Retired General David Stilwell speaks Korean and has very close ties to US Ambassador Harry Harris because of their prior work together at US Indo-Pacific Command:
David Stilwell
U.S. President Donald Trump has nominated Air Force veteran David Stilwell as assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, according to the White House on Wednesday.
The position covers diplomacy with the Korean Peninsula, China, and Japan. His predecessor Susan Thornton stepped down in July amid rumors that she was too moderate, whereas Stilwell is thought to be a hardliner.
It can be hard to tell why people come and go in the frantically revolving doors of the Trump administration, but Stilwell’s appointment may reflect the fact that hardliners are increasingly gaining the upper hand. Trump only recently described Defense Secretary James Mattis, who is thought to have been a steadying force, as “sort of a Democrat.”
The White House described Stilwell as “an Air Force veteran with more than 35 years of experience as a pilot, commander, and Korean linguist.”
He retired in 2015 with the rank of brigadier general and is currently the director of the China Strategic Focus Group at the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command Headquarters in Hawaii.
He learned Korean in a military language school in California and served as a fighter pilot in Gunsan, North Jeolla Province, from 1993 to 1995. He also speaks Chinese and some Japanese. [Chosun Ilbo]
“It can be hard to tell why people come and go in the frantically revolving doors of the Trump administration, but Stilwell’s appointment may reflect the fact that hardliners are increasingly gaining the upper hand.”
Not really hard to tell at all.
Trump knows what he wants and has no problem shytcanning anyone not oh his program.
…and his program is not taking shyt from those have been giving America shyt.
…ergo… hardliners aren’t “getting the upper hand”…
…they are being given the upper hand.
Liz
6 years ago
We need to bring that “like” button back.
J6Junkie
6 years ago
I’d like to see them give a hard hand to Commie Moon and his sanctions busting.
“It can be hard to tell why people come and go in the frantically revolving doors of the Trump administration, but Stilwell’s appointment may reflect the fact that hardliners are increasingly gaining the upper hand.”
Not really hard to tell at all.
Trump knows what he wants and has no problem shytcanning anyone not oh his program.
…and his program is not taking shyt from those have been giving America shyt.
…ergo… hardliners aren’t “getting the upper hand”…
…they are being given the upper hand.
We need to bring that “like” button back.
I’d like to see them give a hard hand to Commie Moon and his sanctions busting.
Liz, I hope GI is reading your messages…