Marine Corps commandant says deploying troops to the border poses ‘unacceptable risk’
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
In two internal memos , Marine Corps Gen. Robert Neller said the “unplanned/unbudgeted” deployment along the border that President Trump ordered last fall, and shifts of other funds to support border security, had forced him to cancel or reduce planned military training in at least five countries, and delay urgent repairs at bases.
The border deployment and funding transfers , as well as recovery costs from hurricanes Florence and Michael, new housing allowances and civilian pay raises, are taking a toll on combat readiness, Neller wrote to Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan and Navy Secretary Richard Spencer.
The Times obtained copies of the memos , dated Feb. 19 and March 18.
Neller, a four-star general, said because of the problems, Marines will not participate in planned training exercises in Indonesia, Scotland and Mongolia, and will reduce their participation in joint exercises with Australia and South Korea.
Marines “rely on the hard, realistic training” of the training exercises “to develop the individual and collective skills necessary to prepare for high-end combat,” said Neller, who has been commandant since September 2015.
He complained about canceling or shrinking the Marines’ participation “at a time where we are attempting to double down on strengthening alliances and attracting new partners.”
Shanahan and Gen. Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, are scheduled to testify Tuesday before the House Armed Services Committee. Members are likely to ask about Neller’s concerns.
Sen. Richard J. Durbin (D-Ill.), vice chairman of the Defense Appropriations subcommittee, said Neller’s memos showed the danger in diverting Pentagon funds to build Trump’s border wall.
“If the president won’t listen to the American people or Congress, then listen to the commandant of the Marine Corps,” Durbin said in a statement.
While the armed services chiefs often warn of budget shortfalls, independent experts who reviewed Neller’s memos described the language as unusually strong, in particular because it cites the president’s highest-profile political priorities.
“It’s pretty unusual for the commandant to be raising concerns that... a top political priority for the president is undermining the ability of the Marine Corps to do the training they need,” said Mandy Smithberger, a defense expert at the Project for Government Oversight, a nonpartisan independent watchdog group.
“It looks like from Commandant Neller’s perspective, he does think these policies are undermining readiness,” she added.
“This is a pretty strongly worded memo,” said Todd Harrison, director of defense budget analysis at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a nonpartisan think tank in Washington.
Hurricane recovery efforts, increases in civilian pay and the military housing allowance are probably the biggest factors in the budget shortfall, he added.
“The incremental cost of the border deployment is likely small compared to these other factors,” he said. “It sounds like there are some bureaucratic politics at work here.”
The border deployment is adding to the strain after hurricanes severely damaged Marine Corps facilities and housing in North Carolina and Georgia, Neller wrote.
Citing limits on his ability to transfer money because of the planned reprogramming under the border emergency, Neller said the Marines already are short $1.3 billion for recovery operations this year with another hurricane season approaching.
Marine Corps Gen. Robert Neller speaks on Capitol Hill in Washington in 2017.
J. Scott Applewhite / Associated Press
The memos are likely to revive uneasiness on Capitol Hill about the border deployment, which reportedly chafed some military leaders , including James N. Mattis, then secretary of Defense, when Trump first ordered it shortly before the Nov. 6 midterm election.
While the White House insisted that active-duty troops were needed to stave off so-called caravans of migrants from Central America, critics accused him of using the military as props for his political agenda, not for security purposes.
On Oct. 29, Trump tweeted , “This is an invasion of our country and our military is waiting for you!”
He later expanded the deployment to roughly 6,000 troops , drawn from the Marines, Army, Air Force and Navy, and extended their stay through September 2019.
They have assisted the Border Patrol by erecting barricades, flying helicopter support and maintaining vehicles. They are not allowed to detain migrants, seize drugs or carry out law enforcement duties.
The White House and Defense Department have sought to reassure wary lawmakers that the deployment, and the president’s declaration of a national emergency on the border, have not hampered military readiness or effectiveness.
During a visit to a Border Patrol station Thursday in McAllen, Texas, Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen said she talked to Shanahan on a regular basis.
