn reminds me of the army guy in Dr. Strangelove who is so afraid of floride. That same craziness.
This does not make me feel good at all.
122
Brig. Gen. Jack D. Ripper; swell.
Yet another attempt of this paper to discredit a Trump cabinet member before the guy even has had an opportunity to do his job.
This paper writes:
"who believes Islamist militancy poses an existential threat "
as if it is not a threat. Try selling that to the family of all victims of extreme Islam-terror in the last 12 months in Paris, Munchen, Toulouse, Nice, around the Middle East, even in the USA, Bangladesh and the Philippines.
This paper writes:
"who believes Islamist militancy poses an existential threat "
as if it is not a threat. Try selling that to the family of all victims of extreme Islam-terror in the last 12 months in Paris, Munchen, Toulouse, Nice, around the Middle East, even in the USA, Bangladesh and the Philippines.
21
An existential threat is Trump - as defined by an existential threat being a threat to our nation's existence as a society of laws and a democracy.
ISIS or some other two bit faction in the Mid East may represent an, "enemy interest," or a "danger to lives and safety," but not a threat to our way of life, or our being the most powerful nation in the world. That rot comes from within.
The destruction of intellectual discernment and ideas is the hallmark of fascist and the idiots who support it. And that defines most of the comments here blindly beating the drum for Flynn - a foreign agent, and Trump - an egomaniac and superficial con artist suddenly, through blackmail and con in charge of the most powerful military on the planet. That, is an "existential threat!"
ISIS or some other two bit faction in the Mid East may represent an, "enemy interest," or a "danger to lives and safety," but not a threat to our way of life, or our being the most powerful nation in the world. That rot comes from within.
The destruction of intellectual discernment and ideas is the hallmark of fascist and the idiots who support it. And that defines most of the comments here blindly beating the drum for Flynn - a foreign agent, and Trump - an egomaniac and superficial con artist suddenly, through blackmail and con in charge of the most powerful military on the planet. That, is an "existential threat!"
9
Is he friend with Oliver North? Same old, same old!
3
I find myself in the minority when I declare that Muslim extremism is not an existential threat or even a particularly dangerous threat to our country. I imagine the people of Chicago would have no trouble describing a more immediate threat to their safety and security.
The only existential threat to our country is Communist China which is bent on building an empire at the expense of its neighbors, and which is amassing a powerful military to do it.
Rather than pander to the Chicken Littles of our country, Trump should take a cue from FDR and declare that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.
The only existential threat to our country is Communist China which is bent on building an empire at the expense of its neighbors, and which is amassing a powerful military to do it.
Rather than pander to the Chicken Littles of our country, Trump should take a cue from FDR and declare that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.
3
Sessions will gut the Civil Rights Division. Flynn will whisper conspiracy theories into Trump's willing ear and we can anticipate a war within the next four years somewhere in the Baltic states -- Putin will probably get us to pay for it.
10
These are great choices: Bannon for white power and clan activities, Sessions as AG not prosecuting the ensuing hate crimes, Flynn on board with the Russians bombing us into the next war, Kushner circumventing nepotism laws, talk of concentration camps for illegal immigrants, registering American citizens by religion....and the tweet goes on. It's time to go to your next hardware store and get shovels to dig trenches, its gonna get really, really ugly soon....
56
General Flynn is a great choice for the National Security Advisory based on his experience as the Defense Intelligence Agency. Boy, Trump knows how to pick'em. Big League. Yes, General Flynn is Big League. Cheers!
3
He's picking all these old white men, remnants of another time and thinking. They're replicas of himself, in bits and pieces. Nothing new or fresh or innovative is coming out.
22
So is the criticism that they are "old," that they are "white," and that they are "men."
So let me see, I guess that makes this assertion ageist, racist, and sexist all at the same time. All perfectly acceptable liberal tenets of course.
So let me see, I guess that makes this assertion ageist, racist, and sexist all at the same time. All perfectly acceptable liberal tenets of course.
3
Why are you disparaging old white men? Isn't that racism and sexism and ageism? Why is it open season on them and no one, and I mean NO ONE, dares to say anything about any sacred or protected group? This kind of nonsense is EXACTLY why Trump got elected. People are sick of it. You may dislike old white men, but many people out here like them. We are grateful to them for their contribution to our society.
