Trump claims to have a 'nuclear button' 'bigger' and 'more powerful' than North Korea's

SSG (Join to see) - What hardships of previous generations are you talking about?

Education is tainting people's minds now? That's a new one. If only we all lived in places without a decent education! The world would be so much better.

When General Mattis was speaking, he was speaking to people with the power to influence events in his AO - and he had the single-handed ability to make the harsh calls for that area. POTUS - and the US - don't have the authority to act unilaterally anywhere in the world (despite our current administrations thoughts on the matter).

As you noted, Mattis said, "I come in peace." He demonstrated the veracity of that statement by sending the tanks and artillery away. He told them what he wanted. He spoke eloquently and concisely. He didn't tell them he had the biggest and best guns. He didn't go on for 20 minutes about his big words. He didn't tell everyone, again, how he got that job. He didn't have to do those things because he knew how to be a professional and how to get the message across - tactfully.

Bold? Yes. Buffoon? No.

(Note: I'm not saying that POTUS is, was, will be, or acts like, a buffoon - just that Mattis was bold and NOT a buffoon. Any conclusions people draw from that are of their own making.)

Here's another Mattis quote I like, "I could have used more products from American universities [who] understood the world does not revolve around America ...."

Hmm, that's interesting...

And this, "If you cannot create harmony based on trust... you need to go home, because your leadership is obsolete."

If Mattis ran in 2020, he'd have my vote.

SSG (Join to see) - My point about the landslide was that it was a state's landslide... not the people.

And believe me, I know full well how my words could be interpreted - and I stay far enough back from the line of no return that I'd be willing to get all dressed up for a Courts Martial for them if need be. I know that others are less ... careful, but that's on them - not on me. I do appreciate your concern for my welfare in the UCMJ, even if we respectfully disagree on some points.

Asking about impeachment isn't an issue to me - it's a matter of law. Calling POTUS a train wreck, well, that would be harder to defend at the trial. Now, if he were to say that the ADMINISTRATION was a train wreck, I think he'd be alright. =)

I appreciate your candor and service as well and I hope you have a fantastic year ahead.

Maj, your words ring very true. Please do not think I am preaching at you. We probably have close to the same years of service have likely chewed some of the same dirt. I do take issue with soldiers, sailors, and airmen, airing their political laundry in open forums and spreading the disease of sedition and dissent. I am in no way saying this about you. I am more than passionate about my country and more than supportive of my Commander in Chief. I know you are as well. Perhaps our paths will cross someday. I would like to meet you sir.

This is going to be a great year, as every year before it and those ahead.

God Bless, Godspeed, and again thank you for your service sir!

TH

MAJ Bryan Zeski - The Hardships of combat. I remember earlier generations with lower tech. Our present level of tech allows us to leverage assets to be more effective. War has been greatly sanitized. As far as education, college has obvious liberal bias. Even where I live here, military recruiters are shunned in the high schools because of liberal shitbag administrators who dislike the military. That was what I was referring to.

1SG Dennis Hicks - We should expect better from our leaders, however. Not give them a pass. I personally believe it threatens our national security.

Susan Foster - IN a perfect world yes we should expect and demand this from our leaders. But we have allowed them all to become so full of themselves that us serfs have little sway in their actions. Our National security has been eroded so badly that nothing the Cheeto does will make it worse, only better. The folks that are crying now can't own up to the fact that he is in office because of them and the previous actions of the weak, no foreign policy apologists that held that office previously.

1SG Dennis Hicks - I agree with much of what you say but I disagree he can't make it worse--he can. Having worked in that world, I know that most of our insight is not available at the time, it's only available many years later, just like often it is in our daily lives. It's only later we can criticize what they should have known and its 2d and 3d order effects (although I did some of it then too). However, escalating tensions on purpose is something totally different. Since you are military (Army?), I know you know what ADRP 6-22 is and you probably train on it. Those competencies are what we should expect from them all. And ourselves.

That's the nice thing about opinions we are permitted to have our own :) I still think that nothing will come of this as Rocket man is just another version. Escalating tensions is sometimes what is needed to prevent the bullies form thinking they have full reign. Both sides have clear thinking folks in the background who keep things grounded. We really have nothing to worry about in the end and even if we did we have zero effect on changing the outcome.

The inmates are running the asylum