“We continue to work together to find ways to support the border mission,” Nielsen said. “Border security is national security. We shouldn't pretend that it's something else, because it's not — it's a national security issue.”
She directed questions about Neller’s concerns to the Defense Department. Spokesmen for the Pentagon and Shanahan did not respond to requests for comment.
In an email, a Marine Corps spokesman, Capt. Joseph Butterfield, said Neller’s memos made clear that damage from hurricanes, and not the border deployments, caused “by the far the most significant budgetary pressure.”
Border operations cost about $230 million by the end of January , according to the Pentagon. The cost could grow to about $850 million this year, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a nonpartisan think tank in Washington.
The White House has asked Congress to appropriate a record $718 billion for the Pentagon in 2020 , including $9 billion for hurricane relief, border security and backfilling military construction projects whose funding could be raided under the national emergency Trump declared on Feb. 15.
Lawmakers have pressed to learn which military construction projects would be deferred or canceled to divert money that could be used to build Trump’s long-promised border wall under the emergency.
On Monday, the Pentagon sent Congress a list of more than 400 military construction projects around the country and worldwide that could be affected.
The 21-page document cites more than $12.8 billion in projects that could be delayed or canceled under the emergency, including 31 projects totaling $1.1 billion in California.
Congressional approval of the administration’s budget request and backfill is far from assured, given the recent border funding fight that led to a 35-day partial government shutdown, and bipartisan votes in both chambers to block Trump’s use of executive action to get around the congressional appropriations process. Trump vetoed the resolution last week.
Initial image: Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan, center, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Joseph Dunford, left, and Undersecretary of Defense David Norquist, right, appear before the Senate Armed Services Committee. (Michael Reynolds / EPA-Shutterstock)
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So for 5.7 billion or so in border wall funds they need to delay or cancel $12.8 billion in projects? That is military math for you.
Why bother singling out California? What is so important about them?
If Congress is so worried about the state of military preparedness they can always allocate more money to fix it. I am sure the military will find a way to spend any excesses that are granted.
I guess that General Neller isn't going to be one of Trumps ''Generals''.
"In two internal memos, Marine Corps Gen. Robert Neller said the “unplanned/unbudgeted” deployment along the border that President Trump ordered last fall, and shifts of other funds to support border security, had forced him to cancel or reduce planned military training in at least five countries, and delay urgent repairs at bases."
Thank Goodness this ….. "United States of America ?" General.....is worried about what goes on in "Other" countries.
He must be a "GENERAL Liberal" ! Always worried about EVERYTHING Else but THIS Country ?
This guy does work for ….. "THIS COUNTRY.....right ?
A four-star Marine general...
Does that make him a "Conservative" ?
That makes him a concerned American speaking out to stop stupid Trump decisions that hurt the country and our security and readiness.
He's a "Dixie Chick" ?
good article about the Corps practicing for all possibilities in all weather.
Same General. Same level of preparedness that is ALWAYS expected of the USMC.
Why do we STILL need to be Over There, over There ?
Do the "Children"....OVER THERE....Still need protecting ?
We are NATO's pit bull and piggy bank.
Exactly !
Apparently...the Praised "Everything for everyone" countries are still...... "Needy" !
if ya think about it, if they don't have to Spend their tax payer monies on Defense , they can send more of "Others" tax monies to "Free" stuff Liberals always praise them for doing !
Norway is actually farther north than Canada. No comparison to the Midwest in terrain or weather.
but it is approximate to a great deal of Russian terrain and weather.
The Air Force does their Cold Weather Survival training at Eielson AFB, AK or used to.
But I could see the Marines training in Norway because of the mountains
2 related, but different things;
Outstanding article about our "preparedness for Korea and how the Corps overcame it.
and...
We had a friend once who was in SAC and flew out of ND to Alaska and beyond who said the greatest threat was frostbite and they were known unofficially as the "Chosen Frozen", no disrespect to the Marines...