3
When a cliché takes hold, it spreads like a virulent cancer. This has been the case of the phrase "existential threat". The phrase is being used with utter disregard for its application and pretty soon it will be applied to the time that my computer crashes. Just for the record, an existential threat is when there is the possibility that someone is going to drop a dozen atomic bombs on you or that a huge army is poised to enter your territory. Any other threat can be dangerous, alarming, formidable, serious, devastating etc. but not existential. ISIS may cause us problems, deaths, loss of treasure but is not a threat to our existence as a country. The phrase is used by those who want us to fear and to take extreme action for their interest. it is a ploy.
167
"existential threat"
We were the existential threat to Iraq, Syria and Libya.
We were the existential threat to Iraq, Syria and Libya.
3
Nonsense. The only reason jihadist terrorists murdered only about 500 U.S. civilians per martyr on 9/11 was that the best they could do at that juncture was fully-fueled jet planes. They're on their way to nukes in Iran -- don't fool yourself, the Obama-led "deal" is only a bump in the road that allows the Mullahs to escape the embargoes and the economic downturn's threat of internal rebellion while going ahead with their machinations -- and will wield, share, and use them before all is said and done. Unless they are stopped. And that's not the only threat. With ISIS already contracting, its brothers from another mother, among them Al Qaeda offshoots, are already planning their ascendancy, and eventually strategic Islamist terrorists will move beyond emphasis on bloody Orlando-type spectacles in favor of better paydirt. Imagine what a full-out successful cyber attack would do to our nation and people. Or do you, naively, ahistorically, and/or willfully intellectually dishonestly, think that 9/11 did not represent an existential wake-up call, and that you'd be just fine without your PC, lights and smart phone? That security, food, economy, and everything else that happens in your life outside your head will be unaffected by attacks orders of magnitudes more successfullthan 9/11's, which itself deepened a U.S. recession and sent shock waves through the world economy? Flynn may be disastrously flawed, but on the threat of Islamist terrorism, he's among those who get it.
3
@Dennis
The nonsense is yours. The deal with Iran suppresses their breakout capacity for a decade, and various restrictions will still be in place.
The best Islamists have been able to do in this country is lone wolf attacks by, for the most part, American citizens. There is no indication that they have or are on track to, acquire a more sophisticated methodology. Given the ongoing whittling down of ISIS, that seems more of a longshot. You have certainly provided no basis, outside of your obvious trembling at shadows, to believe otherwise.
The nonsense is yours. The deal with Iran suppresses their breakout capacity for a decade, and various restrictions will still be in place.
The best Islamists have been able to do in this country is lone wolf attacks by, for the most part, American citizens. There is no indication that they have or are on track to, acquire a more sophisticated methodology. Given the ongoing whittling down of ISIS, that seems more of a longshot. You have certainly provided no basis, outside of your obvious trembling at shadows, to believe otherwise.
1
To say the only enemy is Islamic fundamenalism (terrorism) and not Russian or undemocratic regimes like Syria or Egypt is a huge geostrategic concept. If Trump's Secretary of State can manage, all will be well. Richard Haass is a great counterbalance who also wants to reduce our role in the Middle East and cut ties with Netanyahu.
The Democrats and the NY Times have totally misunderstood Trump. They properly emphasize he is Drumf, but then call him a dangerous Hitler. That is absolutely wrong.
Trump is a German-American. His grandfather changed his name to Trump and called himself Swedish-American because of the terror and accusations of treason launched by British-Americans, led by TR and Wilson on German-Americans 100-125 years ago. Trump's family tradition is the isolationism of most German-Americans in the 1920s and 1930s because they didn't want a replay of the World War I mistreatment.
Trump is like Dutch (Deutsch) Reagan who had a similar Irish isolationist background when the British were treating the Irish-Americans and Irish independence movement in the same way. The "Dutch" was a symbol of the Irish alliance with the German-Americans. Reagan's main goal was peace with Russia.
Trump's goal is peace in the Middle East. Since the Germans remember the anti-German feelings of Jewish-Americans in the 1930s and 1940s, the Jewish community must treat him with care. It, led by the NY Times, has not done so. Trump is already firing shots over its bow.
The Democrats and the NY Times have totally misunderstood Trump. They properly emphasize he is Drumf, but then call him a dangerous Hitler. That is absolutely wrong.
