Donald Trump's slamming US armymen is quite a blunder

Washington, June 21: Presumptive Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has been heard time and again about the "greatness" of America and that he, if elected as the president of the country, would make the country so strong that no one would dare mess with it. [27% of US Army prefers Trump as President of US]

It is usual for a right-wing individual speak about a strong military. But when the same man accused the American soldiers of stealing money in Iraq on the institution's 241st birthday last week, then the observers were baffled. It is quite unusual for an American presidential candidate speak in such terms about the country's military---which is both popular and powerful.

"Iraq, crooked as hell. How about bringing baskets of money - millions and millions of dollars - and handing it out?," Trump said at a rally on June 14, adding: "I want to know who were the soldiers that had that job, because I think they're living very well right now, whoever they may be."

The real-estate mogul who outraced everybody else in this year's primaries appeared to speak about several instances where members of the US military took the government money meant for reconstruction projects or took to theft and bribery.

It is, however, not unknown a fact. A report by the Centre for Public Integrity published in 2015 said at least 115 enlisted personnel and military officers were convicted since 2005 of theft, bribery and contract-rigging crimes worth $52 million while carrying out their duties in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Trump's campaign spokesperson Hope Hicks though tried to control the damage by saying the presidential candidate was referring to the Iraq soldiers, but reports pointed out that Trump had spoken on the same subject earlier as well.

In September last year, trump had mentioned in a rally in New Hampshire about American soldiers "stealing" government money in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"They didn't really want to fight for Iraq because Iraq is a corrupt government, you know. Remember when they were handing 50 million dollars of cash? Cash! They were going through Afghanistan paying off, I want to know who were the soldiers that are carrying cash of 50 million dollars? Cash! How stupid are we?," Trump said. "I wouldn't be surprised those soldiers, I wouldn't be surprised if the cash didn't get there, I have to be honest," he added.

Trump said this while speaking about President Barack Obama's decision to withdraw from Iraq and the government-level corruption in Iraq.

Former US soldier slams Trump over his remark

Trump's latest dig at the US soldiers earned a severe wrath. Corbin Reiff, who served as a sergeant in the US Army between 2006-11 and was deployed in Iraq in 2009, reacted to Trump's speech in a series of tweets.

In one of them, Reiff, who was a Non Commissioned Officer in Charge of Foreign Claims for entire western Baghdad, said: "Yesterday, @realDonaldTrump, a man who never served in any capacity said this about me and my brethren that served in Iraq."

After the women, it's the army

For Trump, such an open criticism of his country's military which he himself had pledged to make stronger earlier shows he could have committed the biggest blunder in this election. The man has been criticised in the past for his misogynist remarks. And now, his speech against the US armymen could annoy another significant constituency.

Oneindia News