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Trumps decision to boot Lt. Col. Vindman was 'designed to humiliate,' his former Army commander says
Source: Business Insider
'I would trust Alex with my life': Trump's decision to boot Lt. Col. Vindman was 'designed to humiliate,' his former Army commander says
President Donald Trump's early dismissal of US Army Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman from the National Security Council staff on Friday was expected based on the reporting from the night prior, but it still came as a shock to former senior officials and those who served with the soldier. "He was very insubordinate, reported contents of my 'perfect' calls incorrectly, & was given a horrendous report by his superior, the man he reported to, who publicly stated that Vindman had problems with judgement, adhering to the chain of command and leaking information," Trump tweeted Saturday, a day after the White House dismissed Vindman.
But one of Vindman's former commanders countered Trump's characterization. Retired US Army Brig. Gen. Peter Zwack, who commanded then-Maj. Vindman from 2012 to 2014, said he wanted to "correct the record" about Vindman. "He's obviously very bright, self-made," Zwack told Insider in an interview. Zwack first met Vindman in Washington, DC, as they prepared for a government trip to Moscow. Zwack continued serving in the region after Vindman completed his tour, and he assisted with the US responses to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 shoot down.
"We worked in a pressure-cooker environment in Moscow where you have to trust everybody," Zwack said. "You just have to trust each other; there's no in-between." "I would trust Alex with my life," Zwack added, referring to Vindman by his first name. "It was literally important — we were in a difficult operational environment as attachés representing the United States to the Russians. We really had to be reliable. We had to be accurate. We had to be diplomats. And Alex was good at all of it."
But one of Vindman's former commanders countered Trump's characterization. Retired US Army Brig. Gen. Peter Zwack, who commanded then-Maj. Vindman from 2012 to 2014, said he wanted to "correct the record" about Vindman. "He's obviously very bright, self-made," Zwack told Insider in an interview. Zwack first met Vindman in Washington, DC, as they prepared for a government trip to Moscow. Zwack continued serving in the region after Vindman completed his tour, and he assisted with the US responses to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 shoot down.
"We worked in a pressure-cooker environment in Moscow where you have to trust everybody," Zwack said. "You just have to trust each other; there's no in-between." "I would trust Alex with my life," Zwack added, referring to Vindman by his first name. "It was literally important — we were in a difficult operational environment as attachés representing the United States to the Russians. We really had to be reliable. We had to be accurate. We had to be diplomats. And Alex was good at all of it."
Read more: https://www.businessinsider.com/alexander-vindman-army-kicked-out-white-house-nsc-2020-2
18 replies
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Col Vindman is the superior you always hope to have.
Got your back, sir because I know you have mine.
Don't let that vindictive petty creep get you down, sir. 