Not near as cold as it does in Norway. Look at a Mercator map and tell me what the Lat/Long is for Norway versus Colorado
BRILLIANT! LOL
That's the Army, we're talking about Marines here
The 10th Mountain Division (light Infantry) is subordinate to the 18th Airborne Corp. and the entire division is not stationed at Fort Drum.
With regard to training the cold weather training center is located at NWTC Ft. Wainwright Alaska, know as Black Springs...The instructions are called ''Black Hats''....
The oldest unit in the 10th Mountain is the 87th Infantry who's motto is ''We Conquer Men and Mountains. Formed in the US during WWII it became the first cold weather/ski troops of the US Army and was instrumental in breaking the German lines in northern Italy. The fought through the Po Valley and were awarded many citations.
Ft. Mccoy (Wi) has been used by the US Army Rangers (75th Ranger Battalion) as a cold weather site for training.
I love it. I LOVE it! I LOVE it!!
Tioga Rd. is always closed in winter.
There are NO USMC training grounds in Yosemite.
The only Naval Unit that trains in Yosemite is the SAR unit from Lemoore Naval Air Station.
Hallucination?
[deleted]
Ahhh, the 1/87th. The original mountain troops of the US Army.
Formed December 8th 1941 at Fort Lewis WN. as the 87th Infantry Regiment, the first mountain regiment in the US Army. The personal were selected from skiers, mountaineers, forest rangers, lumberman and mule skinners of which my uncle was one. The 87th was one of the few units to use mules and horses in WWII...
The 87th Mountain Regiment is to my knowledge to fight in both theaters of war. The Pacific with attack on Kiska and in Europe in numerous battles in the Po Valley.
There were scheduled to return to the Pacific to participate in the invasion of Japan. The war ended before that took place.
I'm sitting at my desk reading from my uncles notes and books on the 87th...Also some photos of the 87th in mountaineering training.
I thought you said you were going by what you saw with your own eyes in the 80's.
I know that area well. I hiked, fished and camped all along the Tuolumne and American rivers in the 80's.
Then there are always those brave soles who do so through other members... /s
When I was in I believe that training was done primarily by specialized units within the Corps. I had buddies in ANGLICO and Recon units that trained there. A real garden spot paradise with the shitty gear we were issued back then. We’re talking late 70’s early 80’s.
Welcome to Norway, welcome to the suck!
Alaska would do the job.
Do you think the costs would be any different?
Perhaps not, but since the terrain and weather are most likely similar, isn't it more positive to benefit the local Alaska economy than Norway's?
Norway is farther north than Alaska & Canada...
The terrains aren't similar and the economies of the two regions are immaterial.
It's not R&R in Oslo or Juneau, Buzz. It's training.
Not strategically speaking.
Unless of course Alberta decides to attack the US ....
Seems to me that the Democrats would be happy to have Canada burn down the White House again.
Are there no mountains in Alaska? Is there no freezing weather in Alaska? Can you not see Russia from Sarah Palin's front porch? Bah! Humbug!
Brave soles can withstand the roughest terrain. Might have to replace them eventually, though..../s
Yes it is and one battalion of the 10th Mountain Division is stationed in Colorado..
I LOVE it!!
Did you miss the fact that some of the proposed training cancelations were in Alaska?
Then why Norway?
Are you unaware of the concept of joint training exercises?
It's training and testing equipment in extreme conditions.
We don't need another experience like Korea
Why not?
It's been said that answering a question with a question is a very Jewish thing. LOL
C’mon Buzz ..... enough with the fake news ....
LOL.
Congratulations, that comment shows an utter ignorance of the issue.
The information necessary to make an informed comment is linked right in the seed.
If you're actually interested in the General's REASONS why training in other countries has an effect on Marine readiness, I suggest you go READ the General's memos linked in the seed.
Or you can just continue to make snarky comments...
[Deleted]
"If you're actually interested in the General's REASONS why training in other countries has an effect on Marine readiness"
[Deleted]
The EU wear "Big boy Panties" too....don't they ?
As usual.
[Deleted]
So the conspiracy theorists can reignite their BS about martial law? Remember Operation Jade Helm?
