When I write in this space I attempt to avoid political topics. But sometimes you get to the point of
screaming invectives and this is the only place to rationally collect thoughts
and get it all out.
My over-the-edge moment was the language that DJT used to
describe the Special Forces operation to take down al-Baghdadi.
I wanted to wait for the exact transcript to be published
to make sure I heard what I thought I did.
Courtesy of NPR, here is some of what he said, as well as my reactions.
We thought, for
three days, this is what was going to happen. It was actually — look, nobody
was even hurt. Our K-9, as they call — I call it a dog, a beautiful dog, a
talented dog — was injured and brought back. But we had no soldier injured. And
they did a lot of shooting, and they did a lot of blasting, even not going
through the front door. You know, you would think you go through the door. If
you're a normal person, you say, "Knock, knock. May I come in?" The
fact is that they blasted their way into the house and a very heavy wall, and
it took them literally seconds. By the time those things went off, they had a
beautiful, big hole, and they ran in and they got everybody by surprise.
I call it a dog? A
beautiful dog? A talented dog? A lot of shooting, a lot of blasting, you
would think you go through the door? Knock, knock, may I come in? A beautiful, big hole?
He was asked how did he see exactly what happened.
Well, I don't want
to say how, but we had absolutely perfect — as though you were watching a
movie. It was — that — the technology there alone is really great.
Watching a movie?
Really great?
Then, the self congratulatory moments:
I kept saying,
‘Where's al-Baghdadi?’ And a couple of weeks ago, they were able to scope him
out. You know, these people are very smart. They're not into the use of cell
phones anymore. They're not — they're very technically brilliant. You know,
they use the Internet better than almost anybody in the world, perhaps other
than Donald Trump. But they use the Internet incredibly well… and that's why he
died like a dog, he died like a coward. He was whimpering, screaming, and crying.
They use the Internet better than anybody…[but] Donald
Trump? He died like a dog? (I get it, colloquial street talk but an
insult to dogs everywhere!)
All the late night TV shows have made appropriate comic
fodder of it all. But this is the
President of the United States talking aimlessly, irresponsibly, putting
himself front and center of a very dangerous but successful mission.
DJT is obviously not a “dog person.” Although dogs love unconditionally, it would
be hard even for them to warm up to such a person.
Our last dog, Treat, a Miniature Schnauzer who was born
on Halloween, and thus her name, was ill for a year before she died. We took her to vets, even for Acupuncture. But we could see it was a losing battle and
she did too. She looked at us with mournful
eyes one day, lying in her bed. We
agreed we had to end her pain and ours.
This decision was made on, of all days, the very day we were going to my
mother’s funeral. We called the Veterinarian
before we left to bring her in afterwards to euthanize her as we did our last
Schnauzer, something we never wanted to go through again. But it was time. When we got back from the funeral, she had
just passed away, peacefully in her bed, almost as a gift to us. We still miss her so much.
DJT’s entire speech and press conference revealed a
person who lacks the characteristics of man’s best friend, loyalty, gentleness,
affection, and courageousness. Thankfully,
a dog had our Special Forces’ back. Trump’s
elementary school level oratory abilities alone expose his lack of leadership
skills, as well as his severely damaged psyche. This is not the behavior of a President of the
United States. And it makes me fearful
of ever having to face an immediate national crisis on his watch.
