Trump Campaign verbally and physically assaults Arlington Memorial staff, illegally uses site for campaigning
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Anonymous
Of course there isn’t. MAGA lies about everything. Absolutely everything. It must be confusing and exhausting to have such a feeble grip on reality. |
Anonymous
Wow, that is a bold statement. Remember Lebanon under Reagan? There are scores since Vietnam that were disasters. Usually it takes a disaster for someone to be killed in service. Biden was not invited. He was on an earned vacation. Just like Trump took hundreds of golf days during his own presidency. |
Anonymous
If so, did they also do this on the 1st and 2nd anniversary? I don't recall Trump going to Arlington for those. Because THIS DIDN'T HAPPEN THEN. And, the same rules were in place in 2023 and 2022 had they gone for the 1st and 2nd anniversary, so they should have known the rules by now. 3 years was arbitrary. It was an election stunt meant to help Trump. But one that failed. |
Anonymous
The stunt failed badly. That’s why the MAGA trolls are desperately trying to clean it up with increasingly inane justifications. |
Anonymous
Why would it help Trump? |
Anonymous
There are series of steps - I don't know if it comes down to "usually" beyond the below - it probably is unique to each circumstance. I can't say that any death in combat is more devastating than any other, or more "deserving" of Presidential recognition should they choose to offer it. But, the Marine Baracks is probably a fair analogy in terms of shock to this massacre. I'd wager that Reagan did quite a bit of recognition and outreach. Maybe I'm wrong. https://www.operationwearehere.com/FallenWarriorsFuneralMemorial.html |
Anonymous
Biden issued a statement that honored ALL 13 of the soldiers that died that day. What Trump went to was a PRIVATE, UNOFFICIAL event involving ONLY ONE of the fallen. Trump did nothing for the other 12 or their families, did he. And AGAIN it should be pointed out that Trump had SIGNIFICANT culpability in what happened that day. The chaotic withdrawal was caused by a range of factors and decisions made during the Trump administration. Here’s examples of key Trump actions and decisions that contributed to the problematic withdrawal: 1. Secret Negotiations with the Taliban Involvement of the Afghan Government: The Trump administration engaged in direct negotiations with the Taliban, sidelining the Afghan government and sidelining multinational allies. The Doha Agreement, signed in February 2020, was a a huge part of this. The Afghan government was not a formal party to these negotiations, which undermined its position and authority. Impact on Afghan Government Morale and Legitimacy: The exclusion of the Afghan government from these talks weakened its credibility and ability to negotiate from a position of strength. It also led to a perception among the Afghan people and international partners that the U.S. was abandoning its allies. 2. Troop Drawdown Drawdown Timetable: The Trump administration committed to reducing the number of U.S. troops in Afghanistan significantly as part of the Doha Agreement. This included plans to cut the number of troops to 2,500 by early 2021, which was a key provision in the agreement with the Taliban. Effects on Security: The rapid reduction in troop numbers led to a decrease in U.S. and NATO forces available to support Afghan security forces. This reduction was perceived by the Taliban as a weakening of U.S. commitment, emboldening their offensive actions. It also left the US with significantly less troops to have a secured and orderly withdrawal of the remaining troops, assets and American allies fleeing Afghanistan. 3. Closing Offices and Infrastructure Reduction of Diplomatic and Support Presence: During the Trump administration, there were significant reductions in diplomatic and support personnel in Afghanistan. This included the downsizing of the U.S. Embassy and the closure of various support offices. Impact on Withdrawal Planning: The reduction of on-ground infrastructure and personnel limited the ability to plan and execute a comprehensive and orderly withdrawal strategy. It also affected the capacity to coordinate with Afghan and allied forces on the ground. 4. Lack of Continuity and Transition Planning Transition to the Biden Administration: The Trump administration's abrupt changes in policy and the decision to begin a substantial drawdown without a clear, cohesive plan for the transition contributed to difficulties faced by the incoming Biden administration. There was limited continuity in strategic planning and execution, which hampered an orderly handover. As General McMaster and others said, "the cupboards were bare." Impact on Strategic Planning: The lack of a detailed, coordinated plan for the final stages of the withdrawal meant that the Biden administration had to grapple with a situation that had not been fully addressed or planned for in advance. This lack of continuity contributed to the difficulties in managing the final withdrawal process effectively. 5. Implementation and Enforcement of Trump's Doha Agreement Terms of the Agreement: The Doha Agreement contained terms that were challenging to enforce and led to significant leverage for the Taliban. While it was intended to facilitate peace talks and a gradual withdrawal, the agreement's implementation often fell short, particularly in terms of achieving its intended goals of reducing violence and fostering a stable political transition in Afghanistan. The withdrawal was in effect already sabotaged ahead of time by Trump. That really can't even be disputed. |