Again, that shows an utter ignorance of the CONTENT of the memos. Since you've had the time to actually READ them, it must be intentional.
The ONLY EU country cited in the memo's is Scotland.
[Deleted]
Obtuse obfuscation.
That's all ya got ?
[Deleted]
Yes, accurate critique.
The Violins are VERY loud right now !
I'm going to go out on a limb here and bet the General has more training and a greater understanding of what it takes to defend our nation than those who would disparage him.
Can you say you have dedicated your life to defending something in similar terms?
"Border" security is more important than....being able to "Play" war elsewhere.
in fact....I'll bet the countries we are speaking of, have their own military...which probably should step up the pace for their OWN defense !
Wouldn't that be great ?
"Can you say you have dedicated your life to defending something in similar terms?"
YEP !
Guess we will continue to see things differently....
I know that both the bear and the dragon still swim (have ICBM submarines), and they still fly. Power projection is still critical to our being able to negotiate with other countries.
A man-o-war still makes the best ambassador.......
Take care.
As a proud disabled Veteran I have no hesitation to say that the General is lying at worst and misstating the facts at best. The Trump Emergency Border Order took less than 1% of the FY2019 Military Budget for this needed acti9n
furthermore President Trump is Commander-in-Chief of the military and thee ultimate decision maker in how to best utilize the military for national security. If the General is incapable or unwilling to follow chain of command, he should retire and let someone head the Marines who understands this
The point is that Trump is harming the country by his decisions. There is no way around the FACT Trump doesn't know jack about national security. NOTHING. Nothing his spokesholes and enablers say can change that. He is President, but that doesn't mean we think he is doing what is best for the country. Including the top military. When some ignorant moron with power does things that help adversaries and hurt our interests, what do you call it? Treason.
Then with you VAST knowledge of the Marine Corps budgetary needs, please DO tell me the facts.
If we're going to talk percentages, 3.5 BILLION is only 1.7% of the Navy's budget. Since you're an expert, considering that small percentage, perhaps you explain WHY the SECNAV hasn't provided the funding needed.
Point? Are you inferring that the Commandant of the Marine Corps doesn't have the duty of keeping the Commander-in-Chief informed of threats to readiness?
Neller sent the request THROUGH the chain of command. The March memo was sent to the SECNAV and the February memo was too.
READ MORE CAREFULLY.
And are you now cheering trump lifting sanctions on North Korea....he just loves his dictators doesn't he. Denigrates a deceased McCain and praises Kim.
Yes, Larry, the President is only taking 7 Billion from what he considers to be discretionary construction funds of about $12 Billion... that's 60%
And yes Larry, the 4 star USMC General went through the chain of command each and every time.
You should know better than to believe that a real estate addict from NYC would know anything about running the military.
You are forgetting all of his personal experience with the military.
... oh... wait...
What the President knows and all of us who observe the real world know is that we have a huge crisis to our sovereignty as a nation
The illegal alien surge into the US is real despite the denials by the left. We aren’t talking about a few thousand as the left falsely claims.
“From October 2017 to January 2018, according to CBP figures, 150,346 crossed the border, a number that surged to 242,667 in the same four-month period ending in January 2019.
The biggest surge has come in the numbers who are crossing illegally. CBP apprehended more than 200,000 crossing illegally between October 2018 and this January, compared to 109,543 a year earlier — nearly doubling the total of illegal crossings.”
February there were over 70,000 caught at the border
At this rate, more illegals would invade this country than the populations of cities like San Francisco, Boston, Denver, Detroit, Milwaukee, Baltimore, and other major US cities.
