Fifty top Republican national security advisers and former government officials penned an open letter Monday denouncing Donald Trump and questioning his fitness for office.
“The undersigned individuals have all served in senior national security and/or foreign policy positions in Republican Administrations, from Richard Nixon to George W. Bush…” they write. “We know the personal qualities required of a President of the United States. None of us will vote for Donald Trump.”
“Mr. Trump lacks the character, values, and experience to be President,” they continue. “He weakens U.S. moral authority as the leader of the free world. He appears to lack basic knowledge about and belief in the U.S. Constitution, U.S. laws, and U.S. institutions, including religious tolerance, freedom of the press, and an independent judiciary.”
Included among the signatories are former CIA director Michael Hayden, former Secretaries of Homeland Security Michael Chertoffand Tom Ridge, former Director of Intelligence John Negroponte, two Under Secretaries of Defense and one Under Secretary of State. The White House veterans acknowledge that “many have doubts about Hillary Clinton, as do many of us. But Donald Trump is not the answer to America’s daunting challenges and to this crucial election. We are convinced that in the Oval Office, he would be the most reckless President in American history.”
“He is unable or unwilling to separate truth from falsehood,” the letter says. “He does not encourage conflicting views. He lacks self-control and acts impetuously. He cannot tolerate personal criticism. He has alarmed our closest allies with his erratic behavior. All of these are dangerous qualities in an individual who aspires to be president and commander in chief, with command of the U.S. nuclear arsenal.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/09/us/politics/national-security-gop-donald-trump.html?_r=0
“The undersigned individuals have all served in senior national security and/or foreign policy positions in Republican Administrations, from Richard Nixon to George W. Bush…” they write. “We know the personal qualities required of a President of the United States. None of us will vote for Donald Trump.”
“Mr. Trump lacks the character, values, and experience to be President,” they continue. “He weakens U.S. moral authority as the leader of the free world. He appears to lack basic knowledge about and belief in the U.S. Constitution, U.S. laws, and U.S. institutions, including religious tolerance, freedom of the press, and an independent judiciary.”
Included among the signatories are former CIA director Michael Hayden, former Secretaries of Homeland Security Michael Chertoffand Tom Ridge, former Director of Intelligence John Negroponte, two Under Secretaries of Defense and one Under Secretary of State. The White House veterans acknowledge that “many have doubts about Hillary Clinton, as do many of us. But Donald Trump is not the answer to America’s daunting challenges and to this crucial election. We are convinced that in the Oval Office, he would be the most reckless President in American history.”
“He is unable or unwilling to separate truth from falsehood,” the letter says. “He does not encourage conflicting views. He lacks self-control and acts impetuously. He cannot tolerate personal criticism. He has alarmed our closest allies with his erratic behavior. All of these are dangerous qualities in an individual who aspires to be president and commander in chief, with command of the U.S. nuclear arsenal.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/09/us/politics/national-security-gop-donald-trump.html?_r=0
