This is unacceptable:
Obama NSC staff openly lobbying for Flynn to be replaced by a former military official who grew up in Iran. https://t.co/rmZcnJVWZj
— Sean Davis (@seanmdav) February 14, 2017
Why? Because here is Vice Admiral Harward’s biography:
Born in Newport, Rhode Island, Vice Adm. Robert Harward grew up in a Navy family and graduated from the Tehran American High School in Iran. After enlisting in the Navy, he was awarded a fleet appointment to the United States Naval Academy where he received his bachelor’s degree in 1979. Harward attended the College of Naval Command and Staff, the Naval Staff College and the Armed Forces Staff College. He holds a master’s degree in international relations and strategic security affairs, served as a federal executive fellow at RAND and is a graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Center for International Studies, Foreign Policy Program Seminar XXI.
Harward qualified as a surface warfare officer aboard the destroyer USS Scott (DDG 995) and then transferred to the Naval Special Warfare community. He was the “Honor Man” of Basic Underwater Demolition (BUD)/Sea, Air, Land (SEAL) class 128 and has served in both East and West coast SEAL teams.
Tours in the Naval Special Warfare community include: commander, SEAL Team 3; Assault Team leader and operations officer at Naval Special Warfare Development Group; SEAL plans officer for Commander, Amphibious Force U.S. 7th Fleet; executive officer, Naval Special Warfare Unit 1; aide-de-camp to Commander, U.S. Special Operations Command; Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force (CJSOTF) deputy commander in Bosnia; deputy commander Special Operations Command, Pacific; commander, Naval Special Warfare Group 1; and, deputy commanding general, Joint Special Operations Command.
Assignments outside of his community include a tour in the executive office of the president at the White House where he served on the National Security Council as the director of Strategy and Policy for the office of Combating Terrorism. His first flag assignment was chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff representative to the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC), as a member of the Senior Interagency Strategy Team. Additionally, he served as deputy commander, U.S. Joint Forces Command and most recently he served as commander of Combined Joint Interagency Task Force (CJIATF) 435 from 2009 to 2011 in Afghanistan. Harward has commanded troops in Afghanistan and Iraq over six years since Sept. 11, 2001.
Harward served as deputy commander, U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM), located in Tampa, Florida.
You’ll notice that VADM Harward’s time in Iran was before the Islamic Revolution – not that Davis cares about that or wants any of his followers to know that. Rather he’d rather present innuendo to smear his target. Insinuating that VADM Harward is tainted because he grew up in Iran so he’s somehow not American enough and suspect. And that because Obama NSC Staff, which could mean everyone from the Obama NSC political appointees to the assigned military or civilian personnel, recommended him VADM Harward is politically tainted and suspect.
Davis’s tweet is disgraceful and embarrassing. He should be mocked, shamed, and shunned at every opportunity. But he’s also an example of one of the signature problems in the US today: failure to recognize that what is needed, and what is desirable, is to have the best and the brightest fill elected and appointed positions at all levels of government and across all domains of public service and policy. Not whoever simply lines up ideologically no matter how poorly suited for public service they are. Political polarization and partisanship is a reality that is not serving anyone in the US well, but it is a reality we have to navigate around. Even worse though is the willingness to accept mediocrity provided the mediocre are willing to toe the partisan line and mouth the platitudes that warm the nethers of people like Davis.
Or if you’d prefer a full professor from the Naval War College’s take on it:
@seanmdav Because he was a kid in Shah's Iran while his dad was US Navy officer stationed in US embassy there? Really 2/
— David Burbach (@dburbach) February 15, 2017
@seanmdav Do you have any evidence AT ALL that Harward, a protege of Iran hawk Mattis, holds secret sympathies for Iran? 3/3
— David Burbach (@dburbach) February 15, 2017
* Full disclosure: while VADM Harward was assigned as the Deputy Commander at CENTCOM, I was providing cultural operations support to CENTCOM through the Command Sergeant Major/Senior Enlisted Advisor. I have never met VADM Harward.
Elizabelle
Who is Sean Davis and why should we care what he tweets?
Adam L Silverman
@Elizabelle: He’s a former staffer for Senator Coburn and is the owner and publisher of The Federalist, the online movement conservative magazine.
Here’s his bio:
https://thefederalist.com/author/seandavis/
dmsilev
I was going to ask who was Sean Davis, but his Twitter bio has enough:
“Chief instigator for Sen Tom Coburn”, whatever that is, along with “Wharton grad”.
I guess the question really is whether he’s someone that people in the Trump admin might listen to, or is he just another one of those right-wing whackos baying in the night.
Adam L Silverman
@dmsilev: That’s supposed to be investigator.
Miss Bianca
So, I suppose ‘who the hell is Sean Davis when he’s at home?’ is a totally gauche question, right?
But awesome laser-like fury to that rant, regardless.ETA: I see others got there before me. Now enlightened somewhat.