Anonymous
Going to give the question the benefit of the doubt that it is in good faith. The plan of the Trump campaign was to show Trump with the Abbey Gate families, laying wreath, and claiming that Harris and Biden did not show up to the ceremony. Showing that Harris is callous and uncaring of the military. Except of course, there was no ceremony, Harris and Biden were not invited but Trump was, and then they made a has of it by being disrespectful to the fallen buried near the graves, and breaking federal law by using the footage from it on their social media. |
Anonymous
Citation? You are claiming Trump planned the ceremony? Where did you find that information? |
Anonymous
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Lincolns Letter to Mrs. Bixby-
"Executive Mansion, Washington, Nov. 21, 1864. Dear Madam, I have been shown in the files of the War Department a statement of the Adjutant General of Massachusetts, that you are the mother of five sons who have died gloriously on the field of battle. I feel how weak and fruitless must be any words of mine which should attempt to beguile you from the grief of a loss so overwhelming. But I cannot refrain from tendering to you the consolation that may be found in the thanks of the Republic they died to save. I pray that our Heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement, and leave you only the cherished memory of the loved and lost, and the solemn pride that must be yours, to have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of Freedom. Yours, very sincerely and respectfully, A. Lincoln." |
Anonymous
The Wreath laying ceremony was private and unofficial? Citation? |
Anonymous
I'm the PP you are responding to. I answered a question with a question because I STILL don't understand what is so special about this specific group of Gold Star families--given the enormity of loss represented at ANC. But I will try to answer your questions on the assumption that they are sincere. You asked: "But why haven't the Biden/Harris Admin reached out more to the Gold Star Families of the Afghanistan withdrawal? Yes, I'm sure they would face ire--but it could be private meetings. The anguish of these families ... it seems a simple thing to 'do the right thing' and acknowledge and offer comfort, even if rejected. I don't really understand why they are just ignoring them." I can't speak for the Biden administration, but I'm assuming they're not reaching out to the families because it would be a damned if you do/damned if you don't situation. Since the incident occurred, it has become highly politicized and is a frequent line of attack against the Biden administration. Some of the relatives were openly hostile to Biden and criticized him publicly 3 years ago after Biden met with the families at Dover when the caskets were brought back. A subset of the families spoke at the recent RNC and, working with the Trump Campaign, have released a statement and videos which criticize Biden and Harris. The relatives are not looking for "comfort" from the Biden administration as you suggest. Some of them hold Biden personally culpable for their loved ones' deaths. You can be sure that if Biden met with them, even if privately, he would not be graciously received and every word of the interaction would be used against him. They've already made up their minds about what happened and who's at fault and there's nothing Biden or Harris can do or say to change that. Finally, Biden/Harris are not "just ignoring them"--the WH has said that B/H were not invited (https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/biden-harris-werent-invited-arlington-abbey-gate-trump-rcna169154). |
Anonymous
Biden did meet with them though. Not all the families but I’m sure all would have been invited. They were unhappy with the meeting (they accused him of looking at his watch). But it most certainly happened. |
Anonymous
I beg to differ. I think the great loss of life (over 240 US personnel killed and 60+ non-Americans) that occurred at the Marine Corps Baracks in Beirut in 1983 under Ronald Reagan was much worse. |
Anonymous
One of the family members spoke at the RNC. It was totally political. Trump DID NOT go to Arlington on the 1st anniversary of Abbey Gate. Trump DID NOT go to Arlington on the 2nd anniversary of Abbey Gate. Trump went to Arlington at the height of election season, 2 months before Election Day. He didn't give a shit about the 1st or 2nd anniversary of Abbey Gate. It. Was. Totally. Political. This cannot be disputed. |