Trump fight like hell speech incited the January 6 insurrectionists

January 6th, Capitol riots: Did Trump's words at rally incite violence?- BBC

On January 6, 2021, thousands of Trump supporters gathered at a "Save America" rally organized to challenge the result of last November's presidential election.

They listened as Mr Trump spoke to them on the National Mall, near the White House in Washington DC.

In a 70-minute address, Trump exhorted them to march on Congress where politicians had met to certify Democrat Joe Biden's win. The attack began moments after he took the applause.

Echo opinion letter to the editor, sent to in The News & Advance, a newspaper published in Lynchburg, Virginia.

Now that the January 6th, committee has wrapped up, I have this to say. I have encountered many people who claim that former guy President Trump is not complicit with the January 6 riot because he said, "I know that everyone here will soon be marching over to the Capitol building to peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard," about 10 minutes into the speech. This is correct.

Oh paleeeeze! Peace? So, how can Trump be responsible for the violence?  Because of the rest of the story, as Paul Harvey used to say, in how he ended his speech. Two of the last things Trump said before the Oath Keeper's and violent people descended on the Capitol were:

1. "And we fight. We fight like hell. And if you don't fight like hell, you're not going to have a country anymore."

2. "But we're going to try and give our Republicans, the weak ones because the strong ones don't need any of our help. We're going to try and give them the kind of pride and boldness that they need to take back our country."

The first statement is a call to violence, the second to a coup. 

Taken in whole and considering the incendiary speeches that preceded him (Rep. Mo Brooks telling them to kick some backside), one cannot help but understand that the fundamental purpose of the QAnon conservative-dominated crowd was to force Congress to reject the November 2020, election results by any means necessary because, in their (delusional!) minds God, country, truth and justice demanded no less. One can argue that Trump did not 100% foment this riot, but one cannot easily claim that Trump was not significantly complicit in orchestrating it.

From Kenneth Naugle, in Forest Virginia

John Bolton is not elected and he's a terrible National Security Advisor

Echo opinion published in the The News Advance, a Virginia newspaper reporting from Lynchburg and community.

In my opinion John Bolton is an idiot!

Bolton's ill-advised saber-rattling

National Security Advisor John Bolton continues to threaten Iran with the use of U.S. military force. He tells the American public that diplomacy is still an option on Iran.

Who is John Bolton, and what is the job of National Security Advisor?

The National Security Advisor is someone hired to give the president advice on foreign policy. The job is not elected. Candidates for the job do not require Senate confirmation If the president and NSA disagree on policy, the NSA should remain silent, while the president issues his policy. A National Security Advisor has no standing to threaten foreign nations with U.S. military force, on behalf of the citizens of the United States.

Bolton supported the Vietnam War but used his student deferments and got an enlistment in the National Guard (at a time when only George W. Bush and Bolton could get into the Guard), to avoid serving in Vietnam.

Now he is a “hawk,” promoting opportunities for America’s children to enjoy the activity of combat. He should promote those activities on his own time, and on his own dime.

And a P.S. to Bolton: Russia says it has information showing the Navy drone which was shot down near the Gulf of Oman was in Iranian air space when it was attacked by Iran. Well, it fell into Iranian territory, didn’t it?

It’s a sad day in American history when you have to rely on representatives of foreign nations for the truth, because you can’t get it from your own elected officials.

From William Miller, Forest Virginia