Adam L Silverman
@dmsilev: To answer your question: both.
Cheryl Rofer
New York Times has a scoop:
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@Adam L Silverman: economic adviser to a fairly obscure Oklahoma Senator? you must have left out the extensive experience with military and foreign policy
ETA:
indeed
Adam L Silverman
@Miss Bianca: During his generation’s war, his idea of service, while cheerleading the war, has been working at the Daily Caller.
dmsilev
@Adam L Silverman: So he can’t even bother to proofread his own one-line-long biography? Somehow I’m not surprised.
Gin & Tonic
I see I’m slow with the question others have: why the fuck should I care who Sean Davis is or what he thinks?
efgoldman
I admit I am easily confused.
I know nothing about Harward, but when his name first leaked as under consideration by the same maladministration, I wondered what was wrong with him.
I figured, anybody considered by Amber Asshole must be tainted somehow.
The taint is : He’s actually (over?) qualified, and maybe someone in the Obama administration liked him?
misterpuff
Admiral Dude is SEAL Team 3, don’t WWC and RWNJ fellate them? Admiral is straight-up killer and a brain…..this is what you want/snark
Very impressive resume……but Obama.
dmsilev
@Cheryl Rofer: I’m going to go way out on a limb and guess that the career professionals in the intelligence community are not big fans of Trump and his minions.
Gin & Tonic
@Cheryl Rofer: Next they’ll have a scoop that Elton John is gay.
Miss Bianca
@Adam L Silverman: in other words: Wanker.
efgoldman
@Adam L Silverman:
Sometimes typos/autocorrect’s way is better.
dr. bloor
I’d be more concerned about him being from Rhode Island.
efgoldman
@dr. bloor:
Hey there!
? Martin
In the background of the Russian shitshow, ICE is now deporting DACA kids, which is against the law.
DACA is still federal law. Trump has not repealed it nor have the courts.
sigaba
This tweet isn’t about Harward, he doesn’t even mention his name. It’s about “Obama NSC Staff.” He just wanted to get a ding in on them, Harward is just a prop. Readers of The Federalist don’t care if someone gets their facts wrong as long as hey have the right enemies.
STOP FUCKING AUTOCORRECTING THAT NAME IPHONE!
misterpuff
@Adam L Silverman: You have not persuaded me that Tom Cotton does not employ an instigator.
Gin & Tonic
@dr. bloor: Hey!
dr. bloor
@efgoldman: Tehran High is a decided step up from his other possibilities had he remained there. Rogers High (eek) or, wait for it–Portsmouth Abbey, which happens to be Sean Sphincter’s alma mater.
? Martin
@dmsilev:
Trump calling them Nazis looks like a worse decision every day.
Gin & Tonic
Goldman beats me to it for once. I guess I’m too far into this bottle of wine.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@Gin & Tonic: I’ll finish it
efgoldman
@Gin & Tonic:
Is that like doing a ship in a bottle?
Mnemosyne
For those who haven’t seen it yet, this is the underlying theme of Hidden Figures — NASA can’t compete with the Russian space program until they stop preventing people from advancing solely because of their gender and race.
sigaba
@? Martin: 9th Circuit gonna be busy.
Thru the Looking Glass...
@Adam L Silverman: Are you sure it isn’t supposed to be inquisitor?
Gin & Tonic
@efgoldman: I’ve often thought that would be a neat thing to do. But I’m not doing it tonight.
Gravenstone
@dmsilev: He may welll have meant instigator. Given his history, and the tweet in the OP, shit stirring seems to be about his speed.
? Martin
Seems to me that the floodgates really opened once Sessions was confirmed as Atty General, as if the IC gave up hope that there’d be any independent decisions being made in the DOJ.
dr. bloor
@efgoldman: That comes after the wine has been emptied out. Hijinx ensue.
Timurid
OK, so Sean Davis is a tool… and that’s like the 37th biggest breaking story tonight.
Mnemosyne
Since this is also an open thread, a random question for Florida people: do I need bug spray in Orlando in March? Mosquitoes do seem to like me, if that helps you decide the answer.
Thru the Looking Glass...
Every time I see that name – The Federalist, with or without Society trailing, my mind automatically turns it into ‘The Feudalist’… and afterwards, I find myself thinking, well, that does make more sense…
frosty
@Miss Bianca: In better words: chickenhawk.
Adam L Silverman
@Cheryl Rofer: The post on it just went off. And yes, I’ve bigfooted myself, which makes sense as I’m part Sasquatch.
? Martin
@sigaba: Bring it, baby! California is here to help.
Mnemosyne
@Adam L Silverman:
The fact that this asshole is able to call his moronic magazine “The Federalist” without being continually haunted by the ghosts of Madison, Hamilton, and Jay is proof positive that ghosts don’t exist.
efgoldman
@Mnemosyne:
A .50 cal machine gun might be more useful.
