What's the big deal about a couple of tanks?

President Trump is having two. That's "2" M1 Abrams tanks displayed during the July 4th parade in Washington D.C.

Many members of the media act like he is preparing to impose martial law. Seriously. I've heard more than one commentator claim that the "only reason to display military hardware so prominently is to scare someone either foreigners or our own people. And with President Trump its probably our own people".

This isn't the first time tanks have been displayed as part of a celebration in Washington D.C. and the U.S. routinely has combat aircraft overfly the beginnings of major football games both pro and college. Hell a few times we had F-16s overfly the Pine Tree Festival Parade in Dierks and we always had some soldiers march.

Yeah, I know President Donald Trump is a repulsive and loathsome individual. Every day I pray he gets bored with being president and decides to resign for "health reasons" or whatever.

But having a couple of tanks and other hardware at a July 4th parade is hardly worthy of criticism.

When was the last time tanks rolled through DC?

I agree with Dayton. After all, it just makes Trump look like a wannabe N Korean dictator.

They had them in the Desert Storm victory parade in 1991. People complained about them crushing the streets.

That's stupid. Why shouldn't an American president celebrate the military?

If he can keep to the script and manage to not turn this into one huge, taxpayer funded, hyperpartisan campaign rally, then I don't see the big deal...

...but the RNC is selling tickets, so like that's gonna happen.

Maybe we should just put some pictures of tanks on pornhub? No need to go through the expense of marching them through town so @Dayton3 can get a good spank. Maybe we could use that money to fix concentration camps, or feed the hungry, or improve our schools by hiring substitute gym teachers who have both feet?

As to the question - entirely out of context there is nothing wrong with tanks or jet as part of a parade or event. Yay technology.

What is very worrying is a leader who seems to take ownership of and wants acknowledgement for military marching in capitals streets.

That's the type of thing you read in a history book and say "why didn't they see it coming?".

In other words "It's bad because President Trump is the one doing it"

Desert Storm seems to be the last time the US was in a "we declared war and had a defined victory achieved" state. (Note: Yes I know it technically wasn't a declaration of war).

If that was the reason then, what's the victory that's being celebrated now?

Show me where I said that.

A statement of how well everything is going in America that people who seem to despise Trump with every fiber of their being have so little to bitch about that's not just a continuation of Obama-era policies, and much that is.

Every time I think @Dayton3 can't get any dumber, he proves me wrong.

Is it possible for someone to have a negative IQ?

"in other words" means you did not say it outright but implied it.

Are you kidding? The list of bitches is endless.

This. Militarism is bad.

I implied it, or you assume I applied it?

As someone who isn't affected by Trumps domestic policies - while the guys a fuckwit, so long as he doesn't start a war with Iran he doesn't present any more of a short term threat than any other US President. Obama can eat a dick for his normalisation of drone strikes which has continued and escalated.

From an outsiders perspective, there's only a few leaders I ever see actively celebrating the military and making a point of them parading domestically at their call. Spoiler: it ain't the actions of a chilled out dude.

It's less the tanks than the de facto hijacking of a national celebration into a Trump re-election campaign rally. Note that the RNC got a shitload of tickets to hand out to donors, whilst the DNC got fuck all. And Trump gets to paint any opposition to this as unpatriotic.

In my lifetime all presidents have done things like this.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/opin...the-fourth-of-july/ar-AADN5Ll?ocid=spartandhp

they aren't "rolling" thru DC. Tanks tear up the pavement so they are a "static" display only.

Are they just parking these vehicles (there are at least two Bradleys as well) or are they going to drive them in a parade?

If the former, damage to the streets will be minimal or nonexistent.

Either way it's pretty pointless.

yes it is! Pretty much everyone pulling the handle for Hillary in 2016 proved that.

until your own nation needs defending, right? Calm down, nobody's after your Lucky Charms or potatoes.

I dunno... the last time Canada needed to be defended from a foreign invader was 1812.

Um, your link doesn't say that. It says:

Truman's was the 175th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, Ford's was the bi-centennial. Nixon phoned his in. Trump is in a league of his own.

What's more, its link is to an article that states:

pointless? It doesn't have to be. We could use the tanks for safety education! "How?" you ask? We can employ an anti-tank mine simulator much like we use an auto crash simulator to encourage seat belt use. Curious people can get in the tank and experience what happens when they trigger a mine!

When has the US defended Ireland?

You do seem to keep on creating these imaginary historical incidents where the US saved the world.

I think "the point" just had a 4th of July flyover above your head. My point is everyone says militarism is bad until they have to rely on the military. Much like everyone hates the cops until they actually save your ass.