Trump is a German-American. His grandfather changed his name to Trump and called himself Swedish-American because of the terror and accusations of treason launched by British-Americans, led by TR and Wilson on German-Americans 100-125 years ago. Trump's family tradition is the isolationism of most German-Americans in the 1920s and 1930s because they didn't want a replay of the World War I mistreatment.
Trump is like Dutch (Deutsch) Reagan who had a similar Irish isolationist background when the British were treating the Irish-Americans and Irish independence movement in the same way. The "Dutch" was a symbol of the Irish alliance with the German-Americans. Reagan's main goal was peace with Russia.
Trump's goal is peace in the Middle East. Since the Germans remember the anti-German feelings of Jewish-Americans in the 1930s and 1940s, the Jewish community must treat him with care. It, led by the NY Times, has not done so. Trump is already firing shots over its bow.
1
I've read revolting things before but this one takes the cake. You sound like you are telling us that Jews should watch out before they criticize a German American because they might hurt his ancestral feelings. "Since the Germans remember the anti-German feelings of Jewish-Americans in the 1930s and 1940s, the Jewish community must treat him with care." Shall we all just line up for the concentration camps now so that we don't offend Trump? As much as I think that Trump will be the most ignorant and destructive president that we have ever had, I think you are overreaching in your hopes for Trump. I also know it's hard for anti Semites to remember but there was a reason that Jews were not thrilled with Germans in the 1930's and 40's. A lot more than their feelings were hurt.
20
How are these picks supposed to run the country? Seems to me that the president elect is mainly assembling a loyal propaganda machine. What is most concerning is how much these "picks" seem to be disconnected from reality, and make decisions according to their own "facts" that appear to be from America in the 1930s. Brace yourselves, we're taking a rough trip going back in time.
81
Flynn is a perfect example of the seduction of fascist bigotry eclipsing the basic values of our society.
Flynn is a foreign agent aligned with interests of Turkey, and he has also worked for Russia. He is considered a high-security risk by many in our NSA and military, but his rhetoric against "jihadists" whom he freely conflates with Islamacists, is all that matters to the Trump-Ghouliani mentality who have defined the Middle East through their filter of ignorance and prejudice coupled to political alliances with right-wing Israeli interests.
The right has always discounted fascism in America. But, it is tragic to see Bernie Sanders in his vanity do the same. True too with Elizabeth Warren, blinded by 2020 presidential ambition. The media, including the Times, is in full denial. There is no, "negotiating to yes" with a fascist mentality. This is something they fail to teach at Harvard. We need to expunge Trump and this coup from our nation sooner or later or we will be doomed. It really does boil down to that.
Flynn is a foreign agent aligned with interests of Turkey, and he has also worked for Russia. He is considered a high-security risk by many in our NSA and military, but his rhetoric against "jihadists" whom he freely conflates with Islamacists, is all that matters to the Trump-Ghouliani mentality who have defined the Middle East through their filter of ignorance and prejudice coupled to political alliances with right-wing Israeli interests.
The right has always discounted fascism in America. But, it is tragic to see Bernie Sanders in his vanity do the same. True too with Elizabeth Warren, blinded by 2020 presidential ambition. The media, including the Times, is in full denial. There is no, "negotiating to yes" with a fascist mentality. This is something they fail to teach at Harvard. We need to expunge Trump and this coup from our nation sooner or later or we will be doomed. It really does boil down to that.
145
"interests of Turkey, "
Turkey is our NATO ally, what is wrong with that? Although I do not trust this General.
Turkey is our NATO ally, what is wrong with that? Although I do not trust this General.
Having survived Harvard, I have to agree with the warning against "trying to negotiate to yes" with Donald Trump, kindness is weakness, he is a win to win player. There is no lose to him. Obama, a Harvard product like me, tried to appeal to better angels that just aren't flying around the Trump Tower of babble.
4
I resented Sanders for his depiction of Clinton and us democrats as the enemy, but he and Warren are probably trying out a strategy calculated to show trump in a bad light to the American voters eventually. I will give Sanders and Warren the benefit of the doubt, unlike what they did for Clinton.
I'm kind of surprised that the guy who "knows more than the generals" would pick one to be his NSA.
