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Retired Military Chiefs Caution Trump Against North Korea Strike

Retired military officials warn that even a limited strike could have devastating consequences.

The Financial Times quotes four retired American military officials cautioning President Donald Trump against attacking North Korea.

  • William Fallon, former commander of Pacific Command: “If we’re serious that we will not allow North Korea to have a nuclear capability, then you better be prepared to go all the way and I don’t know how you can do that without sending ground troops.”
  • Timothy Keating, another former head of Pacific Command: “I hope that calm heads would prevail and explore any and every diplomatic option short of military activity.”
  • Michael Mullen, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff: “If I was Japan or South Korea, I would be asking ‘What are we, chopped liver?’ The US is supposed to be protecting them.”
  • James Stavridis, former NATO supreme allied commander, sees “no military options which would result in fewer than several hundred thousand casualties and perhaps as many as two to three million.”