In an op-ed for The Washington Post, retired Navy Admiral William McRaven, who oversaw that successful raid that took out Osama bin Laden, obliterated Donald Trump for revoking former CIA director John Brenna’s security clearance.
McRaven called Brennan “one of the finest public servants I have ever known” and urged the president to revoke his security clearance too, “so I can add my name to the list of men and women who have spoken up against your presidency.”
“Few Americans have done more to protect this country than John,” the retired admiral wrote of the former CIA director. “He is a man of unparalleled integrity, whose honesty and character have never been in question, except by those who don’t know him.”
The American hero’s blistering editorial is a must-read for any American who thinks what Trump did this week is normal and acceptable. It’s not.
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A portion of McRaven’s op-ed:
Like most Americans, I had hoped that when you became president, you would rise to the occasion and become the leader this great nation needs.
A good leader tries to embody the best qualities of his or her organization. A good leader sets the example for others to follow. A good leader always puts the welfare of others before himself or herself.
Your leadership, however, has shown little of these qualities. Through your actions, you have embarrassed us in the eyes of our children, humiliated us on the world stage and, worst of all, divided us as a nation.
If you think for a moment that your McCarthy-era tactics will suppress the voices of criticism, you are sadly mistaken. The criticism will continue until you become the leader we prayed you would be.
Trump crossed another red line
The president crossed yet another red line this week in an effort to silence one of his critics. The backlash has been swift and harsh, particularly from those who know John Brennan or have worked in the intelligence community.
Rachel Maddow even pointed out on Wednesday that Trump’s behavior is increasingly similar to Richard Nixon’s during Watergate, and his attack on John Brennan could represent another impeachable offense. And Brennan isn’t likely to be the last target on Trump’s Nixonian enemies list; the White House announced that he is also targeting other former intelligence officials.
Ultimately, no criticism carries more weight than the kind that McRaven dished out on Thursday. This is not a man who shoots from the hip or doesn’t carefully choose his words or actions, particularly when wading into a public feud with the president of the United States.
When people like William McRaven speak out, the American people should listen.
Sean Colarossi currently resides in Cleveland, Ohio. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and was an organizing fellow for both of President Obama’s presidential campaigns. He also worked with Planned Parenthood as an Affordable Care Act Outreach Organizer in 2014, helping northeast Ohio residents obtain health insurance coverage.
