Good afternoon,
General Milley
Last night I started reading Bob Woodwards/Robert Costa’s book called ‘RAGE’.
The first chapter is all about how General Milley, the Joint Chiefs Chairman tried to ensure that an angry and possibly mentally ill President Trump, did not launch nuclear weapons, or draw America into a war, as the inauguration of President Biden drew near, and Trumps defeat in the election was cemented. That included Milley reaching out to calm the Chinese, who felt a nuclear strike might have been looming.
It’s not comical, but clearly one feels some sense of unstable mayhem in the Trump White House approaching a dark circus atmosphere, and the lurking dangers from President Trump who was then unpredictable and dangerous, and seemingly capable of doing anything to clutch at power including fomenting a riot on the Capitol building.
Milley was called to testify on Capital Hill at the Senate Armed Services Committee about why he spoke to the Chinese? He said he routinely made calls to the Chinese military, and that preventing war between great powers armed with the greatest of weapons is necessary.
He stated intelligence indicated the Chinese were concerned about a possible attack, and that he did not believe Trump was about to launch an attack, and it was a matter of duty to convey that to the Chinese General command.
On the 8th of January, Milley spoke to House Leader Nancy Pelosi, who was concerned about the mental health of Trump, and Milley said it was the sole responsibility of the President to decide whether to launch a nuclear attack. Milley noted in his conversation, it was not his role to determine the mental health of the President.
What we’re talking about here, is how close America may have come to launching a nuclear strike and the problem of having a mentally unstable President at the helm.
Even if General Milley thought Trump was unfit, he and the military would follow orders to launch a nuclear war. And even the Joint Chiefs Chairman could not, should not prevent an order to launch a war or a weapon even if the President is doing so for the wrong reason.
It’s a troubling scenario of a U.S. President who may be mentally impaired, and who might choose to use a foreign conflict as a distraction to hold onto power, and we know Trump was capable to do anything including destroying American faith in it’s democracy to achieve his aims.
Part of Milley’s testimony also centred on the collapse of Afghanistan’s military and Government. Milley appeared to contradict President Biden’s claim he was not advised to keep 2500 U.S. troops in Afghanistan. Milley said he warned both Biden and Trump, a quick withdrawal could lead to a quick collapse of Afghanistan and a return of the Taliban. Thing is, what is quick? No one imagined it could happen within months, let alone in a few years. A “strategic failure” admitted Milley.
Milley and other U.S. Generals have hid behind failed intelligence analysis, on Afghanistan, but surely the U.S. military, which has its own intelligence capabilities, failed to read the tea leaves. The political collapse began the moment the Trump Presidency engaged the Taliban in direct talks in Doha, and failed to include the Afghan Government.
Afghan’s tell me the order to fight never came from the Afghan Government, and Afghans who have fought the Taliban for years can’t be accused of refusing to standup and stand their ground.
Other News in Brief…
-The UK Government is ordering the military to deliver fuel to gas stations, after a shortage of fuel trucks has caused a run on gas, and severe shortages as stations have closed after they ran dry. Boris Johnson denies this is another product of Brexit but clearly the shortage of drivers can be traced to Britain leaving the EU.
-United Airlines says staff who refused to have vaccines will be fired but the vast majority of its 67,000 employees have complied. Only about 600 workers will be dismissed.
-Oct. 18 default by the U.S. Gov? Unheard of but possible. Negotiations continue between Democrats and Republicans to raise the debt ceiling and pass a pandemic bailout social spend.
Back Story Podcast
On this BACK STORY host Dana Lewis talks to Rose Gottemoeller, who as a former Deputy Head of NATO and former Chief negotiator of the New START nuclear arms Treaty with Russia, says American President Joe Biden must rethink a deal which cuts out France and gives highly enriched uranium in nuclear powered submarines to Australia.
And in part two, we speak to Paul Niland of Lifeline Ukraine, about new and damning reports on Russia's involvement in the war in Ukraine, and calls for Russia to be removed from a cease fire monitoring mission there.
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1016881/9252581
Have a good day everyone!
Dana