John Kelly Finally Lets Loose on Trump

[Dennis Donovan]

https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2020/02/john-kelly-alexander-vindman-north-korea-and-trump/606496/

The former chief of staff explained, in the clearest terms yet, his misgivings about Trump’s behavior regarding North Korea, immigration, and Ukraine.

PETER NICHOLAS
1:05 AM ET

MORRISTOWN, N.J. – Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman, the former National Security Council aide and impeachment witness President Donald Trump fired Friday, was just doing his job, former White House chief of staff John Kelly told students and guests at a Drew University event here Wednesday night.

Over a 75-minute speech and question-and-answer session, Kelly laid out, in the clearest terms yet, his misgivings with Trump’s words and actions regarding North Korea, illegal immigration, military discipline, Ukraine, and the news media.

Kelly, a retired Marine Corps general, said that Vindman is blameless and simply followed the training he’d received as a soldier, migrants are “overwhelmingly good people” and “not all rapists,” and Trump’s decision to condition military aid to Ukraine on an investigation into his political rival Joe Biden upended longstanding U.S. policy.

Vindman was rightly disturbed by Trump’s phone call to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in July, Kelly suggested. Having seen something “questionable,” Vindman properly notified his superiors, Kelly said. Vindman, who specialized in Ukraine policy at the National Security Council at the time, was among multiple U.S. officials who listened in on the call. When subpoenaed by Congress in the House impeachment hearings, Vindman complied and told the truth, Kelly said.

</snip>

Still reading thru it... I wouldn't characterize it as "letting loose", but he's much more candid than before.

[imanamerican63]

1. But why didn't he blast Trump sooner?

What was Kelly afraid of?

[TEB]

2. Exactly

[SummerSnow]

4. You ever notice that all of those repubicans who speakup against Trump ...

no longer work for his administration? Cowards. Now we supposed to think or believe that he is somehow brave? lol

[Dennis Donovan]

5. He'll probably say it's "military discipline"

...however, Gen Mark Hertling and Gen Barry McCaffrey have had no problem with criticizing Trump, so I'm going with flat-out cowardice.

[woodsprite]

14. He was willing to ride Trump's tails as far as it would get him, but

there was even stuff he wasn't willing to let slide without speaking up, so Trump got rid of him.

Not a coward - more like an opportunistic piece of shit who didn't uphold his oath.

[Wounded Bear]

29. Hertling and McCaffrey are both retired...

Kelly was still on active duty when he was Trump's chief of staff. Criticizing the Pres while on active duty is a big no-no and tantamount to insubordination.

[Judi Lynn]

6. Hope his decision to talk will encourage others. Trump goes wild when he is crossed.

He will probably try to harm his "enemies" until his dying breath.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

7. He's a Marine. The Pres is Commander-In-Chief.

I sincerely doubt he was afraid. The general felt it his duty to serve the CIC that the people chose. He stayed as long as his conscience allowed.

[Dennis Donovan]

9. He's been out of the position for over a year

I wish he hadn't dragged his feet until AFTER the impeachment.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

10. I don't know his reasons; just saying fear is not likely among them.

[Dennis Donovan]

11. He still has a child in the active military - that could've been the reason for silence

Maybe, he realized what happened to Vindman could happen to his own son? Perhaps, he thought, by speaking up he could isolate his son from retribution?

I'm glad he's finally saying something, at least.

[3Hotdogs]

15. Probably, just the opposite.

Kelly Jr., if you can find him, is right now peeling potatoes in the N.O.R.A.D. base.

[Eyeball_Kid]

27. If not fear, what's left?

Sadness? Elation? Anger? Love?

There are only so many emotions that motivate action or inaction. Emotion is attached to nearly every action. So which one could it be?

[Judi Lynn]

3. Wonderful he has finally opened up. He could have kept quiet. So good to see this. Thank you. n/t

[Dennis Donovan]

8. Guessing Mattis can't be far behind?

[Iliyah]

12. Inasmuch I'm no fan of Republicans at this time . . . .

I'm glad he is speaking up . . . .

