President Trump’s elaborate plans for a military parade down the streets of Washinton, DC, has a new critic.
The former Navy SEAL who killed Osama Bin Laden blasted the president’s idea on Twitter.
“A military parade is third world bulls–t,” Robert O’Neill wrote Thursday. “We prepare. We deter. We fight. Stop this conversation.”
He’s not the only former serviceman who’s expressed dismay. The parade idea is singularly unpopular.
“We have a Napoleon in the making here,” Rep. Jackie Speier of California sniped on CNN. “And I really object to it and I think it’s gonna cost a lot of money, so what’s really in it for the American people?”
President Trump loves the pomp and circumstance surrounding the White House, a grand spectacle is right up his alley. Democrats are scoffing at the idea because they love putting the president down, but conservatives have raised a few reasonable objections.
The parade is expected to cost upwards of $20 million.
“I did an informal Twitter survey last night, very unscientific,” said retired Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling, who commanded U.S. Army Europe.
“But I will tell you, it was about 100 to 0 in terms of people, soldiers, former military saying they don’t want any part of these kinds of parades. The reason for it is … there are resource issues, implications for logistics. It would be extremely expensive. It would tear up the streets.”
The White House isn’t backing down. “I’m not sure honoring the military is a waste of money,” snarked White House legislative director Marc Short.
Col. Rob Manning, a Pentagon spokesman, added: “All options are being considered, including linking the parade to a significant event, perhaps a historical event.”
President Trump has proven that he knows how to get his way in the face of opposition. Critics make a lot of noise at first, but usually, they calm down after seeing that voters still support Trump.
(Source: New York Post)