I’m a bit confused with the guest column that U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke wrote and was published in the 8/5/16 Missoulian. He states that politics has no role in the military and wants both Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton to apologize to the families and service members they have offended.
Most of us know what Mr. Trump did to offend military service members and their families, but what did Hillary do? He fails to explain her grievous sin and then goes on to mention his military service and that of his family members. For someone who feels politics has no role in the military, how about the reverse: Rep. Zinke mentions his commanding troops on the battlefield with his Seal Team every chance he gets.
Now I’m a retired Army guy, but it’s my understanding that there is a huge difference between being a Commander (logistics support) in Navy Seals and the Commander of Navy Seals. It’s unclear to me what type of Seal Commander Zinke served as.
One important job of a commander is to survey the battlefield and decide if it’s wise to commit oneself to a certain course of action. Given the current political climate surrounding the Republican presidential candidate, I’m curious to know if Commando Zinke is having second thoughts about introducing Donald Trump earlier this year in Billings and volunteering to serve as his second in command.
Jim Hamilton
Florence
Mike in Stevensville says
Howard, now perhaps you will tell us what Hillary has done to offend the military?
Howard says
Mike, elections are important, so I suggest you pick up a newspaper every once in a while, or at least google both candidates before voting. Start by googling the terms “Trump offends military” You’ll get all sorts of results including:
1) Trump said that John McCain is not a war hero b/c he was captured by the enemy and spent 5 years in a POW camp. He said he “prefers people who were not captured.”
2) He disrespected the parents of a muslim Army captain who died protecting his fellow soldiers in Iraq.
3) He routinely states the the U.S. military is weak, despite the fact that we have, by far, the largest and most powerful military in the world.
4) His anti-muslim rhetoric plays right into hands of groups like ISIS by emboldening them and increasing their ability to recruit. This puts our active military in the middle east, not to mention us here at home, at much greater risk of attack.
5) He has stated that he understands the problems we face in the middle east better than our top generals do.
Mike in Stevensville says
Not being a current follower of either candidate, please allow me to ask what did Trump do to offend the military?
I probably won’t get an answer here, as it seems not many people respond on line, but I hope I do.
Thanks,
Mike