Are we safer or less safe under the Trump Administration?
Jim Thompson
By Jim Thompson
HCP columnist
To me, as a nation, the headline here is the only question we need to worry about at the moment. President Trump may have many flaws (an inclination to name everything that doesn’t move after himself seems to be chief among his possible sins). These actions don’t make him dangerous.
Invading other countries that harm us, directly or indirectly (like Venezuela)? We’ve been doing that since Thomas Jefferson.
“The First Barbary War (1801-05), also known as the Tripolitan War and the Barbary Coast War, was a conflict during the 1801-15 Barbary Wars, in which the United States fought against Ottoman Tripolitania. Tripolitania had declared war against the United States over disputes regarding tributary payments in exchange for a cessation of Tripolitanian commerce raiding at sea.
United States President Thomas Jefferson refused to pay this tribute. The First Barbary War was the first major American war fought outside the New World, and in the Arab world, besides the smaller American–Algerian War (1785-95).” (Wikipedia.) This was to keep us safer.
This is even given top billing in the “Marines’ Hymn:" From the Halls of Montezuma To the Shores of Tripoli; We fight our country's battles, In the air, on land and sea; First to fight for right and freedom, And to keep our honor clean; We are proud to claim the title, of United States Marine.”
Many of the opposition seem to be most angry at Trump for cutting off their suspect dipping into the government coffers. Not surprising, crooks often are upset when caught. Minnesota is Exhibit One in this case.
Trump will keep us safer, for people who steal are one soft trigger pull away from people who kill.
As far as people whose phobias are traumatic, such as arachibutyrophobia (the fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of your mouth), or worse, I don’t think you need to look to the government to make you feel safe, you need to schedule with specialists and may need fitting for a white coat with sleeves secured in the back.
Your wackiness is not the government’s problem and to continue to think the government is going to accommodate you is, well, just crazy.
The safest place on earth to be is the USA, except if you are in one of those colonies that demands the rest of us accede to your out-of-line wishes. In such a case, you may find the bullets to be flying both ways.
Jim Thompson, formerly of Marshall, is a graduate of Hillsboro High School and the University of Cincinnati. He resides in Duluth, Ga. and is a columnist for The Highland County Press.
Comment
Expand on that
"...one of those colonies..." Jim, what, or who, does that phrase refer to?
Colonies
Minneapolis, Dearborn, Portland, Seattle, San Francisco, etc
Ignoring the elephant in the room
I am stunned (well, not really) that you can publish an article with this headline and completely ignore his fracturing of the NATO alliance. His threats to annex Greenland while simultaneously making threats to attack Iran are quite literally making the U.S. less safe by orders of magnitude. He is alienating allies sworn to help defend us while provoking a nation that is widely considered to be a state sponsor of terrorism. Though he seems to want to join that club as well. If he follows through on his threat to attack Iran and car bombs start going off in NYC again, will you still feel safe? Or will it just be another hoax ginned up by liberals to make him look bad?
••• Publisher's note: I am stunned (well, not really) that you continue to read Jim's columns.
stunned by warmongers
Governments require the psychological threat of a menacing boogeyman to legitimize NATO’s existence (Soviet Union during the Cold War), terrorism (al-Qaeda), authoritarianism (Russia and China today), NATO member states promote fear and dread about the enemies of the free world to scam populations into further militarize by expanding military and police forces. Progressives always appear to support NATO’s war drive. European NATO members more than doubled their imports from the weapons industry 60+% coming from the United States. Therefore enlargement of NATO was also the enlargement of the weapons market for the US "war" companies (Boeing, Lockheed Martin, McDonnell Douglas, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, and Textron).
NATO
Need American Taxpayers to Operate...
President Trump is responsible for urging and require the other countries to spend more on their militaries, so they could actually help.
Iran was decimated in one night thanks to President Trump. How much money did Obama and Biden let Iran have?
Real fractures in NATO
Since I have received a NATO Medal for services rendered, I think I can speak with credibility on the organization and operations. In 1998, my expeditionary unit went ashore in Croatia. The American taxpayers' equipment I was responsible for, we loaded on Austrian trucks. I road in the backseat of an olive drab Austrian SUV with Lt. Fittenger. I can't remember the driver's rank and name. We convoyed into the French-zone of Bosnia-Herzegovina. I had really good and memorable conversations with the Austrian guys, I was just a 21-year-old Corporal of Marines. Austria is not a Country in NATO. Then at the French air base in Mostar, Bosnia, my expeditionary unit did not feel welcomed. The François general kicked our scout/snipers out of the air control tower, etc... Then after a few days, just like the expeditionary nature of Marine doctrine, we were on the move again; farther inland and more adventurous. This time my equipment was loaded on Turkish trucks with Greek maintenance vehicles trailing. The Greeks pulled me aside and asked me, "Are you sure you want to ride with the Turks?" Those 2 countries and cultures having been at odds for centuries. Both Turkey and Greece are "members" of NATO. Even as I'm leaving the French air base, there were horizontal poles criss-crossed at the gate where a long truck could not negotiate. Which led to a stalemate with the French gate guards, they're security. They not touching the blocking poles. The Turkish drivers and Greek maintenance men are touching the poles. They're drivers. They told me as much. After a few minutes, the French general appeared. He pulled open the door of the Turkish truck I was riding in. The Brigadier General asked, "Parle vous francais?" I said, "No." He then asked for help in English to move the barriers, so the big trucks my equipment was on can move on to the next area of operations. The Turk in the right seat was begging me not to help the General, "We're drivers. We don't do the front gate." The 21 year-old USMC Corporal said, "I don't care! An ally General asked me to help him! I'm going!" I pushed my way over the obstinate Turk, and the general and I made a wide berth for the big trucks to pass.
