Duckworth to halt 1,100 military promotions if Pentagon retaliates against Vindman

[babylonsister]

https://www.axios.com/alexander-vindman-promotion-tammy-duckworth-74bd31bf-fed9-4842-a269-75da8b92c108.html

39 mins ago - Politics & Policy
Duckworth to halt 1,100 military promotions if Pentagon retaliates against Vindman
Orion Rummler


Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) said Thursday that she plans to block the promotion of 1,123 senior military officers through the Senate until Defense Secretary Mark Esper confirms that he will not block the promotion of Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman.

Why it matters: Some lawmakers and military officials are concerned that Vindman's promotion could be sunk by White House retaliation over his testimony in President Trump's impeachment inquiry, the New York Times and Washington Post report.

Duckworth's office described the move in a press release as "unprecedented in modern times."

snip//

What she's saying: "Our military is supposed to be the ultimate meritocracy. It is simply unprecedented and wrong for any commander in chief to meddle in routine military matters at all, whether or not he has a personal vendetta against a soldier who did his patriotic duty and told the truth — a soldier who has been recommended for promotion by his superiors because of his performance," Duckworth said in a statement.

After Trump endorsed the idea of removing Vindman, but before the key security official was escorted out of the White House, Esper told reporters in February that the Pentagon "[protects] all of our persons, service members from retribution or anything like that."

[BComplex]

1. Woah!!! That's how a true patriot acts! THAT is a hero!

Thank you, Senator Duckworth!!! You are awesome!!!

[qazplm135]

2. well done

this is a formality. He made it through a selection board which, at best, was a 50/50 proposition and basic Google tells me the infantry officer promotion rate usually hovers in the low to mid 40s. So, he cleared that bar.

[Bayard]

3. I thought trump had already blocked the promotion?

[Marcuse]

4. A Full Bird. More than deserved.