Remember to stand your ground.
Adam L Silverman
@efgoldman: He was Mattis deputy at CENTCOM. My guess is this is Mattis’s attempt to impose some normalcy on the Interagency process by putting another trusted agent in place. This would give him three trusted agents in key positions: National Security Advisor, Secretary of DHS, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. This is Mattis attempting to right the ship of state.
efgoldman
@Adam L Silverman:
Which part?
frosty
@Mnemosyne: We needed bug spray in coastal Georgia last week and Ocala FL this week. Mostly biting gnats in GA. Not too many mosquitoes either place.
muddy
I went to that school during that time period, do not know this gentleman as he was a few years ahead of me. You had to have an American passport to attend TAS. It was pretty much hyper-American in attitude. They had 3 HS football teams so as to play amongst themselves.
TAS was military, military-related biz, diplomatic and oil kids. I hope none of Tillerson’s peeps get caught up in this net, probably people in the oil business now, who were there as kids, could have gone to this horrifying madrassah. And now I’ve confessed my link to the place on the internet, perhaps they will monitor me now. I hope they do, may they have joy of it.
chris
Trump is, like, a smart guy and he selects from the pool of the best and the brightest available to him. You see the problem?
Manyakitty
@Adam L Silverman: And possibly a good sign?
Adam L Silverman
@? Martin: Its already in court and a temporary stay and injunction has been requested. Most likely going to be Judge Robart again. I don’t think he’s going to be amused.
Gravenstone
@efgoldman: given past comments, I’ll guess the furry part.
beergoggles
Ah yes, having the best and the brightest appointed no matter their ideology. That James Comey appointment worked out so wonderfully for all of us didn’t it?
Adam L Silverman
@Mnemosyne: I saw it, it was excellent. And you are correct.
Adam L Silverman
@Timurid: It irked me. If you want to do a guest post on something that irked you, push it across.
Adam L Silverman
@Mnemosyne: YES!!!! There’s not been anything close to a hard freeze this year, so there will be bugs. Lots and lots of bugs. Also heat and humidity.
Adam L Silverman
@efgoldman:
http://www.funnyjunk.com/Nice+gun/funny-pictures/5861846#075c73_5861402
Adam L Silverman
@efgoldman: The important parts.
Adam L Silverman
@Manyakitty: Possibly.
Sab
@efgoldman: Your #17:rarely, but in this case yes.
Mnemosyne
@Adam L Silverman:
The heat and humidity I’m already prepared for, but now I know to pack my two kinds of bug spray, too.
And a minimum of three kinds of sunscreen, because the #1 reason people end up at the first aid station in WDW is sunburn.
Adam L Silverman
@Mnemosyne: Remember to hydrate!
Feathers
@Mnemosyne: That’s what is driving me crazy about the Kumbaya crowd these days. I think I’ve ranted about this one crowd I run with before. They are utterly anti-Trump, but it takes on this “We will defeat him through our virtue and making everyone understand and accept our virtue.”
Whenever the anti-immigrant bans and attitudes are discussed, it turns into a how wonderful immigrants are, all the Fortune 500 CEOs they become, how they drive innovation, and so on and so on. No understanding that the Trumpinistas don’t give a shit about that. In fact, they hold that against the immigrants. Their fantasy world is that if we hadn’t had the immigration boom of the last few decades, we’d have even better, more innovative, faster growing and more profitable with better wages companies, because… they’d be run by white men. Unless you really point out what the Bannon argument is, you are not moving the argument forward.
frosty
@Adam L Silverman: I dunno about the heat and humidity. It’s been quite pleasant for our visit this month. Now a couple of years ago, camping in August w/o AC… ? Worse than a Bermuda High in Baltimore. Not quite as bad as NOLA in the summer though.
NotoriousJRT
@Adam L Silverman:
I like that, in addition to being interesting, you are kind.
Ruckus
@Miss Bianca:
That really doesn’t do justice to the rest of the worlds wankers.
Ruckus
@Gin & Tonic:
That rag he runs is the main reason.
He is a kook but other kooks listen to him. He may not be their guiding light, especially as he seems to be a pretty dim bulb but then not many of his followers really like to have much light shined on their “ideals,” as that can be rather clarifying about who their victims are. They’d rather you didn’t know those details before they get to act, it tends to make most people dislike them rather intently.
Gvg
@Mnemosyne: yes. Bring bug spray. This winter has been warm, the bugs are already out and I am a hundred miles north of Orlando. Azaleas are already blooming and most days I don’t even need a sweater.
Mosquitos don’t bite me but they do go after my nephew so I have learned to notice them.
Barney
@Adam L Silverman: with all due respect to you, it shows the state of the USA when we end up thinking “thank goodness some more ex-generals are taking these important civilian positions”.
No One You Know
@efgoldman: if words could make wishes come true.