But for the sake of argument, Let’s assume your argument and pursue that logic. Given the low figure of 30,000 per month (and actual numbers for the past 6 months are 50,000 per month) and that Border Patrol data shows they apprehend 50%:
That means EVERY DAY, 7 DAYS a WEEK we have 2000 illegals entering this country, with 1000 living here. 7000 a week, 364,000 a year getting free education, free healthcare paid for by taxpayers
If only 2% are criminals that is 14 criminals a week, 728 criminals a year entering our country
And we’re supposed to believe that is not a crisis for our country? That kind of thinking is either insane, naive, or diabolical
I have read it carefully. And BTW I do have some knowledge in this area. I spent 20 years as an executive in the defense industry working with the Pentagon, Military Procurement Centers, Military Base Readiness Commands and the House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee (during the time of John Martha D-PA). I worked on weapons and systems development and production and was one of the Engineers on development and production of the modern cluster bomb, chemical weapons programs, missile warhead arming devices, Star Wars, and more
Yes they have a duty to report readiness. BUT reaction to national defense emergencies is at the very top of the priorities of the Commander-in-Chief.
I have not previously commented on sanctions and North Korea. But as a Minarchist libertarian I generally oppose sanctions against any nation.
as to McCain I have leveled a lot of criticism and calls for McCain to retire over the last 20 years he was in the Senate because he was no conservative, but just a bootlicker of his leftist friends in the Senate
Trump started spewing his 'national emergency' BS in September of LAST YEAR. That 6 months ago and it looks like his 'top priority today is golfing in FL.
BTFW, when the NSA Director Coats testified to Congress, he didn't cite an emergency along the border.
Being a weapons trafficker doesn't get you even close to a 'big picture' understanding of the budgetary needs of the Marine Corps.
So your demand that Neller 'follow the chain of command or retire' was just knee jerk claptrap. Got ya.
That's all there ever is...
What an idiotic and ignorant accusation. I have never been a weapons trafficker. My client was the United States of America and I'm proud of the work I did to provide weapons and systems that ensure America's military men and women have an advantage against all enemies who seek their death.
I do have that understanding having been in the military, my work as i stated with the Pentagon and Congress, and 60 years experience in studying American history and American military history
And only someone would ignorant of the military would denigrate the central requirement of following chain of command
Even though you seem recognize his duty to keep the SECNAV informed of readiness, you were the one that denigrated Commandant Neller, not I.
We all know that illegal aliens are votes for the Democrats. Why else are they championing them?
Then why did you denigrate Commandant Neller and assume exactly that?
Well, no we don't actually.
Maybe for the same reason you did pro bono work for people, presumably Canadians, who were deserving.
I always find it hilarious that conservatives have that opinion. What it tells me is that they know deep down that even though they would have over a decade before immigrants would become citizens, conservatives don't have a chance to win the votes of immigrants.
Of course, they ALWAYS blame the Democrats and/or the immigrants instead of looking in the fucking mirror.
Sympathy, empathy, humanity.
What argument Larry? I never mentioned the border or the statistics.
Oh the irony. One can only imagine Oppenheimer becoming a rabbi...
Well, you are right that I did pro-bono work when I was practising law, although I never expected anything in return, but I believe it might well have encouraged them to use me when they needed my help and could afford it. There were many examples, one in particular I will relate. I was one of a group who sponsored a Vietnamese "Boat Person" and his young daughter to immigrate to Canada. I provided him with pro bono legal services he needed. Eventually he made a good living, bought a home, prepared a will, and he paid me for my assistance in those matters.
I think it would be naive to think that immigrants don't know which political party looks favourably on their immigration - and would support that party, but not a party that tried to block them.
Note my reply to Split Personality.
Bravo, now as to equating illegal aliens with legal immigrants, not so fast...
Humans have a huge capacity for self loathing.
Secondly, if there's one thing that can be learned from living in America it's the 'I got mine, you're on your own' mentality. Many Cubans learned that quite well.
My son a deceased Marine was a liberal so go pound salt.
and
hugs
Good for him. A lot of my relatives died in war too, [deleted]
I shouldn't say this lady in black but you really should report a certain poster for his ignorance and taunting. I'm probably risking a ticket for this.
The comment "WAS" all about an Agenda !
if it wasn't...why post it ?
No, I won't...just shows you how all liberals are painted even if they died for their country.
I do take offense to it but it's more as a grieving mom so I know I just have to deal with it but will call it out even if it gets me a ticket.
