Page 12 - HOH

A4 U.S. NEWS
Wednesday 3 July 2019

Trump touts July 4 military 'salute'; critics see politics

By ROBERT BURNS, LOLITA C. tary parade of tanks and
BALDOR and DARLENE SU- other equipment in Wash-
PERVILLE ington after he watched a
WASHINGTON (AP) — Presi- military parade on Bastille
dent Donald Trump mar- Day in Paris in 2017. His plan
shaled tanks, bombers and eventually was scuttled,
other machinery of war on partly because of cost,
Tuesday for a Fourth of July though he apparently held
celebration that tradition- on to the idea. Local offi-
ally is light on military might, cials objected at that time,
while critics accused him of too.
using America's military as A ticket-only area in front
a political prop. of the Lincoln Memorial is
Under White House direc- being set aside for VIPs,
tion, the Pentagon was including members of
scrambling to arrange for Trump's family, friends and
an Air Force B-2 stealth members of the military,
bomber and other war- the White House said.
planes to conduct flyovers The Republican National
of the celebration on the Committee is distributing
National Mall. There will be a "small number" of tickets
Navy F-35 and F-18 fighter to the event, which it says
jets, the Navy Blue Angels Visitors to the National Mall walk near the Lincoln Memorial as workers set up for President Donald is standard practice and
aerial acrobatics team, Trump's 'Salute to America' event honoring service branches on Independence Day, Tuesday, follows what the Demo-
Army and Coast Guard he- July 2, 2019, in Washington. cratic National Commit-
licopters and Marine V-22 Associated Press tee did under Democratic
Ospreys. presidents. However, those
A small number of 60-ton "Military Leaders are thrilled American independence can democracy is its insu- were smaller events at the
Army Abrams battle tanks to be doing this & showing and freedom. The Minne- lation from politics, which is White House, for example,
were sent to Washington to the American people, sota Democrat, who chairs meant to ensure the armed and not major productions
by rail to be positioned on among other things, the the Interior Appropriations forces' loyalty to the Con- taking over the National
or near the National Mall, strongest and most ad- subcommittee, said the In- stitution rather than to an Mall.
though the District of Co- vanced Military anywhere terior Department and the individual elected leader. David Lapan, a retired Ma-
lumbia government fired in the World," Trump tweet- Pentagon have not an- That is why, for example, rine colonel and former se-
back with its own verbal ed. "Incredible Flyovers & swered multiple requests members of the military are nior spokesman at the Pen-
salvo. biggest ever Fireworks!" for details on how much not allowed to participate tagon and the Department
"Tanks, but no tanks," it "This is raw politicization," the event will cost. in political campaigns, and of Homeland Security, said
tweeted, adding that the countered Loren Dejonge White House officials sought why Trump's first defense enlisting troops for a Fourth
Pentagon itself said last Schulman, a senior fellow to counter the criticism by secretary, Jim Mattis, slow- of July event in the nation's
year that a tank's steel at the Center for a New stressing that the president rolled a White House plan capital only adds to their
tracks could damage city American Security and a would deliver a patriotic for a Veterans Day military stress.
roadways. Also scheduled Pentagon and White House speech at the Lincoln Me- parade last year. "After 18-plus years of war,
to make appearances official during the Obama morial during an event that Muscular military displays we have asked a lot of our
over the Mall are the presi- administration. She said in he has billed as honoring of the kind that are com- military and their families,
dential Air Force One and an email exchange that the U.S. armed forces. mon in authoritarian coun- and they have sacrificed,"
Marine One aircraft. Trump's use of the military The administration under- tries like China and North Lapan said. "Let's give them
Trump, casting the ex- appears to be less about cut its own assertion of it Korea are not quintessen- a day off rather than a day
travaganza as a "Salute honoring the men and being a nonpolitical event, tially American, although on for this holiday."
to America," tweeted on women serving in uniform however, when senior pres- military bands and honor Some Democrats in Con-
Tuesday that military lead- than about trying to "brag idential adviser Kellyanne guards customarily par- gress objected to what
ers are "thrilled" to partici- to and humor" his political Conway said the speech ticipate in holiday parades they saw as Trump's politi-
pate. If so, they were hiding cronies. will highlight "the success of and warplanes sometimes cal motives.
it well. Pentagon officials Rep. Betty McCollum com- this administration in open- are used in flyovers at big "Most shameful of all is the
referred questions to the plained, "Mr. Trump is hijack- ing up so many jobs for in- sporting events. The U.S. fact that our military is be-
White House. Military offi- ing the celebration and dividuals, what we've done traditionally has not em- ing co-opted for a gratu-
cials would not even say on twisting it into a taxpayer- for veterans," in addition to braced showy exhibitions itous display of strength by
the record whether Gen. funded, partisan political celebrating democracy, of raw military power as a a commander in chief who
Joseph Dunford, chairman rally that's more about pro- patriotism and the military. claim of international pres- relishes the attention of dic-
of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, moting a Trumpian cult of A fundamental feature of tige and influence. tators and despots," she
plans to attend. personality than the spirit of the military's role in Ameri- Trump had wanted a mili- said.q