51
After he appoints all his former opponents, Sarah Palin, and all the old white guys who endorsed him early on, then figures out a way to get Kushner and Ivanka in the White House, he still has like 3700 West Wing position to fill. An a Trump administration, flattery and blood ties will get you everywhere.
20
I started to read this article and when I got to fourth paragraph it occurred to me that the article has a decisive liberal bias. More an opinion piece than journalism. I looked up at the by line and yep, Maggie Haberman of Wikileaks fame. No longer a news organization but an arm of the DNC. Sad.
40
I gather anything that doesn't agree with what you believe is called liberal. Read the whole article before you make gross assumptions.
16
What is written in the article that is not factual? Specifics, please.
31
can't let this one slip by... Wikileaks was a professed opponent of the DNC what rock have you been under
13
We're about to find out if fear and secrecy trumps transparency and empathy. Type A narcissists are tough. Their parents must have been difficult people to grow up with. What's next? A limited nuclear war?
6
Reading about Michael Flynn and Jeff Sessions and Steve Bannon I sense several themes:
- racial insensitivity
- losse affiliation with facts
- big on revenge
- outsiders due to reasons that have to do with personality and judgement
I so want to see Mitt Romney join but I worry he will sully his reputation......
It is interesting that the one consistent and overriding theme with all these people is racism......
I am trying to be optimistic but these cabinet picks are making it damn hard.
- racial insensitivity
- losse affiliation with facts
- big on revenge
- outsiders due to reasons that have to do with personality and judgement
I so want to see Mitt Romney join but I worry he will sully his reputation......
It is interesting that the one consistent and overriding theme with all these people is racism......
I am trying to be optimistic but these cabinet picks are making it damn hard.
277
Donald Trump himself fits your description to a T. He likes to have mini-me's around him.
1
D'ont be a fool. The time for optimism has already passed.
1
If Romney gets he SoS, at least there will hopefully be a voice? of reason in the ear of the new president elect and a sane, calming face interfacing with the world.
On the one hand, he'll lose some measurably good, albeit tainted, credibility with me, but on the other hand, I believe he wants it for the greater good in spite of the new admin.
God bless him and the rest of us. We don't need another full scale war.
On the one hand, he'll lose some measurably good, albeit tainted, credibility with me, but on the other hand, I believe he wants it for the greater good in spite of the new admin.
God bless him and the rest of us. We don't need another full scale war.
1
Two Years ago, Cameras were at the Trump Tower to film a Reality TV Show. Today Cameras are at the Trump Tower to report about the future of the World.
6
Another Putin puppet? I better brush up on my Russian language skills.
12
Putting intolerant white men in the White House - who plan a forced registration of muslims across America - is highly unlikely to "do a better job of understanding Islamic culture and fostering its tolerant side".
17
Bravo! Someone who understands the threat that Islam poses to the West. Let's avoid the mistakes of France, Belgium and other countries where the dominating instincts of the world's most dangerous religion have been allowed to flourish.
26
You can't keep your God if you want to neutralize their's.
7
Thank you for but the ocean does most of the work for us. A luxury Europe doesn't have. The rest is handled by extreme vetting. Put your fears to better use like building drug treatment centers rather than walls. We have bigger killers in this country than terrorists.
5
My god is human decency, Steve. I'm an atheist. And there's no apostrophe in "theirs".
7
Flynn has medals, but he may not be an unblemished model. But then who cares 2 hoots, except Trump? Flynn may not flinch when he may say Muslims need to be shunned and stunned. His contentious hobnobbing with Putin at the Kremlin might have created waves and uproars, and hence, he will be safe as the NSA, without the pounding from the senate, as can happen from other prominent cabinet posts.
His jumping ship as a democrat to the GOP may stem from his firing by Obama, conceivably, for his radical views about radial islamists, trying to spearhead sharia in the US. Hyperbole sometimes works, and it has worked for Flynn in winning flavors and favors from Trump, after his fiery speech at the RNC, militating against the Dems.
It is everybody's hope that he does not fire furious flimflams from his salvos, once he is in the NSA office, and that can create firestorms, if his statements are found untrue. Let's not pre-judges too much.
His jumping ship as a democrat to the GOP may stem from his firing by Obama, conceivably, for his radical views about radial islamists, trying to spearhead sharia in the US. Hyperbole sometimes works, and it has worked for Flynn in winning flavors and favors from Trump, after his fiery speech at the RNC, militating against the Dems.