Unless one has watched their son or daughter's casket being brought off a plane and then been handed the folded flag that draped you son's or daughters coffin, one has no clue.
I understand. Some folks are so damned petty and trifling
It's deplorable
The thing I highlighted in bold and italicized is The. Most. Important. part of the military and what it's all about
Why does the Marine Corps need to conduct training exercises in Indonesia, Scotland, and China (of all places)???? Maybe if we stopped training other countries to fight like Marines we would have fewer dead Marines.
Apparently the Marine brass is too stupid to be able to conduct training exercises at the borders of the United States. Or else the mission of the Marines is something other than protecting the United States. Maybe if the Marines conducted joint exercises with Mexico we could do something about the drug cartels.
This political kerfuffle only highlights that the military is no longer an asset to the United States. If the Marines can't defend the United States within the borders of the country then we don't need to waste more money. Muster out the Marines and let them become private contractors since we are relying on private contractors to defend our borders.
Yeah!
Let's explain to the Marines how they should train!
Actually, it's BOTH. HOW they train depends on WHO they train with and that depends on WHERE they are training.
What are the Marines training to do? Are the Marines actually expecting to be fighting a war in the middle of the Asian continent on the border between Russia and China?
That's a battle plan I would expect from the writers of Saturday Night Live rather than Pentagon brass.
The Marines are training for asymmetric warfare in regional conflicts. That seems to describe what is happening at the southern border of the United States. I seriously doubt Viking marauders will be invading Scotland anytime in the near future. And I don't think the United States need be too concerned with how to coordinate with the mighty Scottish army (or the British army, for that matter).
Exactly, because when we think about 'asymmetric warfare' unarmed women and children are always on the top of the list of threats. /s
BTFW, is acting in an 'observational capacity' your idea of 'training for asymmetric warfare'?
You know that the Marines are a NAVAL force right? That's why they are BEGGING for action from the SECNAV. Sheesh.
Funny how some seem to be know it alls are know nothings.
And dealing with civilians in a battle zone has become a far greater part of battle tactics and planning. Unarmed women and children are a threat because they impede movement and affect operations. Crowd control and dealing with civilians has become a fundamental part of training. Marines can't just charge in and 'kill 'em all' in today's regional conflicts. We tried that in Vietnam and it didn't work.
The Marines are becoming an airborne assault force. How many of today's Marines have even been aboard a ship?
The US Navy has one LHA on active duty (two are under construction) and 11 LPD on active duty (and two under construction). The days of beach assaults are gone and are never coming back. I'm not sure the Navy has any troop transport ships on active duty. The Navy can deliver hundreds of Marines by sea, not thousands.
Well since the troops on the border have NO, NONE, NADA contact with civilians, your entire comment is irrelevant.
Then you should have cited the RAF NOT the British ARMY right?
The Marine Corps is a NAVAL force under the SECNAV Chain of Command.
That's an oxymoron. The USMC allows individuals to participate and graduate from Army Parachute school but has no Airborne divisions or planes to deliver them.
Incorrect the Navy has dozens of amphibious assault craft and more planned.
Equally incorrect. How many airborne troops fit in a plane?
Stick to what you know.
Ummmmmmm........
Perhaps it would be relevant to the situation on the southern border to train these days with the Israeli IDF guarding the Israeli border with Gaza.
that is a great idea
That would only be relevant for sniper training since the Israeli border with Gaza has a 3km buffer zone...
Ah, your comment is expectedly prejudiced. No, it would be training on stopping aliens from breaking through the fences, and attacking those guarding the border.
By the way, the buffer zone is not much good for stopping rockets and missiles fired by Hamas and Islamic Jihad, most recently at Tel Aviv, or incendiary balloons and kites that have devastated thousands of acres of crops, fields and forests, killed the animals there, and even landed in a kindergarten schoolyard. You know, the "peaceful" Gazan demonstrations.
Molotov Cocktail
Incendiary balloons and kites
Breaking through the border fence:
Peaceful demonstration.
And the latest news of missiles from Gaza...
