Trump's visit to Iraq prompts concerns about politicization of military

[Eugene]

Source: Washington Post

Trump’s visit to Iraq prompts concerns about politicization of military

By Paul Sonne and Philip Rucker December 27 at 7:41 PM

A day after President Trump’s surprise visit to American forces in Iraq and Germany, questions persisted about whether he had jeopardized the political neutrality of the U.S. military by leveling partisan attacks and signing red “Make America Great Again” hats for the troops.

The president’s behavior — out of step with that of his predecessors — highlighted the struggle Pentagon leaders face in navigating an avowedly apolitical military through a hyperpartisan era in U.S. politics, particularly under a commander in chief unafraid of breaking with established norms.

The struggle is likely to intensify with the beginning of the 2020 presidential campaign and the departure of Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, who sought to prevent the military from becoming a pawn in the nation’s tribal politics, at times unsuccessfully, before his resignation last week.

Trump defended his conduct late Thursday. “CNN & others within the Fake News Universe were going wild about my signing MAGA hats for our military in Iraq and Germany,” he wrote on Twitter. “If these brave young people ask me to sign their hat, I will sign. Can you imagine my saying NO? We brought or gave NO hats as the Fake News first reported!”

Critics also focused on the content of Trump’s speeches during his trip. By making overtly political remarks to uniformed troops who were excited to meet their commander in chief, Trump risked the American public seeing the military as a partisan fan base, the critics said, an image that may play well to his base but undermines the trust all Americans put in their armed forces.

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Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/trumps-visit-to-iraq-prompts-concerns-about-politicization-of-military/2018/12/27/42aa20fe-0a13-11e9-892d-3373d7422f60_story.html

[Wellstone ruled]

1. All part of Trump's wanting to be

Commander Guy. BTW,did he not call them his Troops or Army.

[soryang]

2. I was struck with the increasing politicization of the Army long before this

More along the lines of a religious right wing politicization which permeated the Army. It was a ring knocking patronage type association.

The Air Force Academy religious scandal in the 2000s was a manifestation of this. While discussed in terms of religious intolerance, it is really a political movement. During the Iraq war period, it manifested as a "crusader" mentality against Islam.

Officers who don't participate are ostracized, don't get promoted, etc.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

3. General Mattis long tried to protect the military from being a pawn in the nation's tribal politics.

David Fahrenthold Retweeted

General Mattis has long tried to protect the military from being a pawn in the nation’s tribal politics. Mattis is now out, and Trump made a surprise trip to Iraq where he was criticized for attacking Dems and signing #MAGA hats

Link to tweet