Retired Army Major General Gives Stunning Response to Trump's Request for a Military Parade

[laserhaas]

Source: IJR News

After the Pentagon confirmed Tuesday that it was planning a military parade at the request of President Donald Trump, one retired general wasn't having it.

In a statement for VoteVets, a progressive veterans group, retired U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Paul Eaton took the president to task for what he sees as a “worse example” of Trump's “authoritarian tendencies.”

“For someone who just declared that it was 'treasonous' to not applaud him, and for someone who has, in the past, admired the tactics of everyone from Saddam Hussein to Vladimir Putin, it is clear that a military parade isn't about saluting the military — it is about making a display of the military saluting him,” Eaton said.

Read more: https://ijr-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/ijr.com/the-response/2018/02/1062778-retired-army-major-general-gives-stunning-response-to-trumps-request-for-a-military-parade/amp/

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"The military is not Donald Trump's to use and abuse in this way. Our military is the very best in the world — they are not to be reduced to stagecraft to prop up Donald Trump's image. Any commander in chief who respects the traditions of the military would understand that."

[northoftheborder]

1. I just heard a military person this AM on NPR

saying it was obvious such a parade was solely to assuage the president's ego and was very against it.

[niyad]

2. have someone read "seven days in may" to you, donnie dimwit

[Eliot Rosewater]

3. Good news is 92% of the planet will be ABHORRED by this including 60% of America

as we remember that 92% of the planet DESPISES ole Donnie, ole chief traitor.

But none of that, not one bit of that matters, AT ALL ...As long as he has that 40% of deplorables to salute and worship him, this shit is gonna happen.

[oasis]

4. Sen. Duckworth would say, "Cadet Bone Spurs can go kick rocks". nt

[laserhaas]

46. Can you picture Donald

With General stars..and war medals

[oasis]

50. Sickening to think of him posing with the purple heart he got

from a real veteran during a campaign rally.

[SonofDonald]

55. That would be the last straw

For a lot of people who are still on the fence for some reason.

They don't award those for bone spurs.

[Judi Lynn]

5. So good to hear this from a high-ranking retired official.

Even though retired, he can most surely expect a lot of nastiness from the Resident for speaking out.

Everyone can, as we are learning!

[Paladin]

6. Major General Paul Eaton, retired but still serving his country in the best possible way. (nt)

[Sophia4]

7. When it comes to military power, as a nation, we've got it, we're proud of it, everybody

knows we've got it and we will use it if necessary, and, therefore, we don't need to flaunt it.

We are grateful to those who serve in our military, but military parades should be held only for a reason - to celebrate a great military feat or victory.

As long as we have troops mired in Afghanistan and the Middle East, we should not have a military parade in Washington, D.C.

[laserhaas]

8. Concur

Bullies flaunting is rub of salt in the wounds

[Sophia4]

11. When we can say we have a victory in Afghanistan and peace in the Middle

East, then we can bring our troops (or most of them home), declare peace and have a big military parade to celebrate.

[tazkcmo]

16. In the words of TR

"Speak softly and carry a big stick."

[paleotn]

29. Bingo.

[Sophia4]

36. Right!

And someone whose newsletter I read pointed out that a parade of that sort would be an easy target for terrorists or anyone who wanted to harm our military capacity.

It is a ridiculous idea. But then, Trump????

What do we expect?

[SonofDonald]

53. Dotard has little man syndrome

That's why everything is the biggest, the greatest, the best with him.

Why do you think his ties are so long?.

Because he's a tiny little man.

OUR MILITARY should never be used as just another prop for little Donnie so he can feel big.

God I wish he would just go away.

[hibbing]

9. Maybe he should land on an aircraft carrier instead n/t

[laserhaas]

47. A greasy one

[dchill]

10. Trump is asserting ownership of our military.

This can only work because of the existence of FoxNews.

