If congress can determine that the prez does not have authority to launch a first strike without a formal declaration of war, it gets the generals off the hook from having to disobey trumps order.
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Think about everything that has lead to this. Based upon earlier comments by Corker, leaks from within the admin (included comments attributed to Mattis), tensions with Tillerson and the tweet to him to not ‘waist his time’ on diplomacy, and other tweets expressing real frustration, that Trump for many weeks now has been pushing for a nuclear first strike on Pyongyang and the use of tactical nukes in NK.
I realize on the surface this sounds crazy and paranoid on my part, but think about it. All the things leading up to this and now the very sane Bob Corker holding what will be an historic and unprecedented hearing.
Why is Bob Corker doing this? Why have Kelly and Mattis made a pack to never be out of the country at the same time? Trump is the president so why doe he need to express such frustrations on twitter?
Trump wants to nuke NK and he’s being refused. The inner most circle is terrified he’ll issue a direct order to do so (and maybe he’s order the prep for such an attack) and they are scrambling to head it off before Option 25 is invoked.
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Defense Secretary James Schlesinger recalled years later that in the
final days of the Nixon presidency he had issued an unprecedented set of
orders: If the president gave any nuclear launch order, military
commanders should check with either him or Secretary of State Henry
Kissinger before executing them.
https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/08/11/donald-trump-nuclear-weapons-richard-nixon-215478
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So this will be some interesting coverage over at Fox with their newest NatSec Strategist Gorky Pig.
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Britain was going to use the Royal Yacht. One of the reasons the propulsion system was never upgraded and it remained steam powered until decommission.
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hahahahaha Gorky Pig.
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I agree. In this case, though, it seems that the checks and balances were never there, with the understanding that the president would be sane enough to make a rational decision if the need arose. Whatever that might mean.
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Should be an interesting news day, tena. I board a flight in Austin at 6, and board another at DFW at 8:30
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Fascinating. I’ll bet there have been some high-level discussions about this in recent months.
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The only reason for any president or have sole and immediate authority to order a nuclear strike is the launch on warning scenario. Rules should be changed so that the order doesn’t go through if there’s nothing coming at us.
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O my god - it should be indeed. I have an appointment at 1 - watch all hell break loose while we’re both gone.
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Next Tuesday should be interesting as well. Have a 6am boarding for flight home. Since it’s “Next Tuesday,” the unsealed indictment you might be seeing could be Iwanka or Kellyanne
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Ooo Anti! We’ve got the perfect set ups for all kinds of interesting things.
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Hearings about legislation (not just investigations) and real experts making presentations, sharing information and answering questions of members of Congress. Too bad nobody had ever thought about such a smart thing before the multiple ACA repeal and replace bills or the tax cut bill.
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Yeah no shit. You’d almost think it’s supposed to be that way.
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An excuse to go shopping. “La Croix, darling, La Croiiiiiiiiiiiiiix.”
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Why do we presume that this is what will be the end result. The moment we launch, I think we will light the fuse for a nuclear free for all. Some in reaction, some by design. I will almost bet one country is just waiting for this to happen. North Korea is a proxy for them to get to that point.
And by questioning Trump’s authority to launch, it is also a referendum on his ability to be president. It is like an impeachment trial balloon.
We tend to think of his impulsiveness in this situation. One thing to consider beyond that is his world view again. In his delusion he has likely already incorporated a contrived, then believed self-rationalization as to why this might be possible.
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I agree and as much as I delight in Corker’s move as part of the political theatre of the moment, I fear there’s a serious side to it too. I don’t imagine he’s just playing and grandstanding. There must be some serious concern among people in the know.
And that, of course, has to be fearsome to all of us.
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