Roy Exum: Our Commander ‘Gets It’

  • Thursday, February 9, 2017
  • Roy Exum
Roy Exum
Roy Exum

I regret to inform you that you didn’t read about Donald Trump’s luncheon date on Monday. The “main media” was too busy knocking Betsy DeVos’ nomination, quoting Attorney General Jeff Sessions on what he said over 30 years ago, digging for more of Kellyanne Conway’s slip-of-the-tongue, and talking to “unnamed military officials” about how a brave Navy SEAL should still be alive after a “botched” raid in Yemen.

After they waited all night on Sunday for Trump’s wife to grimace while watching the Super Bowl – this to add larder to the “Free Meliana” craze, it seems most of the TV cameras did not accompany Trump to MacDill Air Force base near Tampa where the commander-in-chief barged in on a big table of stunned-yet-delighted military officers.

He told jokes, discussed the football game, and then – in the course of the idle chatter, asked one guy if he planned to make the military his career. “Still deciding right now, sir,” the soldier politely and – boom! Wouldn’t you know – Trump went off. Kinda.

When was the last time a president said this? “Come on, you have to stay!” Trump told the officer, the others at the table lighting up with joy. “You’ll like it better with me there. You’ll see!” the president promised.

Then the whole dining hall got quiet, which gave Trump an opportunity to raise his voice. “I want every military family to know that our administration is at your service. We stand with you 100 percent,” the Commander-in Chief added. “We will never, ever let you down.”

With his abrupt helicopter ride to Dover Air Force base the week before “just to be there”  as the body of Seal Team 6 member Ryan Owens was brought home to American soil, the president reiterated his “highest duty” is to protect the men and woman who defend our nation. In a short speech to the Central Command brass earlier this week, Trump was boastful, as he sometimes seems to be and the troops loved it. “No enemy stands a chance against our special forces, not even a chance.”

He repeated his belief for a third time, as if Iran and China and even some Russians were taking notes but this time with added emphasis. “They don't have a chance! And that's the way we're going to keep it. And you're going to be better off because you're going to have the finest equipment known to man. Going to be better off.”

He promised the officers his administration will make “a historic financial investment in the armed forces,” and explained his reasoning. “We need strong programs so that people who love us and want to love our country are allowed in … not people who want to destroy us and destroy our country.”

"We’re up against an enemy that celebrates death and totally worships destruction. … Radical Islamic terrorists are determined to strike our homeland, as they did on 9/11, as they did from Boston to Orlando to San Bernardino.”

And our alliance with NATO? “We only ask that all of the NATO members make their full and proper financial contributions to the NATO alliance, which some members have not done in recent years.”

* * *

Trump’s remarks were made at MacDill Air Base to the Central Command leaders on Monday. The next day – Tuesday of this week -- he had a woman brought to the Oval Office named Tiffany Smiles. Her husband Scotty had his eyesight blown away by a roadside bomb in Baghdad in 2005 and has never seen his handsome children. He has also gone through h-e-double-L with the VA and Trump’s vow is to fix the monstrosity.

Here’s what’s fun about this: Trump had his key veterans’ affairs people there but, predictably, representatives of the American Legion, Disabled American Veterans and the Veterans of Foreign Wars got all sulky because they weren’t invited. So the media made a huge deal over the fact the founder of Marvel comics (think ‘Wonder Woman”) Issac ‘Ike’ Perlmutter was.

While I would never slander any veterans’ organization, the feeling is some of these groups like the AmVets and VFW – despite the best intentions – have gotten political, self-serving and quite top heavy. Trump wanted a veteran’s wife who had been through the horrors of having necessary care refused by the VA to pour her heart out and Tiffany, it is said, was unquestionably much more powerful that all the “organized groups” combined. Trump is smart to avoid the dummies.

Now, the ‘Wonder Woman’ guy? Ike – 74 and feisty -- has a dual citizenship (USA/Israel.) He fought in the ‘Six Day War’ and, after first coming to America with just $250 in his pocket, he finally sold Marvel Comics/Entertainment and its ‘Wonder Woman’ to Disney for $4 billion (with a ‘b.’)

When Trump skipped a debate to raise money for veterans, “Ike” wrote a personal check for one million dollars for veterans. Old warriors are his thing. He has a passion and drive for our vets. And he’s made of “the right stuff,’ no matter what the media experts might claim.

So Tiffany, who has born the children her husband cannot see and waged a ferocious war with the VA on his behalf, what did you tell our no-nonsense President about veterans? “It's like that saying, 'you put your own oxygen mask on first, and then you assist others.' Our country seems so divided and everyone is talking about these refugees, right now. What if we put our own oxygen mask on first and took care of our veterans?”

And what did you tell your husband about meeting Donald Trump in the Oval Office? “As I stood beside Ronald Reagan’s desk, it was a moment of feeling that our sacrifice, for everyone who served this country, was worth it. Our veterans will no longer be forgotten.”