It is everybody's hope that he does not fire furious flimflams from his salvos, once he is in the NSA office, and that can create firestorms, if his statements are found untrue. Let's not pre-judges too much.
5
New York Times - can we please take a deep breath before normalizing this election and look at all of the dangerous inconsistencies and interferences into our election process? You used the word "blame" to describe what Hillary did when she pointed out how damaging it was for the FBI to have reopened the investigation into her "EMAILS" 11 days before we voted. And Giuliani and Lewandowski have both boasted of how this turned things around. Is it also "blaming" Russia, or "blaming" to notice the gross discrepancies between the exit polls and the results and to try to connect the dots between Russia's stated intentions with the hacking of the DNC & their proven capacity to have directly interfered in the elections of other countries? Aren't we witnessing enough conflicts of interests now to warrant sustained attention on the possibility that the US just had it's first election DEEPLY compromised? And there's Kris Kobach, a member of the transition team in charge now of the Muslim Registry - whose main interest before this was the ramping up of voter disenfranchisement following the gutting of the Voting Rights Act through implementation of the Crosscheck Program. We are in uncharted territory, but don't we know enough to see that the great con is upon us and to draw upon some historical lessons so that we may have a fighting chance of stopping a true catastrophe and collapse? These men are dangerous, let's not hand over power so easily.
129
Russian interference in US elections as concluded by the Federal government, Comey's two letters, WikiLeaks, Trump's stonewalling on taxes and a true blind trust all so we do not know about his conflicts of interest now or in the future (including with Russia), and now his choices of Bannon, Sessions, Flynn all point to a Russian take-over of our country. Pure and simple. We must know the facts as soon as possible. All attention must be focused on this scenario NOW or we are doomed.
2
So Flynn is now the National Insecurity Advisor. I would look for frequent Red Alerts. We're getting closer to 1984 everyday; government control by a permanent state of paranoia and perceived war.
34
He is right about the threat of terrorism but should keep his cards close so as to keep our defenses unknown to them. Defense, defense, defense. Keep the high ground and fortify the hemisphere. It is defensible. I only regret his political actions.
2
If you need proof that Trump will have a 'special relationship, with Putin, look no further...
4
Trump is staying true to his campaign promises here. Obama and Hillary refusing to use Islam and terrorism in the same sentence created a huge backlash.
17
They weren't pandering to the paranoid.
10
Just remember what taking out Saddam unleashed in 2003, and which administration was responsible. And remember that John Bolton, now being considered for a cabinet post in the Trump administration, was one of the loudest voices for invading Iraq.
22
Right, where all the casualties were automatically assigned to the evil USA, to the exclusion of the biggie: sectarian violence.
1
Bring on Russian cuisine and keep Putin happy, everyone. Then invite Putin, Flynn, and Trump to toast to their new world.
7
So a compulsive lying Islamophobe has named a lying Islamophobe as his National Security Advisor. What could go wrong there?
57
“If you listen to him, in 10 minutes you’ll hear him contradict himself two or three times.”
This is THE hallmark of Trumpism.
Contradiction and outright lies being spoon fed to people not educated enough to catch or even care about the inconsistencies. Why?
The real reality of the situation is that the people foisting these lies and hypocrisy know exactly what they are doing. They are attacking the institutions of the US in an attempt to control people. Destroying trust in the media so that any made up news is as good as the real thing. Using the internet to reach people quickly with fabricated news and using their fellow citizens starting with the far right fringe to spread the lies and change public perception. Again, why?
In reality what we have is nothing more than a coup against the US orchestrated by the Kremlin to remove sanctions on Russia due to their takeover of Crimea from the Ukraine which is crippling his economy.
Trump loves Putin because he wants you to believe this is the new normal. Putin wants you to believe it and he is smart enough to find a US mass media personality to spoon feed it to you. Putin wants to control energy prices and access to his market in Europe by having a base in Syria and removing sanctions. Keeping Europe dependent on Russian energy, the one trick pony that keeps him in power.
This is THE hallmark of Trumpism.
Contradiction and outright lies being spoon fed to people not educated enough to catch or even care about the inconsistencies. Why?
