Retired U.S. Navy Admiral William McRaven Wants His Security Clearance Revoked In Solidarity With Former CIA Director Brennan

Retired U.S. Navy admiral William McRaven, commander of the SEAL raid that killed Osama bin Laden, asked President Donald Trump to revoke his security clearance in a gesture of solidarity with former CIA chief John Brennan

Daily Mail: 'I would consider it an honor if you would revoke my security clearance. You have humiliated us and divided us.' SEAL admiral in charge of bin Laden raid savages Trump for 'McCarthy era' attack on John Brennan

* President Donald Trump canceled former CIA Director John Brennan's security clearance on Wednesday
* Brennan is a longtime CIA agent who ran it during the Osama bin Laden raid
* He has become a fierce Trump critic on Twitter and was a key figure in the launch of the Russia probe
* Brennan blasted Trump in a New York Times op-ed on Thursday, saying the president is targeting him in order to keep 'collusion' a secret
* Retired Navy Admiral William McRaven piled on later in the day, writing in The Washington Post that he hoped Trump would revoke his clearance too
* Rob O'Neill, the Navy SEAL credited with killing bin Laden, says he disagrees with McRaven – who was his commanding officer during the 2011 raid

William McRaven, commander of the U.S. Navy SEAL raid that killed Osama bin Laden, condemned President Donald Trump on Thursday for revoking the security clearance of former CIA chief John Brennan – and asked that his be canceled as well.

The decorated retired Navy admiral, in an open letter published in The Washington Post, defended Brennan as 'one of the finest public servants I have ever known' and accused Trump of using 'McCarthy-era tactics.'

'Few Americans have done more to protect this country than John,' McRaven wrote of Brennan. 'He is a man of unparalleled integrity, whose honesty and character have never been in question, except by those who don't know him.'

'Therefore, I would consider it an honor if you would revoke my security clearance as well, so I can add my name to the list of men and women who have spoken up against your presidency.'

Read more ....

WNU Editor: Former CIA Director Brennan is now doubling down in accusing President Trump of colluding with Russia to steal the U.S. Presidential election .... Trump campaign colluded with Russia, former CIA director Brennan writes in op-ed (CBC/AP). More here .... Brennan hits back at Trump and calls denials of Russian collusion 'hogwash' (The Guardian). As to what is my take .... former CIA Director Brennan's accusations that President Trump committed treason for talking with Russian Presdient Putin last month makes me wonder how did this person ever get to be CIA Director .... Ex-CIA Director Brennan Accuses President Trump of 'Treason' (July 16, 2018). As for retired U.S. Navy Admiral William McRaven's wish to have his security clearance revoked in solidarity with former CIA Director Brennan, this is the intelligence community circling the wagons to defend one of their own .... Former US security leaders blast Trump for yanking clearance (AP).

Former U.S. Commander Of SOCOM Hits-Out On The Growing Politicization Of The Military

Photo: Ret. Adm. William Harry McRaven. Wikipedia

William H. McRaven, Special to The Tampa Tribune: A warrior’s career sacrificed for politics

When I was a young boy my father, a veteran of World War II and Korea, schooled me on the downfall of Gen. Douglas MacArthur. MacArthur, he explained, had overstepped his authority and shown blatant disrespect for the civilian leadership of the country. President Harry Truman relieved him of his command, and MacArthur retired soon thereafter.

Civilian rule of the military was one of the most fundamental principles of the armed forces. To believe differently was dangerous, my father told me. Dad strongly supported Truman’s action, and he made me understand the value of the civil-military relationship — a lesson I never forgot.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: He holds no punches in this post .... criticizing Republicans in Congress and their behaviour these past few years. But .... he and Hillary Clinton are close .... including rumours since 2014  that he is on a list of being her running mate .... Rumors Are Spreading That Now Retired Special Operations Admiral Bill McRaven May Be Hillary Clinton's Running Mate in 2016. And while I still doubt that he will be her running-mate .... I would not be surprised that in the event that Hillary Clinton does win the Presidential election, he will be playing a pivotal national security role in her administration .... probably even being her National Security adviser. So much for arguing against the politicization of the  military.

A Look At The Legacy Of Adm. William McRaven, The Man Who Hunted Bin Laden, Saddam And Pirates

The Man Who Hunted bin Laden, Saddam And The Pirates -- Peter Bergen, CNN

(CNN) -- On Thursday in Tampa, U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel presided over a change of command ceremony during which Adm. William "Bill" McRaven handed over the reins of Special Operations Command to his successor, Gen. Joseph Votel.

As McRaven stepped down he observed, "We are in perilous times." He pointed out that U.S. Special Operations Forces are helping to fight the fast-growing Islamic State in Iraq; the al Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf in the Philippines; the militant group Boko Haram in Nigeria, and al Qaeda and the Taliban in the Afghanistan-Pakistan region.

McRaven also said, "We are in the golden age of Special Operations" in which elements of the 67,000 men and women under his command have deployed to 92 countries.

Read more ....

My Comment: A truly long and distinguished career.

Rumors Are Spreading That Now Retired Special Operations Admiral Bill McRaven May Be Hillary Clinton's Running Mate in 2016

Photo: Ret. Adm. William Harry McRaven. Wikipedia

Special Ops Commander Swears: I Won't Be Hillary's VP -- Kimberly Dozier, Daily Beast

He commanded the bin Laden raid—and expanded U.S. commandos’ global footprint. Now Adm. Bill McRaven is leaving the military. He promises—promises—that politics won’t be next.

