While I wholeheartedly back the vast majority of his decisions and policies, this one area where I think President Donald Trump has gone too far.
I’m with the two Trump-supporting Republican senators asking Trump to rethink, and hopefully reverse, his decision to remove the security details from several former top national security officials who served under him who are still actively targeted by Iran.
Legitimate threat levels should determine whether former U.S. national security officials keep their security details, not political whim.
Among those affected are John Bolton, Mike Pompeo and Brian Hook, all involved Trump’s aggressive posture against Iran that included the precision drone strike that killed Iran’s terror master Qasem Soleimani in 2020.
Iran has been trying to retaliate against Trump and his top national security advisers ever since, prompting the provision of those security details. (RELATED: Justice Department Unseals Charges Against Iranian Nationals In Alleged Trump Assassination Plot)
More recently, the former chairman of the joint chiefs, retired General Mark Milley, had his security detail removed as well. Milley was also involved in the Trump actions against Tehran, including the Soleimani strike.
All except Hook have bad-mouthed Trump.
Still, in addition to appearing extremely petty and vindictive, I find the moves outrageous since these officials are now in danger because of policies and actions they took against Iran for Trump. Who will want to take similar actions under Trump when they could face the same fate afterwards?
I know I might hesitate if I thought my boss might not have my back.
As The New York Times reported:
Senator Tom Cotton, Republican of Arkansas and the chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, and Senator Lindsey Graham, Republican of South Carolina, spoke after Mr. Trump abruptly halted government security protection for three officials from his first time who were involved in his Iran policy and have remained under threat.
One of them, John R. Bolton, Mr. Trump’s third national security adviser, has been a vocal critic of Mr. Trump since departing the administration in 2019. The other two, his former secretary of state Mike Pompeo and another former top State Department official, Brian Hook, have been supportive of Mr. Trump. His decision to pull their details surprised and alarmed some of the president’s allies.
“I would encourage the president to revisit the decision for those people who are being targeted by Iran, as the president was targeted for assassination by Iran,” Mr. Cotton said on Fox News. He said he had reviewed current intelligence and that the threats remained real.
Mr. Cotton suggested that those going to work now for Mr. Trump on Iran, China, North Korea or Mexican drug cartels “might hesitate to do so, or they might hesitate if they’re in office to give him the advice he needs or carry out the policies that he decides upon.”
The issue has only expanded with the removal of Milley’s detail.
True, unlike the others affected, Milley did and said concerning things while in uniform. Among them, calling Trump a fascist, and referring to him as a “wannabe dictator.”
He also had borderline treasonous off-book unauthorized conversations with his Chinese counterpart in the final months of Trump’s first term, assuring him the U.S. had no plans to strike China. (RELATED: Is Joint Chiefs Chairman Milley A Hero Or A Danger? New Book Shows Some Dangerous Issues)
I have sharply criticized Milley for these things. They were wrong and inappropriate.
But, while I understand and appreciate Trump’s disdain toward Bolton and Pompeo for having bad-mouthed him after leaving their posts and Milley for his conduct while still serving, putting them at risk of assassination by an enemy terror state isn’t an appropriate response.
Removing their security clearances? Sure. In Milley’s case, also investigate him for his very questionable actions and statements while in uniform.
But, stripping their security details and inviting Iran to kill them? That would be a HARD NO.
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of American Liberty News.
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What about the security detail for Robert O’Brien that Biden had cut off 9-12 months ago. That is one that should be restored as well. Do you agree?
My feeling is that they made a lot
Of money putting Trump in bad position by saying things that affected how people viewed him during an election year.
It was their choice to reflect badly on their work for him and his leadership capabilities. As taxpayers, we should not have to protect traitors after the fact – let this be a lesson to all that loyalty and trust matter! Additionally, these are all wealthy men as a result of Trump (whether they got their money after trashing Trump or not) – surely they should pay for their own security.
I agree – this is petty and should be beneath our President. Unfortunately, Trump (who I think has done a lot of good things), also has a vengeful, bullying, name-calling personality, which he allows to get in the way of common sense and decency. IF he had some of the latter, he would be a much more popular president. At present, he appears to want to be a little boy with the biggest stick. The last presidential election, in my opinion, was a matter of voting for the lesser of two evils, and also a matter of voting on policies, not personalities. Because of that, I voted for Trump. But honestly, are the Republicans EVER going to get someone who has both sensible policies AND is a person of integrity (ok, it’s politics . . . at least SOME integrity)?? With the exception of Milley, who I agree should be investigated for his information giveaways to the Chinese, these other people, like the article said, have done good things for Trump, and now he’s putting their lives at stake! CERTAINLY, if I was working for Trump, I would take note of this, and it might affect my job performance in one way or another! It’s just scary! GROW UP, Donald! We need a President who leads without bullying – did any of your other favorite Presidents CONTINUOUSLY call names, or put their former helpers in harms way, threatening their lives?? You want to have a positive legacy? Look at some of those Presidents, and how they reacted when things didn’t go their way – they dealt with it, by realizing it wasn’t in the COUNTRY’S best interest (even though it might have been in their best interest briefly), or by going to Plan B, and realizing that these people shouldn’t be employed by him any longer and firing them, and letting it go at that, unless they committed an indictable crime!