The real reality of the situation is that the people foisting these lies and hypocrisy know exactly what they are doing. They are attacking the institutions of the US in an attempt to control people. Destroying trust in the media so that any made up news is as good as the real thing. Using the internet to reach people quickly with fabricated news and using their fellow citizens starting with the far right fringe to spread the lies and change public perception. Again, why?
In reality what we have is nothing more than a coup against the US orchestrated by the Kremlin to remove sanctions on Russia due to their takeover of Crimea from the Ukraine which is crippling his economy.
Trump loves Putin because he wants you to believe this is the new normal. Putin wants you to believe it and he is smart enough to find a US mass media personality to spoon feed it to you. Putin wants to control energy prices and access to his market in Europe by having a base in Syria and removing sanctions. Keeping Europe dependent on Russian energy, the one trick pony that keeps him in power.
45
This is the most important comment I've ever read. Please NYT, make this your pick. Thank you srh.
5
"If you listen to him,"
Better watch the body language which betrays an immature person!
Better watch the body language which betrays an immature person!
1
"General Flynn signed on to the campaign, and quickly emerged as the angry voice of the national security establishment, leading chants of “lock her up” against Hillary Clinton at rallies and the Republican convention. And now, after months of the two men talking to each other, it can be hard to tell where Mr. Trump’s views end and General Flynn’s begin."
“If you listen to him, in 10 minutes you’ll hear him contradict himself two or three times.”
Between Trumpian Lies and "Flynn Facts", the nation's national security instincts now lie in than collective hands of these two, fork-tongued, angry Islamophobic hotheads and a bed of Kremlin roses.
What could go wrong ?
“If you listen to him, in 10 minutes you’ll hear him contradict himself two or three times.”
Between Trumpian Lies and "Flynn Facts", the nation's national security instincts now lie in than collective hands of these two, fork-tongued, angry Islamophobic hotheads and a bed of Kremlin roses.
What could go wrong ?
391
I've recently just happened to have watched old newsreel footage of Mussolini on youtube. He was apparently a self-satisfied guy, he enjoyed basking in the adoration of the multitudes. Just an interesting comparison.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gnTXlzITqk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gnTXlzITqk
5
"Socrates" hates Trump and will hate everything he does.
What are the Trump and Flynn's ties to Vladimir Putin....
I would hope that commenters might have some insight....because the
journalists at the NYTimes seemingly have no further questions to pose.
I would hope that commenters might have some insight....because the
journalists at the NYTimes seemingly have no further questions to pose.
1
Flynn recognizes the Problem with Islam, which is more than Obama or Clinton has ever done.
The Problem is that some in Islam carry out, support or tolerate Jihad.
I really don't like the idea of being killed just because I'm an "infidel," and some verses of the Koran say that it's OK to kill me.
In addition, the Muslim religion also subjugates women and promotes a theocracy under sharia law - both of which are contrary to my American values (though perhaps not to Obama's or Clinton's values??).
Any pushback?
After you tell me that I'm wrong, I'll point to Muslim-led terror attack after attack around the world - most recently, I have just read in today's somewhat more objective WSJ, in the Philippines.
Every religion has some problems, but the worst of which I'm aware in Christianity is the Roman branch of the Catholic Church's priestly pedophiles, and Jewry's not being nice to Arabs / Palestinians (partly, at least because said Arabs / Palestinians are frequently trying to kill Jews - rocket or knife attacks in Israel, anyone?).
As a member of the Roman branch, I'd like to eradicate pedophilia - but getting rid of Islamic Jihad takes precedence for me.
The Problem is that some in Islam carry out, support or tolerate Jihad.
I really don't like the idea of being killed just because I'm an "infidel," and some verses of the Koran say that it's OK to kill me.
In addition, the Muslim religion also subjugates women and promotes a theocracy under sharia law - both of which are contrary to my American values (though perhaps not to Obama's or Clinton's values??).
Any pushback?
After you tell me that I'm wrong, I'll point to Muslim-led terror attack after attack around the world - most recently, I have just read in today's somewhat more objective WSJ, in the Philippines.
Every religion has some problems, but the worst of which I'm aware in Christianity is the Roman branch of the Catholic Church's priestly pedophiles, and Jewry's not being nice to Arabs / Palestinians (partly, at least because said Arabs / Palestinians are frequently trying to kill Jews - rocket or knife attacks in Israel, anyone?).
