Trump: Military leaders shouldn't talk to the press

[txradioguy]

If he becomes commander in chief, Donald Trump won’t let military generals speak to “the dishonest press,” out of fear they’ll spill national security secrets.

“I don't want them saying things like ‘our nation has never been so ill-prepared.’ Even though it's true, I don't want the enemy knowing that.”“A general should not be on television,” the Republican front-runner told a crowd of supporters during a rally at Carmel, Indiana, on Monday. “I don't want our generals on television. I will prohibit them.

The comments came during a wide-ranging speech where Trump attacked his Republican rivals, Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton and his critics.

He also blasted the media as “the most dishonest human beings in the world” and said military leaders shouldn’t be discussing war strategy or operations with reporters.

“I don't want them going on television,” he said. “You think Gen. George Patton or Gen. Douglas MacArthur, do you think they'd be on television saying about how weak we are?

“Number one, they wouldn't be on television because they'd be knocking the hell out of the enemy and they wouldn't have time.”

http://www.armytimes.com/story/military/election/2016/05/03/trump-no-tv-for-generals/83866472/

 

[ScottinVA]

LMAO!!!

Oh, Good God.

Yeah... let's just adopt a bunker mentality.  No more pressers, no more news releases, no more on-site interviews.  Just "no comment" all day, all night.

What.... a.... putz.

[txradioguy]

“You think Gen. George Patton or Gen. Douglas MacArthur, do you think they'd be on television saying about how weak we are?

That right there shows me Donny has ZERO knowledge of military history or how Patton AND MacArthur used the media to get what they wanted or to try and gain a tactical advantage not just with the enemy but with the American public.

IIRC Ike had to tell Patton more than once to STFU around reporters.

[Frank Cannon]

Anyone else seeing a new style of totalitarian regime coming with Trump that would make Obama blush?

[txradioguy]

Anyone else seeing a new style of totalitarian regime coming with Trump that would make Obama blush?

I'm seeing it as Obama laid the blueprint for someone like Trump to follow...and he and/or Hillary are going to run with it and expand on what Barry did these last 8 years.

This kind of crap will just make MY job that much harder.

[don-o]

More examples of Trump not knowing how our government works.  Really embarrassing at this point.

 

He is running for Boss, not for President.

[Neverdul]

Who do you think should head the Ministry for Popular Enlightenment and Propaganda under a Trump administration?

Roger Stone? He has done a good job so far. 
Shawn Hannity?
Corey Lewandowski?
Ann Coulter?

“….took control of all forms of communication: newspapers, magazines, books, public meetings, and rallies, art, music, movies, and radio. Viewpoints in any way threatening to the regime were censored or eliminated from all media.”

Guess who? Am I allowed to say?

[txradioguy]

Who do you think should head the Ministry for Popular Enlightenment and Propaganda under a Trump administration?

Roger Stone? He has done a good job so far. 
Shawn Hannity?
Corey Lewandowski?
Ann Coulter?

“….took control of all forms of communication: newspapers, magazines, books, public meetings, and rallies, art, music, movies, and radio. Viewpoints in any way threatening to the regime were censored or eliminated from all media.”

Guess who? Am I allowed to say?

My vote is for Bill O'Reilly with Gerraldo as his Deputy

[Oceander]

Proving that even a clock that runs in reverse sometimes tells the correct time.  Trump is clearly paranoid about the press, which presages another Nixon, but he is correct that military leaders should not speak to the press unless directed by the president.

[sinkspur]

Proving that even a clock that runs in reverse sometimes tells the correct time.  Trump is clearly paranoid about the press, which presages another Nixon, but he is correct that military leaders should not speak to the press unless directed by the president.

So then he will force them to speak as anonymous sources which the press will protect.

And, with a clown like Trump at the head of the military, they WILL speak.

[Oceander]

But what he's complaining about is testimony in front of Congress, that is reported on by the press.  He can't bar Congress from having the press in there, so what can he do about that?

And uys like Kirby who talk to the press are only doing so because they've been appointed to a press position by the President.

That's one thing.  If Congress requests testimony from a military officer then it should be given, and the fact the press reports it is of no consequence, or shouldn't be.  The problem as I see it is if a military officer voluntarily chooses to speak to the press without authorization from the president or Congress to speak as a military officer.

[txradioguy]

That's one thing.  If Congress requests testimony from a military officer then it should be given, and the fact the press reports it is of no consequence, or shouldn't be.  The problem as I see it is if a military officer voluntarily chooses to speak to the press without authorization from the president or Congress to speak as a military officer.

We have worked very hard to forge a cordial relationship with the civilian media and to break down some of the walls of distrust that have been built over the decades thanks to wrong headed policies during Vietnam and immediately after.

But to ban them from Pentagon press briefings...to deny the media access to a combatant commander on the ground in Afghanistan via satellite or in person is just plain wrong in this day and age.

The media will either get the facts directly from a GO or other senior officer or NCO or in their absence make shit up or use non credible sources to finish their story.  And that is a really bad thing.

Someone will have to pull Donny aside should he actually win and explain the reality of things to him.  Either WE control the narrative or the media will do it on their own with less than desirable consequences.

[txradioguy]

Well, true.  They generally don't do that unless authorized, or off the record.  In which case, a prohibition can't be enforced anyway.

And quite honestly a lot of the "off the record" stuff is a Public Affairs Officer speaking with the reporter with full authorization of his higher HQ

[txradioguy]

If you don't put the truth out there, what's going to leak out is the proverbial scuttlebutt, and then you're really screwed.

Bingo!

And in this day and age with all the social media...scuttlebutt becomes erality worldwide in less than three hours.