Danish veterans describe shock of Trump admin rhetoric : NPR

[ad_1] <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5616x3744+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F81%2F5c%2F83046a9f451d8e058429c6cc8b64%2Fgettyimages-2256116315.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5616x3744+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F81%2F5c%2F83046a9f451d8e058429c6cc8b64%2Fgettyimages-2256116315.jpg" class="img" alt="The Memorial for Denmark's international efforts after 1948 at Kastellet in Copenhagen includes commemoration for fallen Danish soldiers. Members of a U.S. congressional delegation laid a wreath there on Jan. 17, after a visit to voice support for Denmark and Greenland." fetchpriority="high"/> The Memorial for Denmark's worldwide efforts after 1948 at Kastellet in Copenhagen consists of commemoration for fallen Danish troopers. Members of a U.S. congressional delegation laid a wreath there on Jan. 17, after a go to to voice help for Denmark and Greenland. Ida Marie Odgaard/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP through Getty Pictures disguise caption

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Ida Marie Odgaard/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP through Getty Pictures COPENHAGEN, Denmark — On a latest chilly afternoon in Copenhagen, sitting exterior a restaurant with blinking warmth lamps, Firm Sergeant Main Henrik Bager shared a Danish expression.

"You've got a cup. When it is stuffed, it's good to empty it so you do not get harassed or indignant or to do silly stuff," he defined.

Earlier this month, his cup was full – after escalating rhetoric from President Trump and others in his administration about how Denmark hasn't accomplished sufficient to safe Greenland, that they have been a poor ally.

"The primary time it felt like a punch to the intestine," stated Bager, who has deployed 5 occasions to serve alongside People, together with in Afghanistan and Iraq. "You'll be able to survive one punch within the intestine. When it simply retains on going, then it fills you up with disappointment, disappointment, anger."

So he emptied these emotions right into a letter that reads like a poem. He despatched it through Fb to former U.S. Ambassador to Denmark Rufus Gifford.

Expensive Rufus Gifford,

I’m not writing as a politician.Not as an analyst.I’m writing as a Danish Afghanistan and Iraq veteran.

And sure – this brings tears to my eyes.

When the U.S. immediately calls Denmark a poor ally, it appears like a slap within the face to these of us who had been really there.

After 9/11, Denmark didn't hesitate.We didn’t debate polls.We didn’t calculate politics.

We placed on our gear.We stated goodbye to our households.We kissed our kids goodnight and hoped we’d see them once more.

We stood aspect by aspect with American troopers.We patrolled collectively.We lined one another.We bled collectively.And we misplaced folks.

Danish troopers by no means got here again residence as a result of we took the alliance severely – not as phrases, however as a promise between troopers.

So when Denmark is named disloyal, it doesn’t simply hit a rustic.It hits these of us who wore the uniform.It hits the fallen.It hits the households nonetheless paying the worth.

We don’t count on thanks.We don’t count on applause.

However we do count on honesty.And respect for historical past.

Denmark was there when it mattered.And we weren't half-hearted.

A solider by no means forgets who stood by his aspect.Nations shouldn’t both.

Thanks in your voice, you might have the respect from the Danish folks.

Pay attention: Firm Sgt. Maj. Henrik Bager's reads his letter to former U.S. ambassador Rufus Gifford

Bager by no means anticipated a response.

However Gifford did see it.

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1920x1440+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fef%2F32%2F1e1e9a8e4ec7b20c8d88236f9cf7%2Fbager-and-gifford.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1920x1440+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fef%2F32%2F1e1e9a8e4ec7b20c8d88236f9cf7%2Fbager-and-gifford.jpg" class="img" alt="Former U.S. Ambassador to Denmark Rufus Gifford (L) and Company Sergeant Major Henrik Bager (R) meet for the first time on Jan. 19. Bager sent a letter to Gifford earlier this month expressing his sadness and disappointment at the way in which the Trump administration has been talking about Denmark." loading="lazy"/> Former U.S. Ambassador to Denmark Rufus Gifford (L) and Firm Sergeant Main Henrik Bager (R) meet for the primary time on Jan. 19. Bager despatched a letter to Gifford earlier this month expressing his disappointment and disappointment on the means wherein the Trump administration has been speaking about Denmark. Barbara Sprunt/NPR disguise caption

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Barbara Sprunt/NPR "I bought so emotional after I learn it," Gifford stated. "It hits me proper right here – within the coronary heart." Bager and Gifford met in individual for the primary time on Monday, and collectively spoke with NPR.