As a member of the Roman branch, I'd like to eradicate pedophilia - but getting rid of Islamic Jihad takes precedence for me.
44
So are you as a "member of the Roman branch" actively out there identifying pedophiles? Or maybe you get accused daily of either being one? or protecting one? After all, as a member of that suspect religion, you've been condoning pedophilia for years, and supporting it through your weekly donations, helping priests to terrorize children.
23
Christian religion also subjugates women and doesn't match 100% inline with American values of every human being equal.
- Women can't be trusted with their body
- Women can't be leading church
Any push back ?
No religion is perfect and so it's better to not go by religion at all.
- Women can't be trusted with their body
- Women can't be leading church
Any push back ?
No religion is perfect and so it's better to not go by religion at all.
6
So let's make ISIS happy and start a war between the West and Islam. Brilliant.
12
As I said it before, this is going to be a rough ride, what I find deeply ironic is that surely we will see the beginning of a new war in these next 4 years and those who will most probably suffer the loss of a son, daughter, brother, sister, wife or husband are those who voted for Trump.
323
If there was any doubt our nation allowed itself via a coup engineered through the blackmailing of Comey by Giuliani to leak Weiner's harddrive emails if Comey didn't write his letter, this question should be settled by the focus and mien of all the early appointments announced by Trump: Flynn - suspect agent to Russia and Turkey as National Security Advisor; Pompeo- CIA; Sessions - racist reject of AL- Attorney General; security clearances sought for his brood; the pattern is all military and tools of enforcing a fascist state. No Education, Health and Welfare; Treasury anyone? These positions will go to the 'highest bidder' along with ambassadorships.
32
Ha! except that the emails were a trap that Hillary set for herself. No coup here, sorry.
"we will see the beginning of a new war"
Rather Perpetual War as the Ottoman Turks did in their high time, not a good example and model!
Rather Perpetual War as the Ottoman Turks did in their high time, not a good example and model!
Trump is draining the swamp of water, but Shrek (looks like?) and Creature from Black Lagoon (looks like?) are still there...
12
As an Islamophobe and one who plays loose with facts, Flynn will exacerbate and normalize Trump's low instincts. This is very alarming.
171
Deaths from Islamophobia in the US = 0
Deaths from Muslim terrorists in the US = 3200+
Any clearer as to which is the more damaging?
Deaths from Muslim terrorists in the US = 3200+
Any clearer as to which is the more damaging?
I'm starting to miss the Bush Administration already.
157
Please! I am hoping that things will never get that bad again. Think back to that administration's deeds.
Not me, and not because of this guy either.
President Bush, although an undoubtedly decent person, was a terrible President who with his administration and Supreme Court brought pain from which we can never recover.
President Bush, although an undoubtedly decent person, was a terrible President who with his administration and Supreme Court brought pain from which we can never recover.
Priceless
Just as a reminder: That's the guy, who asked on Twitter: "DIR Comey has thoroughly reviewed 650,000 emails in 8 days? An email / second? IMPOSSIBLE". Good thing he understands a lot about computers, being a former DIA director and all...
223
He understands that computers can be programmed to generate the kind of results that certain people want to see.
2
Nonsense. 650,000 emails can be relatively quickly winnowed down by . relevance (eliminating spam and email blasts and other irrelevant material) then a review team can go at it. One person can easily review 1000 emails in one day. There are super efficient programs that speed this process. I've done it myself.
7
Reality free indeed. 650,000 emails on a server (likely with Outlook) can be examined in very short order--especially with full header information and no encryption. First, this number undoubtedly included many to and from Wiener, so not part of the probe. Second, many more were likely not associated with Huma Abedin's account she used with Hillary Clinton or State. There were not likely to have been more than a few thousand emails left. (and processing by hand should be possible at a rate of over 1000 per day/person).
I suspect one competent person could do a highly credible first pass in a long week, and Comey had the entire FBI, and could duplicate the emails to as many computers as he needed to--and had the deduping software and existing emails to hand. Comey also knew about the emails for about a month before he acted and had every chance to get the court order and do the investigation quietly. Strange that Mr. Flynn did not think about this with his vaunted investigatory powers.
