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Eugene

(62,641 posts)
Fri Dec 28, 2018, 02:34 PM Dec 2018

Trump's Politicized Visit To Iraq 'Embarrassing,' Retired 4-Star General Says

Source: Huffington Post

POLITICS 12/28/2018 12:07 pm ET Updated 3 minutes ago

Trump’s Politicized Visit To Iraq ‘Embarrassing,’ Retired 4-Star General Says

“God, he’s talking to special operations soldiers in Iraq. It’s sort of embarrassing,” former Gen. Barry McCaffrey told MSNBC.

By Sebastian Murdock

For the first time in his life, President Donald Trump visited service members in a combat zone and made it about himself, retired four-star Gen. Barry McCaffrey said.

Speaking to MSNBC’s Yasmin Vossoughian on Thursday, McCaffrey ― the recipient of two Silver Stars, two Distinguished Service Crosses and three Purple Hearts ― credited Trump for going to Iraq the day after Christmas but said he used it mostly as a political rally.

“It’s a good thing that the president went to Iraq and visited the troops, even better that he brought Melania along,” McCaffrey said. “It was entirely inappropriate to use that as a point of a political rally.”

During his visit, Trump signed “Make America great again” hats — a move McCaffrey called “unheard of.”

“His advance party politicized that event. They passed out those hats, for sure,” he said.

-snip-


Read more: https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/trump-politicized-iraq-visit-general-barry-mccaffrey_us_5c264797e4b05c88b6ffedbd
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Trump's Politicized Visit To Iraq 'Embarrassing,' Retired 4-Star General Says (Original Post) Eugene Dec 2018 OP
His advance party passed out hats.... JDC Dec 2018 #1
Let's hear from a few NON-retired generals! FiveGoodMen Dec 2018 #2
Most will stay out of the politics CRK7376 Jan 2019 #4
Makes sense. FiveGoodMen Jan 2019 #5
Sort of embarrassing? thegoose Dec 2018 #3

CRK7376

(2,226 posts)
4. Most will stay out of the politics
Tue Jan 1, 2019, 09:32 AM
Jan 2019

until they actually retire. As a retired O-6 I always kept politics out of discussions with my troops. Now with a few close colleagues, after duty hours, keeping a low profile, we sometimes discussed politics. Most senior leaders I knew and followed were that way too. I never put campaign stickers or decals on my car, I wanted too, but felt that I should not go public about my voting positions or party. Now my wife on the other hand as a military dependent was free to plaster her car with stickers opposing both Bush Presidents, Trump, NC Republicans.....and she did with vigor and my loving support.

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