Wall Street Journal Slams ‘Junior Achievement Sun Tzus’ in the Trump Admin for Proposing an ‘American Retreat’

LEFT: Donald Trump (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) RIGHT: Roger Wicker (Caroline Brehman/Pool via AP)

The Wall Street Journal ripped the “junior achievement Sun Tzus” in the Trump administration for proposing “an American retreat” in a new editorial praising congressional Republicans for pushing back.

“Senior Republicans in Congress on Wednesday warned President [Donald] Trump off a U.S. military reorganization abroad that sounds more like an American retreat. The lawmakers deserve credit for emerging from their foxholes, and it’s a service to the Commander in Chief,” began the Journal before referencing a joint statement issued by the House and Senate Armed Services committee chairmen, Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL) and Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS).

“U.S. combatant commands are the tip of the American warfighting spear. Therefore, we are very concerned about reports that claim DoD is considering unilateral changes on major strategic issues, including significant reductions to U.S. forces stationed abroad, absent coordination with the White House and Congress,” wrote Rogers and Wicker. “Such moves risk undermining American deterrence around the globe and detracting from our negotiating positions with America’s adversaries.”

The Journal laid out its view of the Pentagon’s plans in more detail:

The statement refers to media reports this week floating changes to the U.S. military, ostensibly to save money. One is a reorganization of the 11 Combatant Commands, many of which cover regions of the world. These commands jockey for resources and can create bureaucracy. But if the Trump crowd wants to fold Africa Command under the umbrella of Europe, perhaps first they could explain what the U.S. plans to do about the Chinese influence projects, Russian mercenaries and Islamic terrorists that are ascendant in Africa.

Especially worrisome is that the U.S. may scrap an expansion of military forces in Japan. This would make China’s day, or decade. Many of Mr. Trump’s advisers auditioned for jobs arguing that the U.S. needs to act fast to improve the Pacific military balance. Well?

Then there’s passing off to the Europeans the military post known as Supreme Allied Commander of Europe, which the U.S. has held since Dwight Eisenhower. The Administration has made its point that it is tired of defending what it sees as a decadent Europe. But why give up U.S. command? Mr. Trump won’t like the alliance better when he’s dealing with a French general.

“Mr. Trump may not even know about these proposals,” concluded the editorial. “But they illustrate the risks from the junior achievement Sun Tzus who are filling out his Administration.”