Comey threw the election Flynn's way, and Flynn is upset because he did not lock up Hillary Clinton. Flynn was either deliberately spreading misinformation, or is utterly ignorant, or is so focused on a pre-determined idea (Hillary Clinton is guilty) that he is blind to all else. And this is our new top Security post?
I suspect one competent person could do a highly credible first pass in a long week, and Comey had the entire FBI, and could duplicate the emails to as many computers as he needed to--and had the deduping software and existing emails to hand. Comey also knew about the emails for about a month before he acted and had every chance to get the court order and do the investigation quietly. Strange that Mr. Flynn did not think about this with his vaunted investigatory powers.
Comey threw the election Flynn's way, and Flynn is upset because he did not lock up Hillary Clinton. Flynn was either deliberately spreading misinformation, or is utterly ignorant, or is so focused on a pre-determined idea (Hillary Clinton is guilty) that he is blind to all else. And this is our new top Security post?
1
Lets see Trump=Money, Giuliani=Money, Flynn=Money, Kushner=Money and Nepotism, Sessions=Bigot, and the Band Played on!
66
Unsurprisingly, Trump offers an intelligence post to someone who has little of it.
195
The downward spiral seems to be picking up speed. First Bannon, next Flynn, and now this morning Sessions. Welcome to the country of old, white, racist, misogynist white guys. These are the folks who are nostalgic for the good old days of the 50s.
Americans who love their country can't allow this reality star fake president to undo all the progress we've made and impede further growth and change.
See you on Jan 21st at the Million Women March. http://www.commondreams.org/news/2016/11/15/counter-trump-women-are-mobi...
#NotMyPresident
Americans who love their country can't allow this reality star fake president to undo all the progress we've made and impede further growth and change.
See you on Jan 21st at the Million Women March. http://www.commondreams.org/news/2016/11/15/counter-trump-women-are-mobi...
#NotMyPresident
260
They're actually nostalgic back to the early 1940s with the "lock 'em up" of Americans of Japanese descent, and earlier when discrimination was legal.
We never learn from history - when a group of people is scapegoated for political/economic expediency (the African-Americans, the Native Americans, the Japanese, the Jews, the Palestinians and now Mexicans and Muslims) - nothing good comes from it.
Mom, I hope you have underestimated the number of Women who will show up at the march on Jan 21st. Good luck and stay safe!
We never learn from history - when a group of people is scapegoated for political/economic expediency (the African-Americans, the Native Americans, the Japanese, the Jews, the Palestinians and now Mexicans and Muslims) - nothing good comes from it.
Mom, I hope you have underestimated the number of Women who will show up at the march on Jan 21st. Good luck and stay safe!
6
I'll be there.
2
I will be there!
2
So, if he has been seen as contradicting himself several times within 10 minutes, then he is Just The Guy for Trump!
30
"They called them ‘Flynn facts.'
‘Post-truth’ named 2016 word of the year by Oxford Dictionaries
It is time for for everyone to stop being cute, trying to create the next meme. We have a perfectly good word in our language, "lies."
‘Post-truth’ named 2016 word of the year by Oxford Dictionaries
It is time for for everyone to stop being cute, trying to create the next meme. We have a perfectly good word in our language, "lies."
187
Is he lying if he believes it is true? Or misguided?
1
It is still a lie, whether he believes the nonsense or not.
7
It's called re-branding, the important shoe-horn to ease it onto us without noticing it doesn't fit.
Notice how the white supremacists have mainstreamed under the new euphemism of "alt right."
I expect the new Republican base of KKK, the He-Man Woman Haters' Club and Evangelicals to soon start calling themselves "God's Order Of Design."
Notice how the white supremacists have mainstreamed under the new euphemism of "alt right."
I expect the new Republican base of KKK, the He-Man Woman Haters' Club and Evangelicals to soon start calling themselves "God's Order Of Design."
3
“But his thinking process is not sufficiently analytical to test some streams against others and make sense of it, or draw consistent conclusions,” she said. “If you listen to him, in 10 minutes you’ll hear him contradict himself two or three times.”
This makes him perfect for working with Trump. They both revel in inconsistency.
This makes him perfect for working with Trump. They both revel in inconsistency.
117
Not surprised...he fists the mold...think I will stay in Canada!! First they came after my neighbor...then they came after me....btw I am wearing a big safety pin....
9