Facts don't have a prejudice Buzz.
3kms is a LONG SHOT. My 30.06 couldn't touch it...
The barbed wire in those photos you posted are well inside of the border. The Israelis use SNIPERS to shoot people who are still in Gaza. Are you claiming that the Israelis are using the wrong tools?
Are you suggesting that our military use snipers to shoot people 1000 meters inside Mexican soil Buzz? You know that in civilized countries that is an act of war right?
We aren't talking about rockets or missiles or kits or slings Buzz. We have NONE of that on our southern border. We're talking about PEOPLE, mostly families. Please refrain from inserting irrelevant false equivalencies.
What I found stunning about the memos is that they prove that the OSD, the SNAV and thereby Trump, were made aware of the funding issues in FEBRUARY. In fact, any thinking person would have recognized in SEPTEMBER of 2018 that the damage to the Marine bases in NC was an emergent issue that needed to be addressed with ATR funding. Trump got $160 BILLION in added Defense funding and they STILL can't seem to find funding to cover emergencies.
Trump hasn't proposed a Disaster Supplemental Bill and in fact has stated that instead of 'reprograming' funds for the emergent needs of the Marines, he intends to 'reprogram' funds already appropriated to military projects and disaster relief to his wall.
I thought conservatives stood by the military? Another abandoned principle I can add to the list.
I proudly support the military
As a proud disabled Veteran I have no hesitation to say that the General is lying at worst and misstating the facts at best. The Trump Emergency Border Order took less than 1% of the FY2019 Military Budget for this needed acti9n
furthermore President Trump is Commander-in-Chief of the military and thee ultimate decision maker in how to best utilize the military for national security. If the General is incapable or unwilling to follow chain of command, he should retire and let someone head the Marines who understands this
I'll say it again. Having the power to do something is one thing. Doing something HARMFUL to the country is another. You seem to be saying everybody is supposed to go around saying 'I was only following orders'. Trump doesn't know ANYTHING about this issue except how it might help him in some way. It has nothing to do with the good of the country. More and more people see the harm he is doing.
Harm to the country is what is happening without President Trump taking this necessary action
The illegal alien surge into the US is real despite the denials by the left. We aren’t talking about a few thousand as the left falsely claims.
“From October 2017 to January 2018, according to CBP figures, 150,346 crossed the border, a number that surged to 242,667 in the same four-month period ending in January 2019.
The biggest surge has come in the numbers who are crossing illegally. CBP apprehended more than 200,000 crossing illegally between October 2018 and this January, compared to 109,543 a year earlier — nearly doubling the total of illegal crossings.”
February there were over 70,000 caught at the border
At this rate, more illegals would invade this country than the populations of cities like San Francisco, Boston, Denver, Detroit, Milwaukee, Baltimore, and other major US cities.
But for the sake of argument, Let’s assume your argument and pursue that logic. Given the low figure of 30,000 per month (and actual numbers for the past 6 months are 50,000 per month) and that Border Patrol data shows they apprehend 50%:
That means EVERY DAY, 7 DAYS a WEEK we have 2000 illegals entering this country, with 1000 living here. 7000 a week, 364,000 a year getting free education, free healthcare paid for by taxpayers
If only 2% are criminals that is 14 criminals a week, 728 criminals a year entering our country
And we’re supposed to believe that is not a crisis for our country? That kind of thinking is either insane, naive, or diabolical
I see that. I don't have access to all the information the general has, so I'm not going to Monday morning quarterback the Commandant of the Marines.
The amount is irrelevant. There are rules and regulations the military has to follow in contracting and procurement. You can't just move money around because you feel like it.
He's a narcissistic half-wit that can't take the time to read a security report. He get's his foreign policy advice from Fox News instead of actual security personnel.
So you want people to just do as they are told even if it's the wrong thing to do? Wasn't it Mad Dog Mattis that had to explain to Trump why it would be bad to use nukes on Isis?