Admiral Bill McRaven left command of U.S. special operations this week as a somewhat bewildered man – surprised, stymied, and in some cases burned by the fame and notoriety that launched his three years there, as the military commander of the 2011 raid that killed terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden.

His fame and the public respect for his role was such that multiple special operations officials say he was even approached as a possible vice presidential candidate for the as-yet-undeclared Hillary Clinton presidential campaign – something he openly denies ever happened. But the rumors persist throughout special operations circles even as he accepted a top post with the University of Texas.

"I am not running with Hillary," he said forcefully when last asked this past spring – a statement reiterated by his spokesman this summer.

Read more ....

My Comment: I am confident that Hillary Clinton will be running in 2016 .... but Ret. Adm. William Harry McRaven as her running mate ?!?!?!?! I doubt it.

As for her Hillary Clinton's chances .... Pat Buchanan nails it .... Has Hillary Ever Been Right?

A Commencement Speech From The U.S. Special Operations Chief Naval Adm. William H. McRaven

Special Ops Chief Tells University of Texas: ‘Make Your Bed’ If you Want to Change the World -- Washington Free Beacon

Naval Adm. William H. McRaven gave the commencement speech for the University of Texas’ graduating 2014 class, instilling life lessons that began with “making your bed.”

“If you make your bed every morning, you will have accomplished the first task of the day,” he said. “It will give you a small sense of pride, and it will encourage you to do another task, and another, and another.”

Read more ....

U.S. Special Operations Chief: Islamic Extremists Will ‘Eventually Threaten’ The U.S.

Photo: Adm. William H. McRaven

Spec. Ops Chief: Extremists In Syria Will ‘Eventually Threaten’ U.S. Soil -- Washington Free Beacon 

With the number of Islamic extremists in war-torn Syria growing, top U.S. Special Operations officials warned that the spillover effect would eventually threaten the American homeland.

Navy Adm. William McRaven, commander of the U.S. Special Operations Command, and Asst. Defense Sec. for Special Operations Michael Lumpkin testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee Tuesday, and both agreed that if left unchecked the growing number of extremists and the threat they pose to the region and the world was “only going to get worse”.

Read more ....  

My Comment: According to Navy Adm. William McRaven ... it is "when not if" .... that radical Jihadists from Syria will eventually threaten the American homeland. This is an assessment that I am 100% in agreement with.

Admiral William H. McRaven's Speech To The Class Of 2015 At The U.S. Military Academy

Photo: Adm. William Harry McRaven. Wikipedia

A Sailor’s Perspective on the United States Army -- Admiral William H. McRaven, War On The Rocks

Editor’s Note: This speech was delivered to the Class of 2015 at the U.S. Military Academy on 18 January 2014. It is published here with the permission of Admiral McRaven’s staff.

Good evening. General and Mrs. Caslen, General and Mrs. Clarke, General Trainor, Col Brazil, Command Sergeants Major Duane and Byers, distinguished guests and most importantly Class of 2015.

I am truly honored to be here tonight to address the future leaders of the United States Army. But, as a graduate of a state school in Texas, who majored in journalism because I couldn’t do math, or science, or engineering or accounting, I am somewhat intimidated by the thought of giving any advice, to any cadet, on anything.

Nevertheless, after almost 37 years in the service, much of that time with the Army, there may be something I can offer. So tonight, as you begin the final 500 days of your time at the United States Military Academy, I would like to give you a Sailor’s Perspective on the Army; not the Army of the Hudson, not the Army of the history books, not the Army portrayed in the countless murals across campus, but the Army you will enter in 500 days—the Army upon which the future of the Nation rests; the Army that you will shape and the Army that you will lead.

So, if you will humor this old sailor, I will tell you what I’ve learned in my time serving with the Army.

Read more ....

What Is The Commander Of U.S. Special Operations Command Reading?

Photo: Admiral William H. "Bill" McRaven, USN, 9th Commander, U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM). Wikipedia

Admiral McRaven’s Reading List -- Ryan Evans, War On The Rocks

America’s top operator, Admiral William H. McRaven – the Commander of U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) – has released his reading list for next year. Its intent, he says, “is to motivate members of the SOF [Special Operations Forces] community to grow professionally and personally. The USSOCOM Reading List represents important works for all SOFofficers, enlisted and civilians as well as those supporting the USSOCOM mission.”

The list is divided into books on strategy, leadership, military science, and intelligence and security affairs. Here it is:

Read more ....

My Comment: I can understand why he is reading Victor Hanson's book "Carnage and Culture: Landmark Battles in the Rise to Western Power" .... but reading Thomas Friedman's "The World Is Flat 3.0: A Brief History of the Twenty-First Century" .... puhleaseeee. My recommendation .... any of Niall Ferguson's books.

Special Ops Chief Says Afghan Relations Are ‘Great’

What Torture Charges? Special Ops Chief Says Afghan Relations Are ‘Great’ -- Noah Shachtman, Danger Room

It’s been a brutal few days in Afghanistan. On Sunday, the local government accused an American special operator of torturing an Afghan civilian. On Monday, the Hamid Karzai administration insisted that U.S. warplanes killed 17 women and children. Then, on Tuesday, three more U.S. troops were killed by an improvised bomb, bringing the total to 17 slain in this awful month alone.

But to the admiral in charge of America’s special operation forces (SOF), things are going rather well in Afghanistan.

“I think we’re making great strides in Afghanistan,” Adm. William McRaven, the head of U.S. Special Operations Command, said Tuesday in Tampa. “We are achieving in the SOF world probably the best results we’ve seen in many, many years.”

Read more ....

My Comment: I must be living in an alternate universe.