by Nomad
Trump's solution for defeating terrorism may sound like a "get-tough" policy. In fact, it's merely a war crime regularly used by fascists. Still worse, it plays into the hands of our enemies.
Mainly as a result of his entertainment value, candidate Donald Trump was able to say a lot of unpresidential things during the primaries. And this went largely unchallenged by the bewildered and negligent news media.
A lot of things Trump bellowed flew under the radar. The nuttiness was coming at us fast and furious. There were quite a few things that Trump said that should have made intelligent people shudder. We can dismiss the majority of these things as Trump's usual morass and an attempt to satisfy his seemingly-insatiable need for attention.
However, a few of his remarks demand a closer inspection because they are were used to underpin some of his "solutions" to American's challenges.
How Trump would Deal with Terrorism
One of Trump's remarks made during the interview at Fox News t had to do with how he (personally) would defeat terrorism.
The problem with America's war on terrorism, according to Donald, was that we were attempting to wage a "politically correct war." What was needed was a more robust approach. Namely, when it came to dealing with terrorists, "you have to take out their families. "
Presumably, he wasn't referring to taking out the relatives to dinner in lower Manhattan followed a Broadway show. The term, "take out," generally, means in military parlance "to kill."
The reaction to this remarks by the top brass in the US military was immediate and categorical. General Michael Hayden, a retired United States Air Force four-star general and former Director of the National Security Agency, stated
"Trump’s pledge to kill family members as being among his most troubling campaign statements.
Hayden added that the military would refuse to follow illegal orders such as the intentional killing of terrorists’ families.
"If he were to order that once in government, the American armed forces would refuse to act..You are required not to follow an unlawful order.That would be in violation of all the international laws of armed conflict.”
In response to Hayden, Trump wasn't overly concerned. Au contraire, Trump said, as Commander in Chief he would see to it that his orders were followed.
“They won’t refuse, they’re not going to refuse me — believe me.”