[jaysunb]

12. +1 n/t

[Hekate]

14. +2

[harun]

25. +3

Imagine what they would say if Obama had tried any of this,

[mahina]

38. +3

[Nwgirl503]

13. I've known Paul and his wife for years

He is a good man, and I posted something yesterday on Twitter about Kelly and I swear, as I was posting it, I was thinking about Paul and wishing we had someone like him in the WH. I would feel so much better. Not just because of his political leanings, but he is such a great man. He's smart and compassionate and grounded and would suffer no fools.

Of course, someone like him would never work for trump and trump would never consider him for any position, but a girl can dream.

[Hekate]

15. If you get a chance, tell him he is much appreciated for speaking out

[Nwgirl503]

43. Will do!!!!

[Ilsa]

26. Ditto what Hekate said.

It's a relief to hear this from him.

[Old Terp]

17. Rather than destroying the streets of Washington and all the utilities under them,

the military could have an event for him at one of the large army bases near Washington. I'm sort of thinking of Fort A P Hill, I think some of the big equipment is already there. They could have it when there are maneuvers. If they tell him that it's a special gathering just for him, he may accept it.

[mpcamb]

34. Why give trump anything? There's no obligation to answer his whims.

[TNNurse]

18. Now, if Trump, Pence, Ryan, McConnell and maybe some others,

were being led to federal prison, I would support the military leading that parade.

[laserhaas]

21. Amen

[justhanginon]

54. Oh, there would be parades! So many parades all over

this great country. There would be ringing of bells, fireworks, bands playing and celebratiions going well into the night. One might even say rejoicing in the land.

[Mendocino]

19. All Hail

Generalissimo Donny "Bone Spurs" McChickenhawk!

[laserhaas]

48. He's a twirp of the highest order

[askyagerz]

20. I wonder if he is trying to compensate...

for those tiny hands...

[Sophia4]

37. or his feminine gestures.

[vkkv]

22. Hell, I HATED the Fleet Week Blue Angel fly-overs when I lived in S.F.

What a FREAKING WASTE of $$$$$$$$$$$$$$

[mokawanis]

23. It should be the best military in the world

we're paying an obscene amount of money for it.

[area51]

24. Can you imagine

what Faux opinion channel would say if Obama had ordered this?

[laserhaas]

41. They would say

Let's hang the N...egro

[Rebl2]

27. Military

parades are a sign of weakness on the part of the President and the Generals who command the troops.

[laserhaas]

28. Agree

[no_hypocrisy]

30. IMO this is Trump cocking a snoot at his NY Military School classmates.

"Look at me Bitches! Look at ME!!!"

[FakeNoose]

42. No I think he wants to show the Chinese and the North Koreans

Lately they're the only fools having military parades. So yeah, one upmanship.

[zipplewrath]

31. USO show

If this was really ABOUT the military, he'd organize some world wide USO show FOR the troops. They could have them all around the world, on the same 3 day period, and rotate as many troops from the area through as they could. He'd have no trouble finding popular acts to perform, especially those popular with the younger enlisted folks. He could show up at one or more himself.

[GWC58]

32. So Im guessing Trump will want a

loyalty pledge from military members? That’s not far fetched. Not at all!

[laserhaas]

49. Love to see him tell a General what to do

[Gothmog]

33. GOP Senator Kennedy is also against this stupid parade

Link to tweet

[Gothmog]

35. I love this quote

Link to tweet

[Lifelong Protester]

39. K & R!

The military has better things to do.

[laserhaas]

40. Thanks

[SWBTATTReg]

44. Just tell tRUMP to go to a Veteran's Day Parade once in a while instead of ...

his stupid florida estate Mar a lago or playing golf.

There are plenty of our good boys and gals marching in these parades yearly (including 4th of July parades too).

What a waste of taxpayer money for one's ego...

[oasis]

45. "Authoritarian tendencies"

Oh yes, right on the button.

[Hoyt]

51. I cannot see anyone obeying an "Eyes Right' command when passing trump. n/t

[laserhaas]

52. Concur

Would be insubordination to give him the proper salute

..l..

[OldHippieChick]

56. He could attend graduation ceremonies

at any of the service academies and have the troops march past him if he's looking for homage of some kind. It would certainly cost the taxpayers a lot less.