* * *

We have listened to Barbra Streisand, to Rev. Jesse Jackson, Lady Gaga, Al Sharpton, heard that Cher is moving to Canada, et al. Perhaps, in the spirit of Democracy, some others should be allowed to comment …

 

* -- A guy who signed his note “Integrity” wrote: “I like the fact that the President visited the troops and reassured them. It's obvious he supports them and wants the best for them. That must be encouraging to our troops since they were mostly ignored for the last 8 years. This POTUS has his work cut out for him for sure.”

* -- From “Carrie”: “I actually agree with Trump on a stronger military. I am happy he is going to invest in it. I hope he means the comment about people who love this country getting to come in.”

* -- “Bart”:  “The important thing is not that Trump loves the troops, but that the troops love Trump.  The Democrats are going on about mounting a military coup to depose Trump.  That ain't happening with these troops at least.”

* -- “Unnamed”: “The truth: President Trump's heart is in the right place. He gave up a lot to serve as POTUS. He has accomplished more in two weeks than our previous POTUS accomplished in two years. Since there is so much pushback, I have to assume that it is change the snowflakes protest against as well as our other so-called leaders. After all, they had a turn. So now step aside and let that hope and change we didn't get before, come about now!!!!

* -- “Crow”: “Every time I hear him speak, my heart swells with pride!!  God bless you, President Trump!! That (person) that used to live in our White House made me sick. I couldn't stomach to even hear his voice! I'm so excited to see what comes next!

* -- “ Cameron”: “As I'm reading comments I am pleased to see many of the feelings expressed mirror my own. Born in the late 50's growing up during the Civil Rights/Viet Nam era living through global civil unrest and administrations pulling the country back and forth, (II can say) with all honesty the past eight was the first time in my life I was actually afraid for my country. I'm no longer afraid.”

* -- “Elaine”: “Not only is his heart in the right place, but so is his head.  He knows what needs to be done and how to do it.  I am so thrilled we finally, after 8 long years, have a REAL Commander-in-Chief who respects our troops, and one whom our troops respect.  Finally, a LEADER!”

* -- “Natalie”: “As a veteran myself, I know when a Commander-in-Chief has the upmost respect from all of the soldiers. The former POTUS didn't have the full respect even though the soldiers couldn't openly speak out in fear of being reprimanded for doing so! I have spoken to many soldiers that were on active duty and were p***ed off how the POTUS had treated their comrades that were killed in Iraq and Afghanistan -- especially their families! Taking the death benefits from the grieving spouse's or families and then having to fight the government to get it back... All because of Obama! He stated, “They knew what they signed up for!” I'm so happy that we FINALLY have a POTUS that TRULY CARES about our soldiers and will have their back! The soldiers now have a PRESIDENT that they can depend on and that's not afraid to do what's necessary to keep them safe!”

* -- “Estell”: “Obama did all he could to undermine the military from budget cuts to personnel reductions via attrition. What is kept quiet by his liberal friends in the mainstream media is his close ties and commiseration with groups like the Muslim Brotherhood, C.A.I.R. And ISNA, whom which he met with and, it's been rumored with whom he  consulted with. I wonder what those consultations consisted of? Perhaps the weakening of the military was a major part of those oh-too-frequent discussions? How to weaken the military? I'm not misogynistic but using the military as a social petri dish by the inclusion of women in the combat arms, I'm sorry to say, weakens and jeopardizes the mission of combat units. To participate in a grueling 10-15 mile road march while carrying a weapon, full load of ammo, and personal gear in a 90 lb rucksack, is challenging for many men much less women. Men, being naturally protective, will linger behind the group to assist a struggling woman and thus expose the entire group to enemy detection and fire as they are all exposed. This "social laboratory” is one way to surreptitiously weaken the military. Makes it more difficult to defeat terrorist huh?”

* -- “Droid” checks in: “Trump is hosting people in the White House that Obama and Clinton would deem "deplorable". Our Vets deserve the very best medical and other supportive care in an environment free of red tape and excessive regulations. I hope Trump guts the VA and eliminates the useless bureaucrats and bean counters. The VA probably wastes more than 50% of its annual budget on totally useless bureaucrats, pencil pushers and the like. Go Trump go !!! Drain the VA swamp !!!

* -- “Unnamed”: “This article points out what is wrong not only with the VA but government overall. It is 1. too big, 2. ineffective, 3. Burdensome, and so on. I suspect we've reached the place of "stupid paper pushing" because the 1. too big government had to keep busy. Plus, after the truly necessary laws were passed such as those in the Ten Commandments, then what was left to do? There is so much that needs to be done to fix this but it would seem reducing 3/4ths of that paperwork especially for Veterans is a good place to start. Then tackle the IRS. To our military, bless you and a special thanks to Tiffany Smiley for meeting with President Trump. I suspect we'll soon see progress in this area.”

* * *

Do you really believe you would have read this in the New York Times, the San Francisco Chronicle, the Miami Herald, the Chicago Tribune or the Huffington Post: Perhaps I missed it.

royexum@aol.com

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