3.2.1. for shithole attacks. He hates anyone who opposes him.

[Dennis Donovan]

13. You can set your watch to it

Kelly was a "deep stater", etc...

[maxrandb]

16. Kelly, Mattis and the rest of them are fucking clowns...

They wouldn't know honor, integrity, courage and commitment if it jumped up and bit them on the ass.

This is nothing more than Kelly doing as little as humanly possible in the hopes we will forget what a cowardly little pissant he truly is.

This is like running over to the scene of a burned out apartment building and proclaiming; "well, I was kinda hoping his playing with matches phase would eventually stop".

Courage is screaming for the defense of our democracy from the rooftops with a bullhorn...not telling a bunch of kids in an obscure speech that you were "troubled".

He owns this shitshow as does Mattis, and EVERY OTHER SENIOR LEADER that remained silent and enabled the destruction.

Kelly and Mattis don't deserve our thanks or appreciation, they deserve federal prison.

All this "well, I kinda disagreed with Putin in orange facepaint" is nothing more than an thinly veiled attempt to rescue his "legacy".

Sorry John, your protestations of "rule of law" and "doing what's right" is kinda muffled.

That's what happens when you've spent so much time with your head shoved firmly up Donnie Shit for Brains "looks like 50 lbs of chewed bubblegum" ass.

Go fuck yourself. Your place in American history has already been secured...you fucking treasonous amphibian turd.

[blueinredohio]

19. Agreed 1000 percent!!!

[Ohiogal]

26. +1000

[irisblue]

17. Ring and Run Kelly

[PA Democrat]

18. Better late than never.

Maybe this will encourage others to speak out.

[wnylib]

20. There are regulations about military

members participating in partisan political activities. They can serve as an appointee to a government position by an elected official, if they get permission from the secretary of the division of the military they belong to, e.g. Secretary of the Navy, Army, etc. That is done in service to the country, not the party.

There are regulations regarding public partisan positions and statements because the military serves the nation in a neutral capacity. They can have political views, of course, and can vote and take personal, partisan positions, but must follow regulations that separate their political views from the military.

Kelly is speaking now about Vindman's professional behavior in doing his job, following his oath, and following the law. He is not taking a partisan position, just clarifying Vindman's professional behavior. Trump is making professionalism a partisan issue. As usual, Trump blurs personal and professional. He is demanding loyalty from the military to himself and to the party that he has made personally his own.

Kelly is clarifying the separation of military and political because Trump is retaliating against Vindman for remaining professional instead of being partisan.

In other words, Trump is trying to make the military his own personal servants. Kelly is upholding neutrality.

[Joinfortmill]

21. Better late than never

I guess.

[Rider3]

22. A little too late

You missed the bus. It rolled over you, and you let it happen when you could've stopped it. You reap what you sow, Kelly.

[amuse bouche]

23. Omarosa said Kelly went along with every vile order

She said the child kidnapping was fine with Kelly. He cheered it on as a deterrent

[Laura PourMeADrink]

24. Yes, would have preferred "grossly wrong" to "against policy"

[kentuck]

25. Finally! A day late and a country short...

What was the catalyst?

[Dukkha]

28. Captain Hindsight being a keyboard warrior

Like the rest of his vast army of useless ex-admin officials they wait until they rotate back to civilian life before they wage an offensive.

[DeminPennswoods]

30. Glad Kelly is going on the record now,

but I'm not forgetting he willingly carried out Trump's draconian immigration policies while serving as head of DHS. He has a lot of repenting to do for that.

[eissa]

31. He praises Vindman for following

what he had been trained to do “from cradle to grave” by not following illegal orders and informing his superiors. Yet Kelly himself was too cowardly to do exactly that. I’m glad he’s FINALLY speaking out, but he needs to do a lot more to atone for his weakness.

[Leith]

32. It's surprising that Kelly said anything

He's got that sweet gig on the board of the private detention center that puts children in cages.

He's no hero. He's scum.