fountainofyouth (95 posts) http://www.democraticunderground.com/10141708341
McMaster is a superb military strategist, but his job is going to be mostly bureaucratic.
Could have been much worse than this, though.
I've actually met this guy multiple times during my career. I think he'll be fine.
Star Member TygrBright (15,325 posts)
2. He comes in with a big chunk of leverage, and he knows how to use it.
He doesn't even have to *explicitly* threaten to resign. Just imply that it remains on the table.
interestedly,
Bright
Star Member exboyfil (7,127 posts)
7. Would he be willing to give up his commission?
He has far less flexibility than a civilian.
It would make quite a statement if he did retire.
He won't 'give up his commission'.
Star Member TygrBright (15,325 posts)
11. From what I've heard military scholars and observers say, yep. This guy would do it.
If he had to.
That said, I'm guessing he won't have to. He may have been 'sold' to >Redacted<, but there probably wasn't much real choice about this one.
I think this is probably the beginning of the end for >Redacted<. They're installing the actual behind-the-scenes operators, when they have a few more we'll see the neo-Nazis and the more egregious wackjobs eased out, and >Redacted< will be a Potemkin Pres.
It's still not a good outcome, and I think they underestimate >Redacted<'s capacity to toss sand in the gears.
But it will lessen the immediate chaos and dumb****ery.
speculatively,
Bright
... see,... I am not even sure what this wack-job is talking about. I think it's trying to say the military is moving to place people into position to take Trump out?
but I really have no clue wtf it is talking about.
Star Member elleng (74,339 posts)
3. 'General McMaster is seen as one of the Armys leading intellectuals,
first making a name for himself with a searing critique of the Joint Chiefs of Staff for their performance during the Vietnam War and later criticizing the way President George W. Bush’s administration went to war in Iraq.'
Buckeyeblue (69 posts)
9. Then he won't mesh with anti- intellectual 45.
Star Member get the red out (10,965 posts)
17. How did they get Trump to choose him? He sounds highly qualified, I wonder how Trump/Bannon were convinced to select him?
Shell_Seas (34 posts)
6. What do we know about him? Couldn't find much online beyond a wiki page.
fountainofyouth (95 posts)
8. He's a philosopher general
His current command is the Maneuver Center of Excellence, which works to improve Army warfare doctrine.
He's also known for his critique of the Joint Chiefs in the Vietnam era --Dereliction of Duty
KeepItReal (7,583 posts)
15. David Frum (yeah that guy) said it best so far on MSNBC:
"It's an absolutely baffling pick. McMaster is smart, competent, honest, patriotic, not compromised by a hostile foreign power...I don't know how he got the job."