Gifford stated his response is borne, partly, from a way of accountability. Denmark is a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Group (NATO), together with the U.S.

"You concentrate on the success of this alliance, which is about sticking up in your mates simply as a lot as it's about sticking up for your self," Gifford stated. "You concentrate on Article 5, this concept that for those who assault certainly one of us, you assault all of us, which has solely been invoked as soon as — and that was after 9/11, which is why Henrik went to Afghanistan."

Bager stated he served as a squad chief within the Helmand Province in southern Afghanistan in 2009, one of many deadliest battlegrounds of the struggle.

"We had the Taliban at our doorstep," he stated.

His father died throughout that deployment.

"I went residence, buried him, stated goodbye to my sister and mom once more, after which I flew again and fulfilled my activity," he recalled. "That is how devoted we're after we exit — the Danish troopers."

He stated three Danish troopers had been killed and one other 22 wounded throughout his deployment. Denmark had one of many highest per capita dying charges amongst allied international locations throughout the battle — 43 recorded deaths — a actuality that has weighed closely on a rustic with a inhabitants of roughly 6 million folks.

"For these households who did not get their soldier residence, sitting and listening to this rhetoric getting used, it should be extra painful, hurtful than it's for me – and I can really feel all of it the way in which to my bones," he stated.

Bager, 47, described how Danish troopers plan their potential funerals, ought to the worst occur.

"What sort of songs we wish to have performed within the church, what flowers we wish to have on the coffin," he remembered.

They write goodbye letters, too.

"A letter for my mother, dad, my sister, my nephews, my youngsters, my spouse — you do not simply write one letter," he stated. "You wish to make it very private as a result of it is the final phrases your loved ones will hear from you."

Gifford stated it is a reminder of the sacrifice Danes have made within the identify of the longstanding alliance between Denmark and the U.S.

"The concept we'd, over the course of 1 yr, create an adversarial relationship with one of the best mates that we've on the planet is simply unthinkable to me," he stated.

"Belief is one thing that takes years to construct and you may break it instantly," Gifford added. "We have now been spending many years constructing belief throughout borders, specifically with our NATO allies, and it breaks my coronary heart in such a profound technique to see the speed at which that belief has eroded within the final yr."

Bager made a degree of acknowledging his American brothers-in-arms.

"If any American veterans are listening to this, thanks in your service," he stated. "I hope that sooner or later, we will meet up once more – hopefully not on the battlefield, however on different missions which might be extra peaceable. Freedom runs deep for individuals who battle for it."

'All these deaths appear disrespected' Bager's is certainly one of a refrain of voices in Denmark expressing ache and disappointment with the rhetoric coming from the Trump administration.

Final spring, Vice President JD Vance instructed Fox Information that Denmark was "not being a superb ally" and never doing sufficient to defend Greenland. Extra not too long ago, Trump has ramped up his campaign for the U.S. to amass Greenland, ignoring Danish sovereignty.

"Lots of people know individuals who have served and who've died in Afghanistan," stated Villads Welling, a 21-year previous political science pupil on the College of Copenhagen. "And all of these deaths appear disrespected and like they do not matter now as a result of [the Trump administration] is saying that Denmark just isn't doing sufficient and they aren't a superb ally."

Peter Jensen, 63, stated the informal means Trump has talked about buying Greenland is offensive, and throws into query the longstanding relationship and alliances between the U.S. and Denmark.

"Betrayal might be one of the best phrase," Jensen instructed NPR. "Somebody you belief, somebody you'd do your finest to again up when wanted, and out of the blue – they stab your again."

