Secretary of State Pick

[Okeefenokee]

US military brass in general seem to have more of a realistic picture of what's going on in the world and how it directly impacts US interests than most in the beltway. They have an obvious bias too of course, but I'd still say they're more grounded and pragmatic than the "flash" politicians being appointed to the Opening Cabinet. Which means they'll probably be the (relative) moderates in Trumps inner circle, at least for a while.

So, if Trump wants to pack his cabinet with former brass, the more the better I say. I mean that sincerely.

Look at you! Making a reasonable post AND dropping a Dan reference. Good work.

[Smitty-48]

A timely and related primer on Gen. John Allen and Adm. James Stavridis, for those looking for a more in depth introduction to the players;

People always have way too high opinion of the specialness of their abilities. It makes no difference who Trump picks for SecS: he just has to respect their opinion. I would have NO problem being SecS myself, and I have no "experience."

You've openly advocated for America to use biological weapons as its principle military arm of decision, so that pretty much puts you out of the running, son.

[Martin Hash]

You've openly advocated for America to use biological weapons as its principle military arm of decision, so that pretty much puts you out of the running, son.

Doing what people say I can't do is my bread-n-butter. Letting folks know nothing's off the table is certainly "outsider" thinking.

[Smitty-48]

Well I suppose Nuclear Hitler and Biological Himmler would go together as a matched set, but I don't think it would enhance America's diplomatic leverage in the world.

Kind of hard to carry out the duties of the SECSTATE, when you're an international Pesona Non Grata, I don't even think the Russians would let you in.

[Martin Hash]

MAD worked in more dangerous times than now. Biologicals are coming, get used to it. (Probably won't be America that first strikes but, godammit, it will be the last strike.)

[Martin Hash]

I don't even think the Russians would let you in.

Didn't the British House of Commons pass a resolution to keep Trump out?

[Smitty-48]

MAD worked in more dangerous times than now. Biologicals are coming, get used to it. (Probably won't be America that first strikes but, godammit, it will be the last strike.)

MAD doesn't actually mean that you deploy a weapon which kills your own troops and citizens, biological warfare wouldn't be nuking the other guy and getting nuked back, biological warfare cuts the other guy out of the equation altogether, by just nuking yourselves all on your own.

[Martin Hash]

Dude, I'm not talking reactivating smallpox. It's going to be controlled DNA targeted shit.

[Okeefenokee]

A timely and related primer on Gen. John Allen and Adm. James Stavridis, for those looking for a more in depth introduction to the players;

People always have way too high opinion of the specialness of their abilities. It makes no difference who Trump picks for SecS: he just has to respect their opinion. I would have NO problem being SecS myself, and I have no "experience."

You've openly advocated for America to use biological weapons as its principle military arm of decision, so that pretty much puts you out of the running, son.

Good find.

[ssu]

As long as Tillerson doesn't think that Exxon's interests are more important than US interests (or as they say, Exxon's interests are America's interests).

Tillerson negotiated an energy partnership with Putin in 2011 that the Russian president said would be worth as much as $500 billion. The next year, the Exxon Mobile CEO received the Russian Order of Friendship from the Kremlin, one of the highest honors that Russia bestows on foreigners.

The energy deal was put on hold when the U.S. levied sanctions against Russia for annexing Crimea. Reuters reported earlier this year that Exxon vowed to resume the agreement once sanctions are rolled back, a process Tillerson would be heavily involved in as secretary of State.

Not perhaps the easiest confirmation hearing in the Senate, I assume.