Courtesy Medill DC
In a statement to the American press, fifty former Republican national security and foreign policy officials announce their intention to vote against Republican nominee Donald J. Trump. The statement signed by national security and/or foreign policy officials that have served under Republican Administrations, from Richard Nixon to George W. Bush, under no uncertain terms repudiates Donald Trump as “not qualified to be President and Commander-in-Chief.” The signors include: Michael Chertoff, Former Secretary of Homeland Security under George W. Bush; General Michael Hayden, former Director of the Central Intelligence Agency and the National Security Council; Carla Hills, former U.S. Trade Representative under George H.W. Bush; John Negroponte, former Director of National Intelligence and former Deputy Secretary of State; and Tom Ridge, former Secretary of Homeland Security and deputy National Security Advisor. The letter states that Trump “lacks the character, values, and experience to be President.” It also stresses that “Mr.Trump has demonstrated repeatedly that he has little understanding of America’s vital national interests, its complex diplomatic challenges, its indispensable alliances, and the democratic values on which U.S. foreign policy must be based.” In addition to pointing out his lack of experience and temperament, the letter lambasts Trump as someone who has “shown no interest in educating (himself)” about foreign affairs despite his claims that he “understands foreign affairs and ‘knows more about ISIS than the generals do.’” They remain convinced that Trump “would be the most reckless President in American history.”
Trump countered the assertions in a press release by claiming that “(t)he names on this letter are the ones the American people should look to for answers on why the world is a mess, and we thank them for coming forward so everyone in the country knows who deserves the blame for making the world such a dangerous place.” He blamed the group of mainly neoconservative critics for the rise of ISIS, the attack on the American in Benghazi, and the “disastrous decision” to invade Iraq. Trump asserts that he will put forth”an America first vision that stands up to foreign dictators instead of taking money from them, seeks peace over war, rebuilds our military, and makes other countries pay their fair share for their protection.”
Jimmy Nickerson 