My latest in PJ Media:
Lt. Col. Stuart Scheller, the Marine who has ended up in the brig in Camp Lejeune for making a video criticizing Pentagon top dogs for the Afghanistan catastrophe, had a few choice words for former President Trump and a host of others in a lengthy rant he posted on Facebook just before he was arrested. His hostility to Trump is incongruous, given that it was Biden’s woke military brass that he took to task, but from the looks of his Facebook posting, clearly Scheller thinks of himself as above it all, possessed of insight far beyond America’s present bitter divisions. That’s wonderful, but now that he has alienated practically everyone, it’s unclear who he thinks should or will fight to get him sprung.
Scheller writes to Trump with withering contempt:
President Trump. I was told by everyone to kiss the ring because of your following and power. I refuse. While I respect your foreign policy positions, I hate how you divided the country. I don’t need or want your help. You do not have the ability to pull US together. You may even win the next election. But your generation’s time is running out. Tell your son to stop tweeting about me. Your whole family knows nothing about US or our sacrifices. I could never work with you. I’d rather sit in jail and be released with a dishonorable than make compromises in my beliefs.
Despite having such low regard for Trump, the far-seeing Marine officer found Trump’s predecessors no better: “President Obama. Great at speeches… obviously weak in any intestinal fortitude. President Bush Jr. great at speeches… obviously ignorant in thinking he could import democracy. President Clinton. Great at bringing Congress together… obviously morally bankrupt. This includes his wife.”
Scheller does respect one president. He may be the only person in the entire world who considers George H. W. Bush, the forty-first president, a “genius.” He criticizes General David Petraeus for not heeding Poppy Bush’s wisdom: “History somehow forgot George Bush Sr.’s genius. If you were half as smart as him, you would have recommended an efficient withdraw much sooner than the long wars you promoted. But that would have marginalized the theory of your genius.”
Numerous others came into Sheller’s sights: “General Mattis. The warrior monk. We all know you became a monk because you are gay. To be clear, my generation don’t care about sexuality. We are better than that. But our generation does care about honesty. You brought to my Infantry Officer Course 1-06 what can only be described as a female prop. It was uncomfortable for all of us. As soon as you left, we all knew you were a liar.”
There is more. Read the rest here.
RichardL says
like many soldiers, he is a virtue ethicist, and Trump has not exactly lived a virtuous life. I publish on virtue ethics and Trump shattered many ideas I had and actually allowed me to see some good things in Kennedy, who was a whore-mongering, war-mongering swine, but also did good things for the country. Scheller’s moral code is a bit rigid, but it gave us a hero, who confronts the whole establishment. I admire him, for all his flaws. Just like I admire Trump for all his flaws. I also gave money to his fund on Pipe Hitter.
Terry Gain says
+1.
mortimer says
Lt. Col. Stuart Scheller doesn’t seem to want friends. He seems to overlook how the Bribed-man is dividing Americans in the last 8 months.
Now the Bribed-en administration is demonizing parents who disagree with school curricula as well as white Republicans.
Lt. Col. Scheller seems correct about Afghanistan, but he can’t see how many things Biden has got wrong in only 8 months.
Lt. Col. Scheller doesn’t seem to know how many things Trump got right either … so he must have got all his wrong ideas from CNN. I’m always surprised that people are unaware of all the things this very active and productive president achieved in only 4 years.
Here are 2 lists of Trump’s accomplishments (please share):
https://sharylattkisson.com/2021/01/25-top-accomplishments-of-president-donald-j-trump/
https://www.whitehouse.gov/trump-administration-accomplishments/
Frank Anderson says
The obvious goal of polarizing the country has been achieved, just as in Germany before Hitler. The 2 sides want something over which there is NO compromise or middle ground, liberty or slavery, life or death. Accepting the fact that some issues cannot be resolved with negotiation, they must be resolved as is often in history, with power. The future we face is grim. The lessons are there to learn as they have so many times in the last century, if we will. “Those who cannot remember the lessons of the past are condemned to repeat them.” Jorge Santayana, The Life of Reason (1905). What do you want for the future? Liberty or slavery? Life or death?
Terry Gain says
+1.
Doomer says
His comment about Bush being a “genius” is stupid. He is a marine,and they study Sun Tzu’s 3 principles:
If you know the enemy (Taliban) and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.
Know yourself but not the enemy (Taliban), for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat.
If you know neither the enemy(Taliban) nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle
Notice Scheller never,ever mentions Islam and jihad ideology. Scheller is a typical Western soldier, too lazy,stupid,arrogant to learn the culture,religion and ideas of the enemy.It’s over.
PRCS says
While he did not specifically mention Islam, I believe his reference to Bush forty-three thinking he could import democracy came pretty close.
Doomer says
Not close enough.One can import democracy to a third world country,IF it is non-Muslim. Japan and south Korea were third-world post-war.Their economies 100% destroyed.
The Vietnamese studied Sun Tzu and learned American psychology,to win the war.
The Muslim Brotherhood has studied Western culture,saw more than 90% of university professors are Leftists,who teach postmodernism,and almost all zoomers agree with postmodernism.
