sillygoose
Well-known member
Guys, turns out the Mark Esper approved it and 15 people sat in on the call and took notes:
This is a tempest in a teapot caused by Woodward's sensationalism and bad reporting to sell his book.
Inside the crisis surrounding Gen. Mark Milley
He may face some of the most hostile questioning by Congress of any modern four-star general.
www.axios.com
Then-Defense Secretary Mark Esper worried the Chinese were misreading the situation and that their misperception could lead to a conflict nobody wanted.
- Esper directed his policy office to issue a backchannel message to the Chinese to reassure them the U.S. had no intention of seeking a military confrontation. The message: Don't over-read what you're seeing in Washington; we have no intention to attack; and let's keep lines of communication open.
- These backchannel communications were handled a couple of levels below Esper, one of the sources said. U.S. officials involved thought the Chinese received the initial message well. Milley followed up later in the month with a call to his Chinese counterpart to reiterate the message, two of the sources confirmed.
- It's unclear whether anyone at the Pentagon told President Trump or the White House what they were doing.
Is the General Milley Story Really a Mark Esper Story? | National Review
New reports allege Milley was acting on the instructions of then–Defense Secretary Mark Esper.
www.nationalreview.com
This is a tempest in a teapot caused by Woodward's sensationalism and bad reporting to sell his book.