2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumDonald Trump is an ‘abusive braggart’ unfit to lead our Armed Forces - Gen. Barry McCaffrey
My public comments in the media on national security since leaving active service have tried to steer clear of partisan debate. I am not registered with either political party. I have worked with loyalty and genuine respect at very senior levels for both President George H.W. Bush and President Bill Clinton.
The shameful reaction by presidential candidate Donald Trump to the mother and father of U.S. Army Capt. Humayun S.M. Khan prompts me to state publicly that Trump should never serve as our commander in chief. The decorated Capt. Khan, who was killed in action in Iraq at age 27 while bravely defending his soldiers during a suicide attack, is the best America offers. His grieving parents were understandably outraged at the degrading notion that America should have a religious screen, legally denying immigration status to Muslims.
Trumps cruel cultural jab at Ghazala Kahn as a grieving Gold Star mother is simply the final straw. In my judgment, Trump, if elected, would provoke a political and constitutional crisis within a year. He has called for the illegal torture of enemy detainees. He has called for the deliberate targeting and murder of civilians as retribution. He has questioned whether the U.S. should actually fulfill our defense obligations under the NATO pact. These NATO obligations are a U.S. Senate-ratified treaty that Trump should know is the highest law of the land.
Further, Trump has implied that the U.S. should encourage the proliferation of nuclear weapons allies like Japan and South Korea were urged to become nuclear powers. He has praised Saddam Hussein as an effective anti-terrorist fighter. Hussein was a mass murderer who targeted his own people with an inhumane vengeance to include employing chemical weapons.
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http://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/donald-trump-is-an-abusive-braggart-unfit-to-lead-our-armed-forces/
IllinoisBirdWatcher
(2,315 posts)GP6971
(31,199 posts)The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,806 posts)Roy Rolling
(6,925 posts)I've said that so much about reasonable replies to Trump's statements it leaves me weary.
But it doesn't leave a mark. One guy told me last week "his statements won't move the dial."
I suspect by November, though, there will be a lot of closet Clinton voters among their ranks.
Stuart G
(38,439 posts)anamandujano
(7,004 posts)When respected people speak up like this, I feel there is hope yet.
He did not mince words.
tclambert
(11,087 posts)Not like Donald Trump, who very much wanted to win a Purple Heart, but couldn't go to VietNam because he really, really didn't want to.
63splitwindow
(2,657 posts)to speak out does not have their priorities even remotely in order and/or does not care what The Con says, like all of his base of boneheads.
Who in the world is better to evaluate qualifications to be Commander in Chief than people like this? Their opinions and insight are, in fact, invaluable. Take or leave their opinion, as you like, but it SHOULD be heard.
Ilsa
(61,696 posts)relieved to be able to voice their learned opinions. I'm glad his opinion is out there. Trump can't dis all of them.
Jim__
(14,082 posts)He really doesn't seem to catch on that he doesn't have the standing to attack people who have sacrificed so much for the country.