Three Republican senators condemn Trump’s comments accusing U.S. soldiers of stealing Iraq money
Donald Trump’s campaign says he was talking about Iraqi soldiers, but it didn’t seem that way when he spoke.
Lindsey Graham blasted Trump, saying the GOP nominee’s remark tainted the entire U.S. military. “If I were running for commander-in-chief, I wouldn’t make such a statement,” Graham told THE WEEKLY STANDARD. “It taints the finest fighting force in the world.”
The South Carolina senator said that while there have been instances of American military personnel stealing Iraqi reconstruction funds, it was unfair to the majority of troops to focus on these cases.
“One hundred and fifteen have been court-martialed since 2005 for being involved in embezzlement and theft. Out of, you know, hundreds of thousands. I think it’s the wrong thing to emphasize,” Graham said…
Graham was joined in his condemnation of Trump’s remark by Senator Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire. “Our servicemen and women make great sacrifices in defense of our freedom each and every day, and they deserve our thanks and support, not attacks,” Ayotte told TWS in a written statement…
Alaska senator Dan Sullivan, who currently serves as a Marine Corps reservist, also criticized Trump’s comments. “As a guy who is still serving, I know that Marines, sailors, soldiers, airmen, Coast Guardsmen—99.9 percent of them serve admirably,” Sullivan said. “They all serve with honor and distinction. Comments like that aren’t reflective of the true nature of our men and women in uniform.”
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18 responses to Three Republican senators condemn Trump’s comments accusing U.S. soldiers of stealing Iraq money
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nola878 June 15th, 2016 at 20:07
Three Republican Senators down…51 to go.
ps…Lindsey is getting more and more respect from me…
Buford2k11 June 15th, 2016 at 20:38
Lindsey is about “this far” from a total panic attack…He has shown restraint, as I think he has some hidden talent for a good political bashing…I respect the office but not the office holder, especially, on his record, and on his unsteady governance…his failure is in accordance with his party’s agenda.
whatthe46 June 15th, 2016 at 21:14
well, not from me. but, you go right on ahead. he’ll disappoint you in 3…2..1.
nola878 June 15th, 2016 at 21:52
He was one of the first to go against Rump and continues to do so, so I respect him for that.
But you’re right…I’m sure he’ll disappoint me. At my age, I expect it.
clemans June 16th, 2016 at 04:11
not from me, if he is saying something that isn’t batshit crazy, he is only pretending…..ask him where he has said he rejects the GOP platforms……the policies of greed, worship of the 1%, gutting the environment, poverty wages….ending a woman’s right to choose. When he comes out for helping people get out of poverty and saving the middle class, let me know….I probably won’t believe him but I would at least take a look
Suzanne McFly June 16th, 2016 at 09:16
He is funny to watch when he is talking about rump, he is almost laughing as he talks. It is as if he is thinking, “how am I the adult in the party by being the only one that is calling out this person who is hell bent on destroying my country?”. It is absurd but he does deserve some recognition for not jumping on the rump train.
nola878 June 16th, 2016 at 10:33
Kuddos to Kasich to for not jumping on the Rump train either…but he does seem to be leaving some wiggle room. Don’t think Lindsey will reverse his position.
No fan of Lindsey, but I’ll give credit where credit is due. And with the possibility of a madman becoming president…and there IS a possibility no matter what anyone says…we need to stand with anyone who opposes him. We can get back to attacking him after our regularly scheduled presidential election. :)
KABoink_after_wingnut_hacker June 15th, 2016 at 20:50
The republicans always put party and power before the needs of our nation.
This is just window dressing by evil bastards who serve the 1% for kickbacks and send our kids to die in foreign lands.
Trump is selling another republican false realty.
allison1050 June 15th, 2016 at 20:54
Is it just me or what, I seem to remember reading an article in Vanity Fair a 2005 issue about plastic wrapped pallets of US cash sitting on the tarmac in Baghdad and that some of it was stolen.
Mike June 15th, 2016 at 21:30
Billions disappeared actually … Entire tractor trailers full of pallets of $100 bills went missing … The Army admits $6b + went missing, but says they can account for it all … Yeah, and I got a bridge you should look at when your done …
Here ya go
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/27/lost-iraq-cash-government-finally-accounts-6-billion_n_1052840.html
allison1050 June 15th, 2016 at 21:58
I can vaguely remember that there were a heck of a lot of officer involvement and questions more importantly about this cash being shrink wrapped onto those pallets…and the concerns were ignored or down played. The VF article I also have some memory of an officer’s parents were involved they were in So. Cal. if I remember correctly. AND another thing, how does the army admit to 6 billion gone “missing”, but say they can account for it? Go figure.
Obewon June 15th, 2016 at 20:54
GOP, the solution is simple. Ya’ll know about a plethora of undisclosed Trump Crimes, that you hoped wouldn’t be publicly disclosed… For once repubs are torn ‘should we tell truth?’ Yes! Doing the honest thing for once, isn’t likely for any remaining repubs but hey…
allison1050 June 15th, 2016 at 21:00
It’s a start.
Mensa Member June 15th, 2016 at 22:14
That’s the funny thing about Trump’s motor mouth — among all the lies, B.S., and self-congratulations, he’ll stumble upon the truth.
While I think most soldiers are honest but so much U.S. money was stolen.
Bush was literally air lifting pallet loads of 100 dollar bills in Iraq with no controls of where it went.
The scope of Republican fiscal irresponsibility is stunning. GW. “Mr. Fiscal Responsibility” Bush used C-130s to airlift over 350 tons of shrink wrapped bundles of $100 bills to every rogue character in Iraq.
Yes. you read that right — hundreds of TONS of $100 bills of YOUR tax dollars.
Billions and billions just disappeared. It’s hard to imagine that at least a few soldiers didn’t hijack a bundle or two.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2007/feb/08/usa.iraq1
http://www.vanityfair.com/news/2007/10/iraq-billions200710
clemans June 16th, 2016 at 04:07
I think Graham has more to worry about when it comes to dishonoring the troops. As a military spouse, I have seen many of the things promised to my spouse……AFTER…..he can’t get his years back be taken away. And while it can be that contracts for future service will change, one can’t ethically change AFTER the troops can’t get their years back and make other choices.
Also, congress has continued to try to take away the benefits, even wanting to cut active duty pay for troops in a war zone. Cut pay when many of the younger people qualify for food stamps to begin with. It is disgusting that for many years of his career, Graham let troops be paid so poorly and many live with their family in sub standard housing.
Adults capable of critical thinking are not going to blame the honest troops for what a few did. And while I can’t condone stealing……I also can understand, poor pay, families back home…..seeing all of the welfare given tot he defense contractors, and no checks and balances on those pallets full of millions and millions of dollars….some used to bribe warring tribes to not fight with Americans……until the pallets were empty.
I still don’t like Trump and I would never vote for him
William June 16th, 2016 at 08:18
Say what you want about Lindsey. He’s an actual veteran who has deployed. Further, he is one of the GOP elite who has had the grapes to appose Trump.
rat618 June 16th, 2016 at 09:06
Brilliant!
crc3 June 16th, 2016 at 14:43
It sounds like Trump just sits around and dreams up **it to spew out on a daily basis. Doesn’t matter if his comments are fact or fantasy either (most fantasy). He makes me want to puke….