Trump says our troops were not on the frontline in Afghanistan

It's good to see pushback against this vile untruth. I have no views on the Duke of Sussex ( no interest in royal matters whatsoever), but good for him for speaking out, from his home in California.

It is the best thing Starmer has done actually rebutting Trump’s claim. Good for him and hope he continues with this strong language re Trump’s rude disparaging remarks.

specki4eyes

DaisyAnneReturns you're "not sure" whether the King should visit America. What exactly would enable you to have a sure opinion?
The King's visit to America will be proudly hosted by that monstrous draft dodger, he will make a massive media circus of it. The King will not meet with your average American, only with Trump's vile henchmen and grasping family members.
This planned visit, if it happens, will completely undo all the wonderful effort and work that King Charles has done since becoming our monarch. He owes our fallen troops respect who fought in the name of our Queen and Country. Time to draw the line under Trump's lies and insults.
It will simply be appeasement, not democracy. And we all know what appeasement achieves...conflict. Trumps legacy will continue long after he is gone.

I understand the strength of feeling, but I think this frames the issue too narrowly and too emotionally.

I come from a strongly forces family - both my father and my brother have seen active service, so I was, unsurprisingly, horrified by Trump’s comments about service personnel. I don’t minimise that for a moment, and I don’t think anyone should.

That said, a state visit by the King wouldn’t be an endorsement of Trump or his politics. Monarchs engage with governments they don’t like all the time; that’s diplomacy, not appeasement. Appeasement is conceding principles to avoid conflict; simply showing up and maintaining dialogue isn’t that. If you've ever known members of our special forces you would know that anger is not seen as solutions to difficult and complex issues.

America remains an ally, even if relations are strained and values don’t always align. Keeping channels open, especially at the highest symbolic level, can matter precisely when governments are difficult. The Royal head of state plays a great part in this. Calm engagement may well be a better way of asserting values than public refusal and there is time to come to a decision about whether thd trip goes ahead.

Considering he managed to dodge the draft hes got a b***y cheek!

Im glad Starmer showed a bit of backbone (for once) and condemned him.

Disgraceful words, he should be ashamed but he won't be.
My dear son in law fought in Afghanistan, really non should have been there, x3. Left him with severe ptsd after what he saw, still at least he came home. The brave service personal who died, and we're severely wounded, fighting, for what now I'm not sure, but they fought bravely. They also had to suffer being killed by their allies the Afghans, supposedly helping them.

I would like to see all our injured veterans and their families lined up in front of Trump and him forced to apologise to them in person. It won’t happen of course.
Disgusting man.

Well done Prince Harry for speaking up, maybe Trump should be invited to the Invictus games so the evidence is cleat for him .

specki4eyes

DaisyAnneReturns you're "not sure" whether the King should visit America. What exactly would enable you to have a sure opinion?
The King's visit to America will be proudly hosted by that monstrous draft dodger, he will make a massive media circus of it. The King will not meet with your average American, only with Trump's vile henchmen and grasping family members.
This planned visit, if it happens, will completely undo all the wonderful effort and work that King Charles has done since becoming our monarch. He owes our fallen troops respect who fought in the name of our Queen and Country. Time to draw the line under Trump's lies and insults.
It will simply be appeasement, not democracy. And we all know what appeasement achieves...conflict. Trumps legacy will continue long after he is gone.

My emotional response is the same, "no way".

But........ Trump plays games constantly. Putting our back up to the extent we (for example) say no to this and that is part of his plan.....

and Starmer and other constantly have to make decisions based on our long term interests, not constantly letting him lead ourselves by the nose "reacting".

I honestly dont have an answer at this point

but to reach out hard within our US contacts especially their military to call it out as a lie has to be our first and most effective action? Rebellion on what Trump has said from "within"?

DaisyAnneReturns you're "not sure" whether the King should visit America. What exactly would enable you to have a sure opinion?
The King's visit to America will be proudly hosted by that monstrous draft dodger, he will make a massive media circus of it. The King will not meet with your average American, only with Trump's vile henchmen and grasping family members.
This planned visit, if it happens, will completely undo all the wonderful effort and work that King Charles has done since becoming our monarch. He owes our fallen troops respect who fought in the name of our Queen and Country. Time to draw the line under Trump's lies and insults.
It will simply be appeasement, not democracy. And we all know what appeasement achieves...conflict. Trumps legacy will continue long after he is gone.

