Trump White House tried to play down US injuries in attack by Iran, says ex-official

[Eugene]

Source: The Guardian

Trump White House tried to play down US injuries in attack by Iran, says ex-official

Alyssa Farah says she was pressured to delay reporting of injuries to more than 100 US troops in Iraq from attack avenging Qassem Suleimani

Julian Borger in Washington
Thu 9 Sep 2021 05.00 BST

Donald Trump’s White House asked the Pentagon to play down and delay reports of brain injuries suffered by US troops from an Iranian missile attack on Iraq last year, according to a former defense spokeswoman.

Alyssa Farah said she fended off the pressure from the White House, which came after Trump had first claimed there had been no casualties and then dismissed the injuries as “headaches” and “not very serious”.

More than 100 US troops were ultimately diagnosed as having suffered traumatic brain injuries in the missile attack on two bases in Iraq housing US troops on 8 January 2020, launched by Tehran in retaliation for the US drone killing of Revolutionary Guard general Qassem Suleimani five days earlier.

Roughly 80% of the American casualties from the missile attack were able to return to duty within days, but dozens had to be evacuated to Germany and then the US for treatment.

-snip-

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/sep/09/trump-white-house-tried-to-play-down-us-injuries-in-iran-attack-suleimani-former-official

[Grokenstein]

1. Dim Donny sure loved to "downplay" things, didn't he?

https://www.npr.org/2020/09/11/911828384/trump-says-he-downplayed-coronavirus-threat-in-u-s-to-avert-panic

[Grins]

3. Hey. They "volunteered."

So NBD…

[twodogsbarking]

2. We knew it was serious when Trump said it wasn't serious.

Know the signs.

[keithbvadu2]

4. Tom Cotton defends Trump referring to soldiers' traumatic brain injuries as "headaches" and "not ver

First on CNN: 50 US service members diagnosed with traumatic brain injuries after Iranian missile st


https://www.democraticunderground.com/100212921990

---------------------------------------
TBIs effects are not always immediate.

Former Army officer:

Tom Cotton defends Trump referring to soldiers’ traumatic brain injuries as “headaches” and “not very serious”

https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/2020/01/27/tom-cotton-defends-trump-referring-to-soldiers-traumatic-brain-injuries-as-headaches-and-not-very-serious

The VFW expects an apology from the president to our service men and women for his misguided remarks. And, we ask that he and the White House join with us in our efforts to educate Americans of the dangers TBI has on these heroes as they protect our great nation in these trying times. Our warriors require our full support more than ever in this challenging environment.” — William “Doc” Schmitz, VFW National Commander

[calimary]

5. And isn't Tom Cotton a veteran, himself?

Pretty doggone callous, dude. These are NOT "headaches."

YOU, on the other hand, ARE.

[keithbvadu2]

6. Cotton is a veteran which deserves respect in itself but that was not good enough for him.

Cotton is a veteran which deserves respect in itself but that was not good enough for him.

He falsely claimed to be a Ranger which was a lie.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100214997074

Tom Cotton Blasted for Claims About Being an Army Ranger by Lawmaker Who Was One