Jensen's son and son-in-law are veterans.

"Having youngsters going to struggle, I can let you know, that is heartbreaking," he stated. "You thought you had been powerful. They're younger – they [think] they're invincible. However you're older and you already know they are not invincible."

Whereas Trump as soon as flirted with the thought of buying Greenland by power, he dominated it out in a speech Wednesday. However Jensen stated harm has already been accomplished.

"This isn't forgotten," he stated. "Even when issues relax round Greenland tomorrow, there are already some long-term results on what has occurred right here."

He is fast to emphasise his anger and disappointment is directed on the White Home – not the American folks.

"Do not forget that we love America, we love you — however the current administration is simply making chaos," he stated.

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4032x3024+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F22%2F7f%2F5d4d6c5941d68d73cb62ca9e7ff6%2Fimg-8405.jpeg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4032x3024+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F22%2F7f%2F5d4d6c5941d68d73cb62ca9e7ff6%2Fimg-8405.jpeg" class="img" alt="Retired Danish Col. Søren Knudsen and his wife Gina Schaar at their home in Køge, Denmark." loading="lazy"/> Søren Knudsen, a retired officer with the Danish Military, and his spouse Gina Schaar at their residence in Køge, Denmark. The couple stated they fear the Trump administration's rhetoric about Denmark dangers a basic change within the relationship between Denmark and the U.S. Barbara Sprunt/NPR disguise caption

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Barbara Sprunt/NPR Taking the Stars and Stripes down Søren Knudsen, a retired officer with the Danish military, stated one of many proudest acknowledgments he is acquired in his 42-year profession got here after he served as Deputy Commander of a NATO mission in Afghanistan.

"Upon leaving the mission in 2012, the People honored me with The Stars and Stripes that had been flown within the face of the enemy," he stated.

"That was an ideal, nice honor. In the event you give your nationwide colours to a consultant of one other nation – that isn't simply one thing you do. Which means rather a lot," he stated. Knudsen was additionally awarded a Bronze Star.

He and his spouse Gina Schaar, who's American-born, hung the framed flag and plaque proudly within the entrance of their residence in Ølby.

"If in case you have gotten such a robust token that you just had been so pleased with, you'll present it to everybody – the very first thing they see after they entered our home was this," Knudsen stated in an interview in his residence.

That modified after Vance's feedback final spring, which left Knudsen with a mixture of feelings: "ache, betrayal, disappointment."

"I walked down the steps and stated, no means, I am not going to indicate this," he stated, pointing to the wall the place it as soon as was displayed. "It was an award that I bought on behalf of my efforts, my nation's efforts, my comrades' efforts, and now they are saying it does not matter anymore."

Knudsen took the body down. As a substitute hangs a portray of a vase with white tulips.

"I used to be all the time so proud that I am married to a foreigner, and but he's supporting my nation. He's risking his security and his safety in help of a mission that my nation has requested," Schaar stated. "That was one thing that strengthened our bond as a global couple, and so it feels even worse to have that disparaged."

The couple stated they fear the Trump administration's rhetoric about Denmark dangers a basic change within the relationship between their two international locations.

"It is brute energy, and no extra historical past," Knudsen, 65, stated. "No extra alliances. No extra confidence."

Schaar added she by no means thought it might get up to now.

"I by no means dreamed that there can be this antagonism between two locations that I really like."

Knudsen, who serves because the vice chairman of the Danish Veterans Affiliation, stated it is essential for People to know how common the ushas been in Denmark.

"The Danes have felt the U.S. was a beacon and a frontrunner of the free world," he stated. "What [Danish soldiers] went out for was defending values alongside America, alongside the nation that we believed in."

Knudsen stated the current scenario is so painful as a result of he believes within the transatlantic alliance, within the financial, safety and cultural ties which have certain the U.S. and Denmark collectively.

"Gina has taught me this, and I would like to remain centered on this – there may very well be a day the place the Stars and Stripes would come up once more," he stated. "I hope in the future there's a comeback."