Trump doesn't want to go to see American troops in war zones

In a startling break with tradition, Donald Trump is showing no interest or enthusiasm about going to visit American troops in war zones, specifically Iraq and Afghanistan. Round about this time of year previous US presidents have started to feel they should go and speak to the troops before Christmas to tell them how wonderful they are and how everyone back home is thinking of them and praying for them. Now obviously for security reasons there is not going to be any announcement about a future visit. But Trump has been in office for nearly two years and he hasn't once flown into a war zone. Such trips are a nightmare for the military and for the Secret Service. But Trump's predecessors have all done it, and the troops have always appreciated such visits because it makes them feel they are not alone and forgotten. If the commander-in-chief bothers to take the time to visit, whoever it is, Obama, Bush, Clinton, Trump, the troops appreciate it. However, it's possible that being such a controversial outspoken president his Secret Service detail just won't recommend it. After all, they apparently prevented Trump from visiting an American war cemetery in France at the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War because the weather was too awful for his helicopter and they didn't want him going by limousine. That was weather, not terrorism. Now there is talk of Mike Pence, the vice president going to Iraq and/or Afghanistan in his place. But I'm sorry, that is not the same as the commander-in-chief getting his hands dirty. Whatever the security concerns, Trump should go. I suspect he will, although word will get about in Washington that he is not going. Probably the Mike Pence rumour is just a cover.