And
it has allied itself with the Left.Pure Sun Tzu,know your Western enemy and know your Muslim self.
Postmodernism says objective truth doesn’t exist,so Western culture is no better than Islamic culture,and postmodernism says universal human rights is a Western invention,and should not be imposed on others.
So they say to Muslims in the West and in Muslims countries: ” You be you”, “You do you”,our Western values are no better than yours.
It is explained in a book by two atheist authors who are Classical Liberals, Helen Pluckrose and James Lindsay,
“Cynical Theories: How Activist Scholarship Made Everything About Race, Gender, and Identity—and Why This Harms Everybody”(2020)
PRCS says
“Not close enough.One can import democracy to a third world country,IF it is non-Muslim.”
You made my point, and I believe—-his.
peter says
+1 I do not his definition of “genius” . I think he thinks himself to be a genius . Only time will tell 1
peter says
I do not consider any of the recent presidents probably in the last 30-40 yrs as genius . Some were politically adroit and some were not and some were down right stupid . No body admired George Bush junior for his IQ but he was less of a politician than many before and after him . That was his most admirable point .
RonaldB says
It kind of reminds me of throwing a yapping chihuahua into a cage built to hold a lion, and then having to save face somehow for being so publicly afraid of high-pitched yapping. Scheller was thinking in relative terms: George HW Bush was indeed a genius compared to his idiot son.
Terry Gain says
As someone who has never had to put his life on the line for his country I am inclined to give Scheller a pass. He is understandingly angry with the way the withdrawal from Afghanistan was conceived and implemented. It was moronic from beginning to end.
But I must note that Scheller is not very politically astute for blaming Trump for dividing the country. America is quite clearly a 50:50 country. Joe Biden is changing that and not the way any leftists think.
Frank Anderson says
T.G., I have put MY life and the lives of my family on the line many times without the benefit of a uniform, badge or office full of state paid lawyers. Limiting the respect to those who took their stands in uniform leaves out the millions who stand for the law often alone. Every person who obeys and upholds the law, liberty and Constitution deserves the same respect and imitation when the opportunity is presented. There are too many sideliners watching too few stand for the future.
You have not lived an exciting life, just for one example, until you have sent 400 estimated power bills to your neighbors for their stolen electricity through tampered meters. I have 2 bullet holes in the side of my car to show for it. When I was ordered to assist in federal obstruction of justice and false statements, I was threatened and several attempts were made against my wife and me. NOTHING was done to help. And that was done in the southern US, not south Iraq.
Absolutely agreed that veterans of all service branches deserve support and respect; but so do others who serve.
Terry Gain says
Frank Anderson
I am lucky that I live in a very peaceful country. There was not a day in my 42 years at the Bar that I did not put my clients’ interests above mine, but I have a special place in my heart for the courage of soldiers.. IMNSHO, none of us are a valiant as them. Sticks and stones etc.
Frank Anderson says
T.G., I wish I lived in a peaceful country. There has not been a day in my adult life without an active death threat. Whether from the family of a burglar stopped in the course of his attempt, hundreds of thieves caught in the act of stealing hundreds of thousands, or managers, directors and federal agents stealing hundreds of millions, or even a contractor defrauding dozens of homeowners with bad work. There is always the thief who stole every dime he could reach as the most trusted, honored local member of a fraternity; and a local clan who stole about 100,000 dollars from their great uncle. I have not found peace in this place yet; and I am over 70, having licenses to practice law in 2 states for over 40 years. It takes nothing away from those who serve with the protection of a uniform and many weapons behind them, to show some respect for those who do far more dangerous service alone.
Terry Gain says
Frank
That’s an incredible story. I assume you live in a big city in a blue state. I am not saying that Canadians are more virtuous than Americans. But we are certainly luckier. We did not have America’s plantations and as a result we did not have slavery and its aftermath. This has created problems that America has still not overcome. Nor did we have the responsibility of standing up to the advance of communism.
In addition, as a conservative I believe that evolutions produce better outcomes than revolutions.
James Lincoln says
Frank Anderson,
From a retired US Navy 0-6:
You are correct.
There is some great US Patriots who have never served in “uniform”: military / law enforcement / firefighter, etc.
And you are one of them.
Frank Anderson says
James, I challenge the standard approach because I am far from being the only one. There are many who deserve far better and greater than they receive. Thank you. Frank
tgusa says
US Patriots are everywhere among us. Who were the very first first responders on 9-11?
Infidel says
Precisely! If Schiller thinks that Trump divided this country, I wonder what he thinks it was in even 2012, let alone 2016 or 2020? As McCain proved, had any Republican leader moved towards the left or the center, he would have alienated supporters on the right: the country would still have been divided. The blame for the division in the country should lie squarely w/ the mainstream media
I also don’t get who is it who would have told Schiller to ‘kiss the ring’? During his term, Trump made it a point to ensure that soldiers unfairly targeted, such as Eddie Gallagher, weren’t railroaded. Despite his outburst, conservatives are still contributing towards his legal defense. If Schiller has an issue w/ Trump’s personality, he should prioritize it on a scale that lists different issues, be it the moronic execution of the Afghan withdrawal, the drive towards open borders, destroying America’s energy independence and so on. If he thinks that being personally abrasive ‘trump’s’ all of that, his judgement ain’t that much better than either Lloyd Austin or Mark Milley
All that said, I do hope that he gets to honorably complete his few remaining weeks and get his full retirement
Terry Gain says
Infidel
Great comment. As usual.
