Is It Legal For Trump To Turn Our Military Into Mercenaries?......

[global1]

Trump sent troops to Saudi Arabia and is proud because he says they are paying for them.

He's basically turned our military into mercenaries - where a country can buy an army.

Can he do that?

We the taxpayers pay for our military. Our military is there to protect our country.

I didn't hear anything about Congress approving Trump to sell our military to Saudi Arabia. Wouldn't Congress have to have a say in that?

It's one thing - that we send our military into allied countries where they set up bases and are there to aid our allies and be ready should they be needed in these parts of the world (i.e, South Korea, or even our alliance with the Kurds in Syria).

But to sell our military to a country - seems wrong.

Is Trump able to make this decision and name a price for our military in SA?

[yellerpup]

1. Trade the blood of our troops for treasure?

That can't be legal!!

[global1]

2. Right!!!! - Why Would Anybody Want To Sign Up To Be In The U.S. Military If....

they know that Trump can sell them to other countries? Has this been discussed or explored on any of the cable news shows?

[yellerpup]

3. I've been thinking of this since he said it.

All wrong. So deeply wrong. I would appreciate skillful coverage of this issue.

[dewsgirl]

4. This is exactly why I didn't want my son to enlist. He has been

In the Air Force for a little over a year and being deployed to Qatar in January. I am watching this unfold in absolute horror. I knew he would do something unimaginable.

[Cha]

14. Again.. so sorry, dewsgirl..

[virgogal]

8. Obama sent US troops to Niger......I assume it's been done many times.

[keithbvadu2]

9. Did he get full payment from Niger?

[2naSalit]

5. Nope...nt

[NCLefty]

13. That's not "nt." What's the explanation?

[greatauntoftriplets]

6. I've wondered if the Saudis will make a payment directly to Spanky as part of the deal.

I wouldn't put that past him.

[keithbvadu2]

10. Commission?

[greatauntoftriplets]

12. Or a bribe.

A loan to his company or to Kushner. This is just speculation, but most of what he does seems to be planned with some kind of financial reward.

[dlk]

7. Legal or not, Trump has already done it

[Crunchy Frog]

11. Probably not, but who's going to stop him, now that we're no longer a country of laws? n/t

[DiverDave]

15. Been going on for years

Read "War is a Racket" turns out united fruit used American troops to get bananas to the u.s.

[Hortensis]

16. The Banana Wars were from 1900-1934. War is a Racket

was a little book written in 1935 by General Smedley Butler. He was the one who reported the conservative senators to congress who wanted him to lead a military putsch against our government.

It's not a coincidence that the banana wars ended around the time that liberals became the dominant political force in the U.S., starting with FDR and continuing until a new conservative wave took over around 1978.

The corruption and decline of our national character that we're living through is happening as part of that succeeding wave of conservative domination. Conservative-controlled congresses have managed to make many things legal that are wrong, when Democrats haven't been able to stop them of course.

Trump cannot sell the use of the U.S. military as a private army, and it has not been going on at all, much less for years. But it is notable that over the past 40 years Republican-controlled congresses have expanded the use of private military contractors to get around legal restrictions.

[Maru Kitteh]

17. Selling young lives on the open market.

Unimaginable lows continue to be followed by more.

[cynatnite]

18. Our troops are paid by the US government & they are not mercenaries....

Namely, it would be an illegal order. Plus, there are still some good generals who will make sure our troops aren't doing the bidding of Saudi Arabia.

[global1]

19. Are You Aware That Trump Said.....

when questioned about putting troops into Saudi Arabia - He said Saudi Arabia is paying us for them.

My point is that we the taxpayers are footing the bill for our military and yes these troops draw their pay checks from the U.S.Government - but Trump is charging Saudi Arabia for their presence.

I just don't think that such a transaction is legal - especially when Trump is using SA is paying for them so it's ok.

[liberalla]

20. To me, it seems more like he's RENTing them out...

which I also don't agree with. It's wrong.

It sickens me that tRumps' only consideration is money and cost. It's not HIS money, but he acts like he personally is paying for it, and he doesn't like to pay for *anything*... HE is the one who gets paid. (in his mind)