Then a few days later, my expeditionary unit was heading back to the Adriatic coast to re-embark back on to Amphibious Ready Group ships. This time, I rode in the back of a big tactical rig supplied by the Czech Republic for an overnight trek back to a Croatian port. I slept the whole way, in full confidence of the non-NATO Czechs... The point is that NATO is not as glorious as you think it is. Austria, The Swiss, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and South Korea are more loyal and reliable. They're not your special NATO...
First...
"Many of the opposition seem to be most angry at Trump for cutting off their suspect dipping into the government coffers. Not surprising, crooks often are upset when caught. Minnesota is Exhibit One in this case."
Exhibit 2: Health care executive Paul Walczak. Convicted of tax evasion, tax fraud and siphoning more than $10.9 million from the paychecks of doctors and nurses. His mother paid $1 million to attend a dinner at MaraLago, 3 weeks later he was pardoned.
Exhibit 3: Lawrence Duran, former co-owner of American Therapeutic Corp., a Miami-based company that ran seven healthcare clinics, convicted of defrauding Medicare by filing over three quarter million false claims and defrauding Medicare out of more than $87 million. Sentence commuted by Trump
Exhibit 4: Philip Esformes, whose 20-year prison sentence for a $1.3 billion Medicare fraud scheme was commuted by Trump.
Etc,etc,etc.
Not a single Minneapolitan or Somalian in the group.
Regardless, I'm not mad because people are getting caught, I'm mad because convicted criminals with enough money and the right connections can just buy a pardon.
Second, the bullets seem to be traveling only in one direction, i.e. toward "domestic terrorists" like Renee Good. Take another look at the (so far) five videos of the event.
As Winson Smith said "The party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command."
I live in reality. I also don't assault officers.
"...bullets seem to be traveling only in one direction..." Tell that to Erika Kirk and President Trump. Both Charley Kirk and Pres. Trump were not obstructing law enforcement officials from performing lawful duties. Both were not resisting lawful commands to exit a vehicle pursuant to a detention because there was probable cause for a lawful arrest. Both Kirk and Trump were politely and lawfully speaking at lawful assemblies. They did not knowingly accelerate their stopped vehicle to collide with an armed law enforcement officer. It's amazing on how many gullible people do not know how lawful uses of force are determined. Maybe it's brainwashed more than gullible.
I live in reality...
...good one Matt!
Have you ever...
Have you ever been assaulted in performance of your duties? Have you ever used force on someone to quell their active disobedient, or their uncooperative, crazy, high, criminal, or violent behaviors? Have you ever pointed a firearm towards a person because their active actions, and their access to deadly weapons, met the immediate criteria for the possible use of deadly force? Have you ever detained, or arrested, someone for cause? Have you ever been weary, tense, or scared of harm, serious physical harm, or death, while at your employment? Until the progressive left answers those questions truthfully and swear upon a Bible, without their "20/20" gotcha hindsight, AI video watching, MSCNN loyalties, and their anti-American tripe this will fall on millions of deaf ears and blind eyes, and the country's logical minds will prevail. That "Good" woman had zero business to be where she happened to be at the time of her death. She was in the wrong, 100%. And now she's dead. By her own doing, or by her new "friend's" manipulation.... All things being equal, if the Minnesota state law enforcement and the Twin Cities law enforcement be involved and helpful. This incident probably would have never happened. I blame tampon Walz (the VP nominee that Dems blindly voted for, even though he let billions of taxpayers' money flow to fraudulent daycares under his nose) and whoever that weak mayor is.
Answer the question.
I have felt safe for 40 something years! Besides for the few incidents where I was bound by duty and by manhood. To control and pacify the situation(s), by officer presence, verbal and non-verbal commands and gestures, or by displaying a fully functional firearm for just cause. Compliance with lawful orders was achieved, through the tried-and-true values of America and through common sense. But many progressives are not compliant, nor are they sane. Ask me if you want examples the past 10 years...
Safer than the previous circus...
Is this a trick question?