No, the General is clearly in the wrong and the President is acting correctly in his capacity as Commander-in-Chief to defend the sovereignty of our country against a foreign invasion to will cripple our nation
Trump has insisted ad nauseam that he has made the Military stronger than ever before. If that is true, how the hell did we get so fucking weak that a couple hundred thousand rag tag unarmed refugees, many of which are women and children, threaten our sovereignty?
Guess I'm an "Old Democrat" (more of a Goldwater / H. Bush Pub)
Given all that.... I'm going to have a hard time believing that a few thousand unarmed women and children at the border meet the standard of a "National Emergency"
It wasn't too long ago that we sent about $8-$10 million a year to help with law enforcement down there in Nicaragua. That helped people to stay down there rather than trying to cross our boarders. I would say that 8-10 million figure is a much better investment than billions on a wall that wont work and will cost more than that annually on upkeep.
These are my views my friend....
Money doesn't matter to you ?
There is a "Cost".
Yet every immigrant group that came here before ended up being net positives for our economy. In fact, we cannot reach out desired growth without them. It is not against the law to approach to our boarders an ask asylam so those doing so are not illegal. Pretty much everyone who ever immigrated to the United was in sort of refugee or another who came here to escape persecution or starvation or poverty or war. Current immigrants will end up processing chickens and pigs or cleaning hotel rooms and mowing grass or cooking the ethnic food everyone loves. What's wrong with that?
Why bother having any immigration laws? What you seem to be advocating for is open borders.
Now, I know you won't admit it, but your words speak for themselves.
JBB clearly stated that seeking asylum at the border IS following our immigration laws.
READ MORE CAREFULLY.
You seem to reading into it what you want to see.
Well stating that your interpretation of JBB's comment is accurate no matter what he says is pretty convenient isn't it Tex?
I did read his comment. What makes you think I didn't? Did you read MY post?
If you have a problem with my comments, come out and say it. I wasn't addressing you, but I will tell you that illegal is illegal, and whatever lame attempts to "justify" illegal aliens won't work with me. Either change the freaking laws or enforce them.
I presume that you did, that's why I suggested that you do so MORE CAREFULLY.
I would think that my reply made that evident.
I already did.
READ MORE CAREFULLY.
What works with you is irrelevant.
Exactly. Follow the asylum laws or change them.
Perhaps you should presume less and read more.
As if that is even possible.
I presumed that you READ JBB's comment. You insist that you did. Change your mind?
Presume and assume whatever you wish. Good luck!
Moving on...…………………………….from inane conversations such as this.
It'd be great if in the future you didn't start one.
Oh, cool.
Now we are going to pretend that I addressed you first. No matter what anyone's lying eyes can see in posts 8.3.2 and 8.3.3.
What fun!
I do read uncensored news sites here, and I've not heard of China interfering with any commercial maritime passage through the South China Sea, only about the provocative approaches of American warships. Can anyone provide a source establishing that China has interfered with commercial traffic?
It's flabbergasting to see NT's right wing roast the commandant of the Marine Corps.
It's flabbergasting to see a bunch of armchair "soldiers" second-guessing the Marines on their training.
Do these people have no coherence at all?
... oh... uh... I guess that was a stupid question. Of course they don't...
Wow, where was the left in supporting McChrystal when he disagreed with Obama on Afghan strategy and was sacked? They were demanding McChrystal resign instead of forcing Obama to fire him. No "armchair soldiers" around then on the left then. No one on the left questioning Obama's ability (with 0 military experience and knowledge) as Commander in Chief of US forces.
Trump should fire this insubordinate general w/o delay and put someone in charge who is a team player, and will find solutions to problems- instead of being a part of one.
If the left is so damn worried about military preparedness (don't make us laugh), they can allocate more money. But it seems that the 7 billion taken by Trump won't cut it- they had better give 13 billion to be safe. After all "they hold the power of the purse". Better contact your congress critter and tell them to get right on that./S
Is that the same General McChrystal that blasted Trump for being immoral....Why yes it is.
And of course Trump fired back cuz he knows more than the generals...
This has pretty much degenerated into a foodfight, so it's being locked.