Infidel says
Thank you, Terry
mortimer says
I too agree with Col Scheller that Biden bungled Afghanistan so badly that he should be forced to resign before he does more damage.
The debacle of Afghanistan has been called the WORST MILITARY DEBACLE in American history. I can think of no other example when Americans lost an entire country and then gave the enemy $85 billion of advanced military equipment.
The entire Bribed-man cabal should lose their jobs for making this SUPREMELY BAD DECISION.
Terry Gain says
As bad as the Afghanistan withdrawal was for American honor and prestige, Biden’s open borders are causing much more damage to America.
PRCS says
“Biden’s open borders are causing much more damage to America.”
While the numbers do add up, it’s a hundred thousand or so vs millions upon millions over so many decades.
Westman says
My observation was Obama divided the country which enabled the election of Trump.
Obama:
“I found a solace in nursing a pervasive sense of grievance and animosity against my mother’s race.”
“I will stand with the Muslims should the political winds shift in an ugly direction.”
“The future must not belong to those who slander the prophet of Islam.” Forget the “Prophet”. Where is there an example of Islamic inspired human progress?
“If you’ve got a business, you didn’t build that.”
Zuckerberg, who programmed his way to success must chafe at hearing that screed. Many succeed in business against severe opposition, before expanding to a large size. I ran two businesses in my “careers” without anyone building them, as have millions of small entrepreneurs.
Obama wasn’t satisfied to declare the US as a place for all religions; he first decided to make certain everyone knew it was NOT just a Christian-only nation.
“Whatever we once were, we are no longer just a Christian nation; we are also a Jewish nation, a Muslim nation, a Buddhist nation, a Hindu nation, and a nation of nonbelievers.”
Obama was never an “Oreo Cookie”, he was half-black on the outside and socialist-communist on the inside. He even confused blacks; sending the black leaders who marched with King packing, injecting himself into every police-black offender situation that made national news, and sponsoring black entertainer concerts at the White House.
And that statement about, “you didn’t build that”. How does a community organizer, whose support money came from the people, end up in a mansion, after an 8-year stint in corrupt politics, with a value beyond anything he earned. “Did he build that?”
Can anyone describe a system that allows non-residents (and corporations) to donate money to elect a state’s representatives and senators – stealing the real representation of the state’s citizens – as anything but corrupt? And since the media has chosen sides it can only get worse.
gravenimage says
Good post, Westman.
PRCS says
+1
gravenimage says
Terry, agree with your post about Scheller. One need not agree with him on every point–I don’t–to see that he has been treated shamefully.
Eleanor says
Terry, I too live in a very peaceful country, and I am picking you live in Canada. My country is a Constitutional Monarchy, as is yours, and I’m sure that has a lot to do with the stability of the Government and the country. Those countries with the British Monarchy as a symbolic head, do seem to be stable countries. If my country were to become a Republc, it really doesn’t bear thinking about what would happen.
Kepha says
Trump was a great president compared to either the O, B, or what HRC might have been. But that’s a low bar.
I’ m also inclined to give Scheller a pass. As a career military man, he probably knows a bit more about the capabilities of both our own forces and the enemy’s that we do not. His distress at the Afghan debacle is understandable. But, on the other hand, did the USA seriously consider the sort of war that would have to be fought in Afghanistan, and the perils of having Pakistan a very duplicitous “ally” in the fight? What did Scheller think of that? I”m curious.
Frank Anderson says
T.G., the “story” may be incredible; but it is true and court records reflect most of it. You are entitled to worship your heroes. Others may see additional people also worthy of respect and appreciation. My experience had nothing to do with blue cities or states. The red states can be just as corrupt as blue. And it had nothing to do with slavery. The people who have threatened and attempted to kill me, and who did a quite successful job of destroying my life and family, were Southern Baptist White Republicans. That should teach that generalizations and assumptions should be avoided; and every person should be considered for himself.
Alex Lund says
Why think so complicated?
This guy spoke against the holy man, e.g. Biden.
So, he was thrown in the brig and they will have him told, what they are gonna do to him.
Now, he is terrified and kisses the posterior of his jailers (by attacking Trump) in the hope that they will be lenient to him.
JimJFox says
Very well expressed, Doomer
tgusa says
As a Trump supporter I want my tax dollars to go toward fixing the problems here in the USA rater than funding a destined to fail mission in cavemanistan. He doesn’t need us, he just needs our tax dollars. I didn’t need 20 years in Afghanistan any more than he needs us.
As far as Bush Sr we are not at all on the same page. We are not even in the same book. Bush Sr and his 1st Bush Iraq war brought us the 2nd Bush Iraq war. All Bush Sr had to do back in 1991 was have the military turn left towards Baghdad and I doubt we would have had the 2nd one.