1 - Goose
- Cogito ergo sum
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Trump Wanted Tenfold Increase in Nuclear Arsenal, Surprising Military
Trump Wanted Tenfold Increase in Nuclear Arsenal, Surprising Military
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said he wanted what amounted to a nearly tenfold increase in the U.S. nuclear arsenal during a gathering this past summer of the nation’s highest ranking national security leaders, according to three officials who were in the room.
Trump’s comments, the officials said, came in response to a briefing slide he was shown that charted the steady reduction of U.S. nuclear weapons since the late 1960s. Trump indicated he wanted a bigger stockpile, not the bottom position on that downward-sloping curve.
According to the officials present, Trump’s advisers, among them the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, were surprised. Officials briefly explained the legal and practical impediments to a nuclear buildup and how the current military posture is stronger than it was at the height of the build-up. In interviews, they told NBC News that no such expansion is planned.
The July 20 meeting was described as a lengthy and sometimes tense review of worldwide U.S. forces and operations. It was soon after the meeting broke up that officials who remained behind heard Tillerson say that Trump is a “moron.”
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Any increase in America’s nuclear arsenal would not only break with decades of U.S. nuclear doctrine but also violate international disarmament treaties signed by every president since Ronald Reagan. Nonproliferation experts warned that such a move could set off a global arms race.
“If he were to increase the numbers, the Russians would match him, and the Chinese” would ramp up their nuclear ambitions, Joe Cirincione, a nuclear expert and MSNBC contributor, said, referring to the president.
“There hasn’t been a military mission that’s required a nuclear weapon in 71 years,” Cirincione said.
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,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,That meeting followed one held a day earlier in the White House Situation Room focused on Afghanistan in which the president stunned some of his national security team. At that July 19 meeting, according to senior administration officials, Trump asked military leaders to fire the commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan and compared their advice to that of a New York restaurant consultant whose poor judgment cost a business valuable time and money.
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Officials present said that Trump’s comments on a significantly increased arsenal came in response to a briefing slide that outlined America’s nuclear stockpile over the past 70 years. The president referenced the highest number on the chart — about 32,000 in the late 1960s — and told his team he wanted the U.S. to have that many now, officials said.
The U.S. currently has around 4,000 nuclear warheads in its military stockpile, according to the Federation of American Scientists.
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At one point, Trump responded to a presentation on the U.S. military presence in South Korea by asking why South Koreans aren’t more appreciative and welcoming of American defense aid. The comment prompted intervention from a senior military official in the room to explain the overall relationship and why such help is ultimately beneficial to U.S. national security interests.
We live in a time in which decent and otherwise sensible people are surrendering too easily to the hectoring of morons or extremists.
- tennyson
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Re: Trump Wanted Tenfold Increase in Nuclear Arsenal, Surprising Military
Yeah, like we don't have enough nuclear power to destroy all of humanity ALREADY ! 
"Do not confuse motion and progress, A rocking horse keeps moving but does not make any progress"
- Rongone
- Sentient Being
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Re: Trump Wanted Tenfold Increase in Nuclear Arsenal, Surprising Military
The depths of Trump’s ineptitude knows no bottom.
- Goose
- Cogito ergo sum
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Re: Trump Wanted Tenfold Increase in Nuclear Arsenal, Surprising Military
I have never seen an administration who is at once so ignorant; so ignorant of history, science, diplomacy, and world affairs,,,,, AND so contemptuous of anyone who has expertise in these areas.
They are in for a huge fall. I only hope that they don't take us all down with them.
We live in a time in which decent and otherwise sensible people are surrendering too easily to the hectoring of morons or extremists.
- •
Thread Starter- Common Sense
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Re: Trump Wanted Tenfold Increase in Nuclear Arsenal, Surprising Military
Goose wrote:
Trump Wanted Tenfold Increase in Nuclear Arsenal, Surprising Military
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said he wanted what amounted to a nearly tenfold increase in the U.S. nuclear arsenal during a gathering this past summer of the nation’s highest ranking national security leaders, according to three officials who were in the room.
Trump’s comments, the officials said, came in response to a briefing slide he was shown that charted the steady reduction of U.S. nuclear weapons since the late 1960s. Trump indicated he wanted a bigger stockpile, not the bottom position on that downward-sloping curve.
According to the officials present, Trump’s advisers, among them the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, were surprised. Officials briefly explained the legal and practical impediments to a nuclear buildup and how the current military posture is stronger than it was at the height of the build-up. In interviews, they told NBC News that no such expansion is planned.
The July 20 meeting was described as a lengthy and sometimes tense review of worldwide U.S. forces and operations. It was soon after the meeting broke up that officials who remained behind heard Tillerson say that Trump is a “moron.”
,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Any increase in America’s nuclear arsenal would not only break with decades of U.S. nuclear doctrine but also violate international disarmament treaties signed by every president since Ronald Reagan. Nonproliferation experts warned that such a move could set off a global arms race.
“If he were to increase the numbers, the Russians would match him, and the Chinese” would ramp up their nuclear ambitions, Joe Cirincione, a nuclear expert and MSNBC contributor, said, referring to the president.
“There hasn’t been a military mission that’s required a nuclear weapon in 71 years,” Cirincione said.
,,,,,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,That meeting followed one held a day earlier in the White House Situation Room focused on Afghanistan in which the president stunned some of his national security team. At that July 19 meeting, according to senior administration officials, Trump asked military leaders to fire the commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan and compared their advice to that of a New York restaurant consultant whose poor judgment cost a business valuable time and money.
