1585

I did hear an Iraq War Veteran speak very eloquently and angrily on that very topic. In effect he said that the Purple Heart to each individual is a somber reminder of the worst day of their lives.

1586

I think it’s fairly clear Trump didn’t want a Purple Heart. It’s just another topic on along list of topics he doesn’t know or understand or even care enough about the country to try and go learn and understand. If someone handed him a pokemon heart and said he got in the military for honorary service, the idiot probably would have said the same thing.

1587

I am sure he wants the prestige and respect that a purple heart gives but does not really want to be shot for it.

1588

You really think he knew what the Purple Heart was and wasn’t after say…a Medal of Honor or something like that instead? Just to be clear, I am no expert in this area, but I am aware of a few that don’t require actual injuries to get.

1589

The only medal that requires a combat injury is the purple heart.

As others have said, he didn’t want to get shot, he just wants something to brag about.

Because he’s a douchebag.

1590

I assume he’d be equally excited about getting honorary doctorates or the like. It’s all about the image.

1591

Yeah. My father got his in Vietnam, and died partly due to those injuries some years later. Not cool, Donald, not cool.

1592

I thought this was a very good response by Congresswoman Duckworth.

Although, I’m sure Trump is too stupid to remember, that she lost both legs and badly injured her right arm.

1593

Trump prefers soldiers that don’t lose limbs, OK?

1594

Trump’s foreign policy: break all treaties with everyone. NATO? Fuck em. Japan, fuck them too. Maybe next week he’ll talk about how South Korea is shit and needs to pay us more to protect them. Also maybe nuke people.

What the actual fuck?

His foreign policy seems to literally be extortion for long time allies.

1595

At a certain point, I don’t think you need to qualify it with “seems to be” anymore.

1596

Fair point. That IS his foreign policy: extortion.

1597

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/donald-trump-purple-heart_us_57a4cc5ae4b03ba6801239b8?

1598

What’s really frightening though, is that he’s not really interested in extorting anything for the good of the US. He just cares about making himself feel big. People will be able to placate him just by appealing to his ego.

https://youtu.be/NADEKHmwbXE

1599

C’mon, did he really say that?

1600

Of course he did. Oddly enough, there’s been movements in Japan for years to look at changing that rule, but I thought the US and others were somewhat concerned with having Japan shift their military policies in the shadow of China and N. Korea.

1601

What’s interesting is the targets of his rhetoric- in classic bully fashion, he is planning to push around the little guys and pull back from any plans that might antagonize China or Russia.

1602

I wonder if he has any idea on the reason why Japan has a purely defensive army and isn’t allowed to participate in foreign wars.

Trump: “If we were to be in a war in Europe, I would expect Japan to take the Pacific. We need them to hit China and threaten Australia. Together we would be an unstoppable axis of power” (not, that isn’t an actual quote. Seems believable though, doesn’t it?)

1603

I am kind of curious what he thinks about Australia. I mean… they support our military conflicts, agenda… whatever we want to call it at any given time. Somehow I doubt he knows that, but I get your point.

1604

Trump has taken the Marine Corp motto “No better friend, and no worse enemy” and turned it upside down. It is really a spectacular achievement