On Wednesday Secretary of Defense Mark Esper announced the United States will go forward with President Donald Trump's plan to pull about 12,000 military personnel from Germany. The move received widespread criticism from both Democrats and Republicans.
Former national security advisor and ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice called the move a "special gift" to President Vladimir Putin from Trump and a blow to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)—the intergovernmental military alliance between 30 North American and European countries.
But Nebraska Republican Senator Ben Sasse had another word for President Trump's latest initiative.
Weak.
In an official statement, Senator Sasse—who holds a doctorate in American history from Yale University and serves on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence—stated:
"Once more, now with feeling: U.S. troops aren't stationed around the world as traffic cops or welfare caseworkers—they're restraining the expansionary aims of the world's worst regimes, chiefly China and Russia."
Sasse disparaged Trump's grasp of military purpose and strategy.
"The President's lack of strategic understanding of this issue increases our response time and hinders the important deterrent work our servicemen and women are doing. Maintaining forward presence is cheaper for our taxpayers and safer for our troops."
"Chairman Xi and Vladimir Putin are reckless—and this withdrawal will only embolden them. We should be leading our allies against China and Russia, not abandoning them."
The GOP Senator concluded with:
"Withdrawal is weak."
Sasse was not alone in categorizing Trump as weak.
Trump's afraid of his own shadow. He's a bully only when he tweets & does his press conferences. He even fires people through tweets. The guy is terrified of confrontation, because he's weak, a chicken, & stupid.
— 🙇🏻♀️ Shoathree 🆘RESISTANCE🌊 "UN-DeBoosted Me" (@shoathree) July 29, 2020
Others agreed with the assessment that Trump is bowing to Putin.
Disgusting!@JoeBiden must immediately reverse all these insane military actions when he takes office
Trump has a shopping list of Putins wishes and is fulfilling them one by one before he departs the WH!
— Jmaumie159 (@AumonierJohn) July 29, 2020
Most people do not comprehend the role in Germany.
Ramstein AFB was vital during the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. It was a center point to get troops closer to trauma centers, other than the US. The Army role heads troops in defending against terrorism from other regions.
— Gman (@_g_m_a_n) July 29, 2020
However a number of people were not willing to overlook the fact that Republican Sasse and his fellow members of the GOP Senate failed to convict the impeached President when given the chance.
He's a Russian asset & you & the rest of the Fascist GOP held an impeachment trial without witnesses or evidence. All roads with Trump lead to Putin @BenSasse @realDonaldTrump
— Cookie Lil' Famous Weim (@LilWeim) July 29, 2020
Sasse should have thought about this before he allowed this criminal to continue. EVERY GOP IN THE SENATE YOU OWN THIS GUY. ITS SLM YOUR FAULT AND THE BLOOD IS IN YOUR HANDS
— 🤔 (@Tebow20550441) July 29, 2020
I have no compassion for these people's frustration at Trump's latest horror. He had a choice and voted to let Trump continue his destruction of this country.
— Mary Murphy Shannon (@g8rmary) July 29, 2020
In his announcement, Esper conceded Trump's plan will take years to execute, is not supported by the military or intelligence community and will cost billions.
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