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A Pitiful Military Image
Gen. Lloyd Austin reviewing Philippine troops:
This just makes me sad, to see “soldiers”, outdoors, all wearing masks and face shields. These guys kill people for a living, and they have been made deathly afraid of a virus that is no real threat to them.
Published in Military
If that can make General, there is little hope left. I wouldn’t follow that fool across the street to get a beer, to say nothing of into combat.
At least we know which side he’s on:
Interesting photo…SECDEF Austin is making an official visit to the Philippines, and is there to renew an important military relationship that helps us and hurts China (and that’s good). But why does he have to pose wearing mask AND visor (“look how woke I am!”). And, why does he accept receiving a big, gaudy Philippine medal for simply showing up? (“Look how FABULOUS I am!”)
That picture is another propaganda victory for China:
“Look at how we struck fear in the rest of the world!”
Oh, G-d.
This guy is a mo-ron. Boss Mongo had a couple of things to say about him – nothing good.
In defense of the Philippine military honor guard, they were probably instructed to mask up it to keep the SecDef safe.
Why isn’t he in a bubble? Then he wouldn’t need to worry about a stray crosswind. Can’t be too careful when you’re the leader of the greatest military in the world.
Wait, he’s China’s SecDef?
The Anti-Patton
Shameful. What an embarrassment.
Makes me long for the days of an all-female army!
“You’re in charge. I’m outta here!” MacArthur to Maj Gen Wainwright before departing by PT Boat, leaving him in command of troops fighting the Japanese in Bataan and on Corregidor.
Yeah, in spite of his stand-out WWI record, Dugout Doug wouldn’t be my first choice as an icon of military leadership.
I believe that MacArthur was ordered to leave the Philippines, by the President.
This is sensible. When a battle is lost, the enemy can gain additional morale and propaganda benefits by capturing a famous leader. Whether MacArthur’s popularity was warranted or not, it did exist.
Ke-mo sah-bee, who was that masked man?
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Maybe it’s Donald Sterling’s mistress V. Stiviano who liked to wear visors…
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Maybe unlike other US generals, he is getting paid by a Chinese fake company instead of a fake US globalist company.
No doubt that he was ordered out but that still doesn’t explain how he allowed his entire air contingent (16 B-17s and numerous fighters) to be destroyed on the ground, nine hours after the attack on Pearl. Granted, the Japanese would have still taken over the PI but the loss of those aircraft made any sort of defense impossible.
This vision of our armed forces leader wearing mask and visor does seem to me like a psychologic operation to make our own citizens fearful of how our own armed forces cower in the face of biological terror. When you see videos replayed of massed Chinese soldiers goose-stepping in perfect formation, you don’t see any masks on their faces. That’s because they have decided to clamp down on fear, while our side — including all of the English speaking world — has decided to spread the fear. I can just imagine when our soldiers see the Chinese army approaching, they send out a flag signal requesting time out for our troups to don the appropriate protective mask and face shields.
True. Our Commander in Chief ordered the commander of US Army Forces in the Far East to abandon his troops in battle and flee with his family (!) and staff to safety.
The effects on enemy morale are debatable. What about effects on US/Philippine morale? The same goes for propaganda. Which outcome is best for each side? General Nogi, who captured Port Arthur during the Russo-Japanese War, but felt he had lost too many troops in doing so, later committed ritual suicide with his wife (!). General MacArthur abandoned his troops on the battlefield to be killed and captured and was awarded a Medal of Honor for his ‘gallant’ leadership. Today in Japan they are both worshipped like gods. I wonder did Wainwright receive a Medal of Honor for leading MacArthur’s troops through their Death March and captivity?
May this picture live forever like Dukakis in the tank. Wake up man ! The whole world is laughing at you!
Apparently the Philippines has had a face mask, together with face shield, requirement in place for about 8 months, and although the government has recently pledged to ease the regulation, it’s being appealed, especially WRT appearances in public places. It also seems that the SecDef and his staff were instructed to put on the face shields by the Philippine government. So I’m not sure if we can blame Lloyd Austin for the appearance in this photo which, I agree, is pitiful. Seems to me he had two choices: Comply, or stay away. And perhaps there were other interests that were better served by compliance with his host country’s edict than not.
If Austin is donning the face shield as well as the mask while reviewing US troops, I think that’s a serious fail.
I was wondering if that was the case. It’s still very bad optics. He should have shown his face, or not been there at all.
Thank you for setting the record straight. I take back my moron comment. He’s just a boob.
In my opinion, he looks somewhat sinister in that getup. Politically incorrect comment to follow. His sinister look is increased by the fact that he is black.
Yes, I do agree with that, if only because it’s impossible to ignore that Lloyd Austin is wearing a facemask, whereas it’s possible to overlook, or not notice the fact that the members of the Filipino military are (since they’re both “non-white” I don’t consider that remark particularly offensive.) At least, call me crazy (and some have), I had to look twice to see that all the troops were similarly enrobed.
I could not agree more. One of the things he could have done (if he had much common sense at all) is recognized the poor optics of the thing, and just skipped the troop review and gone straight to whatever he was there for. (I’m not sure what that is, but I presume he was there for something.)
Actually, this was a momentous occasion. When Duterte was elected president of the Philippines, he put under “review” their policy of allowing “visiting” US forces there, with a possibility they would kick us out completely. He changed his mind, and the US-Philippine agreement was continued last week. I understand they are having some sort of trouble with Islamist terrorists on their southern (this has been a problem there for decades), and they need our military help.
I didn’t see the shields on everyone else either but the shield plus the black mask, not his skin color, and the fact that he’s huge especially since it’s the Philippines ( un pc but true) makes him look like Darth Vader. In any case xxxx him, the other side doesn’t agonize about the unfairness of attacks on our guys
My goodness, the vituperation directed at Gen. MacArthur surprises me. I was raised to view him as a demigod, my Dad applauded his role in the rebuilding of Japan. How opinions differ.
I’ll leave it to those with real knowledge to fill in the details, but I do know that MacArthur’s place in history is viewed with anything but universal approbation.