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Officials present said that Trump’s comments on a significantly increased arsenal came in response to a briefing slide that outlined America’s nuclear stockpile over the past 70 years. The president referenced the highest number on the chart — about 32,000 in the late 1960s — and told his team he wanted the U.S. to have that many now, officials said.
The U.S. currently has around 4,000 nuclear warheads in its military stockpile, according to the Federation of American Scientists.
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At one point, Trump responded to a presentation on the U.S. military presence in South Korea by asking why South Koreans aren’t more appreciative and welcoming of American defense aid. The comment prompted intervention from a senior military official in the room to explain the overall relationship and why such help is ultimately beneficial to U.S. national security interests.
A cute headline but it completely false... Kinda like FAKE news again.
From the secdef responding to the fake so called news reporting.
NEW: Unusual statement from SecDef Mattis, calling reports that Trump called for increase in nuclear arsenal "absolutely false"
“We hold these truths to be self-evident,” former vice president Biden said during a campaign event in Texas on Monday. "All men and women created by — you know, you know, the thing.”
- Common Sense
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Re: Trump Wanted Tenfold Increase in Nuclear Arsenal, Surprising Military
Jim Mattis: Report that Trump wanted major nuclear buildup 'absolutely false'
by David Brown | Oct 11, 2017, 2:45 PM
An NBC News report claiming President Trump requested a tenfold increase in the U.S. nuclear arsenal is "absolutely false," Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said in a Wednesday statement."Recent reports that the President called for an increase in the U.S. nuclear arsenal are absolutely false," Mattis said. "This kind of erroneous reporting is irresponsible.
"Minutes earlier, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that the report was "fake news" and that such an increase was "totally unnecessary." He added that he wants the U.S. arsenal to be in "tip-top shape" and "perfect shape.""General Mattis put out a statement, or is putting out a statement, saying that was fake news, that it was just mentioned that way." He also said it's "disgusting" that the media can write what it wants.The NBC News story, published early Wednesday morning, said Trump's request occurred during a meeting at the Pentagon July 20, after Trump was showed a briefing slide illustrating the reduction of nuclear stockpile since the 1960s."According to the officials present, Trump's advisers, among them the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, were surprised," the story said. "Officials briefly explained the legal and practical impediments to a nuclear buildup and how the current military posture is stronger than it was at the height of the buildup. In interviews, they told NBC News that no such expansion is planned."
After this meeting broke up, Tillerson is reported to have called Trump a "moron," but it's unclear if he was referring to the nuclear question or some other item that came up during the long and often tense meeting.Trump's comments that a buildup is "unnecessary" seem to run counter to a tweet from December, in which he said "The United States must greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability until such time as the world comes to its senses regarding nukes."
The United States must greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability until such time as the world comes to its senses regarding nukes— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 22, 2016
Last edited by Common Sense (10/12/2017 4:13 pm)
“We hold these truths to be self-evident,” former vice president Biden said during a campaign event in Texas on Monday. "All men and women created by — you know, you know, the thing.”
- Goose
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Re: Trump Wanted Tenfold Increase in Nuclear Arsenal, Surprising Military
Well, that should pretty much take care of things. 
Of course, they are going to deny it it, Common.
To admit that the President is uninformed and dangerously unfit is not something that his own team is going to do.
If Mattis were to say that, he would need to resign. And the Generals have decided to stay close to this lunatic for the good of the nation. Sheesh.
Did Nixon ever go on TV and say, "Yea, I AM a Crook"?
Last edited by Goose (10/12/2017 4:25 pm)
We live in a time in which decent and otherwise sensible people are surrendering too easily to the hectoring of morons or extremists.
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Thread Starter- tennyson
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Re: Trump Wanted Tenfold Increase in Nuclear Arsenal, Surprising Military
Well, that should pretty much take care of things.
Of course, they are going to deny it it, Common.
To admit that the President is uninformed and dangerously unfit is not something that his own team is going to do.
If Mattis were to say that, he would need to resign. And the Generals have decided to stay close to this lunatic for the good of the nation. Sheesh.
Did Nixon ever go on TV and say, "Yea, I AM a Crook"?
Common might want to watch the 10 part Ken Burns Vietnam series on PBS to see how the government lies (and it was BOTH R's and D's on THAT one). Lies happen more than what we think. Some may be for our good but most are not. Watching the Vietnam series drove home some simalaraties of what went on then vs now in many aspects. It should be scary as well as a rude awakening to all of us.
Last edited by tennyson (10/12/2017 4:52 pm)
"Do not confuse motion and progress, A rocking horse keeps moving but does not make any progress"
- Goose
- Cogito ergo sum
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Re: Trump Wanted Tenfold Increase in Nuclear Arsenal, Surprising Military
Hey, does anyone remember the time that Fox News reported something negative about Obama, and a Trumper took the word of one of Obama's own Cabinet secretaries to brand it "Fake News"?
Me neither. 
Last edited by Goose (10/12/2017 5:50 pm)
We live in a time in which decent and otherwise sensible people are surrendering too easily to the hectoring of morons or extremists.
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Thread Starter- Rongone
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Re: Trump Wanted Tenfold Increase in Nuclear Arsenal, Surprising Military
If the reported statements by Trump and Tillerson are “absolutely false” and “erroneous reporting” and “irresponsible” by print and TV media outlets, why don’t the offended parties bring libel/slander lawsuits against those media outlets?
Could it be that administration officials know that the reports are indeed true and their lawsuits would be proven false in court?