And, lest we forget, John Wayne won WW2 single handed for the USA, according to Hollywood.

grumppa

Good to see the BBC's Washington correspondent report that a US general had welcomed his telephone call, because it gave him the chance to say what he thought about Trump's remarks.

I think this would be

"A retired U.S. admiral who led troops on the frontlines in Afghanistan also rejected Trump’s claim. James Stavridis, former Supreme Allied Commander of NATO from 2009 to 2013, said hundreds of allied troops were killed while serving under his command. “I honor their memory every single day,” he noted."

eazybee

Um, wasn't it Joe Biden who sent troops to Afghanistan, and pulled them out too soon, leaving chaos in their wake?

It was George W Bush first sent troops in to Afghanistan in October 2001.

eazybee

Um, wasn't it Joe Biden who sent troops to Afghanistan, and pulled them out too soon, leaving chaos in their wake?

No it wasn’t. Unless, of course, Biden was POTUS for 20 years.

Good to see the BBC's Washington correspondent report that a US general had welcomed his telephone call, because it gave him the chance to say what he thought about Trump's remarks.

eazybee

Um, wasn't it Joe Biden who sent troops to Afghanistan, and pulled them out too soon, leaving chaos in their wake?

Apologies, haven’t read every comment.

A dear friend’s son, 20 years old, is a proud member of the British army and furious on behalf of his forbears.

That man, with no military history, is a disgrace. How dare he?

I agree Allira and so did the caller, he had to moderate his language.
I agree with your last paragraph.

a draft dodging old gas bag.

Well, that's rather mild!
Obviously we cannot say what we think on social media or if commenting on television or radio, but his comments are dangerous and treacherous.

To paraphrase an old saying, with allies like this, who needs enemies?

I was watching the Jeremy Vine show, with Judge Rinder standing in, he asked a veteran who phoned in, what he thought of Trump without swearing. He replied he is a draft dodging old gas bag.

I am the daughter of a world war 11 marine veteran, my older cousin told me he did dangerous opps, my dad would not tell me as I was a child, I only found out when I was older.

I am disgusted by what Trump has said, but cannot say I am surprised. I can not use the expletives on here about what I think of him.

Agree with your first paragraph Iam.

I'm trying not to think about what he said about our troups - too distressing. You can't shut it out over course. It's just wicked.

I'm hoping we are buying time but we have to move faster.

I feel physically sick when I hear Trump spouting those lies and see his arrogant, smug face on the television.

I can't help but think Trump has now irrevocably damaged America's relationship with our country.

I’m catching up.
DAR - I’m not a psychiatrist but I was an ‘approved sw’ so worked with colleagues who were psychiatrists in deciding whether an individuals mh meant a section, against their wishes,was appropriate for their safety and that of others
Obvs bo clinical assessment of the Donald. Ht - on what I’ve seen on tv and print media, I wouldn’t be thinking bi polar. That’s a relatively straight forward diagnosis and treatment plan
I’m thinking personality disorder, he hits the narcissistic button. Psychopathy ? He’s like many top sales personnel. CEOs, lacks empathy, succeeds in competitive environments

Anyway my unqualified thiughts matter not at all. I’m livid with Trump for his disgusting dismissal of the service our troops and those from other European countries gave in response to American requests for help. He’s put simply, a disgusting bully.
I’m aware of the need for European leaders, including our PM to ensure long standing alliances aren’t irrevocably damaged. Sadly, Trump doesn’t give a flying fig .

Allira

Sorry, I'm not a medical expert so I wasn't using it as a medical term, but he does seem to find reality a problem.
I was using the word delusional to mean that he has false ideas and beliefs which have no basis in fact.

Then you’re spot on Allira 🙏🏽

Maremia

I think it was Trump who arranged the withdrawal from Afghanistan. Biden was stuck with dealing with it.

Yes. That’s correct.

I cannot say what I think of this individual as it would mean a lot of expletives. As a child of a WW2 veteran involved in some Godawful parts of the war, and as someone who has armed forces family members going back to WW1 and others who served in various campaigns. I'm beyond disgusted with a man who avoided service himself. He spouts total and utter s*!+€. I worked beside a young man who lost his father in Iraq, I cannot begin to imagine how that young man must feel. I'm beyond disgusted, but sadly Americans voted for him. This is what they wanted and this is what they have got.