The Herald’s July 23 Opinion section published this reprint from Washington Post columnist Fareed Zakaria:
“In a breathtaking interview with The New York Times, Trump announced that he would not honor NATO’s guarantee of security to America’s European allies, practically inviting Vladimir Putin to destabilize Eastern Europe. That is a break not just with seven decades of Republican foreign policy but with a core American commitment that has kept the peace since 1945. It is the most reckless statement made by a presidential candidate in modern times.”
The July 23 New York Times lead editorial echoed Zakaria’s comments and offered more interview bombshells:
“Mr. Trump questioned the merit of deploying troops overseas, including in Japan and South Korea, where a withdrawal of forces would profoundly affect security in Asia. Such a move would significantly reduce American influence at a time of increasing Chinese aggression.”
Trump is incredibly naive on defense matters. In the minds of U.S. military experts, withdrawing America’s forward-deployed troops back to the U.S. is dangerous pre-World War II strategic thinking. For many Republicans who are still obsessed by the military’s slow response from Italy during the Benghazi attack, how would launching planes from Florida or Virginia be better?
For the job “leader of the free world” Donald Trump has one thin resume. All previous U.S. presidents have had governing and/or military experience. Donald has neither.
Trump has alarmed and insulted many of our closest allies and friends. He dangerously underappreciates the role of NATO. He admires international bullies like Putin and Saddam Hussein.
Narcissistic, thin skinned and vindictive, Donald’s extreme arrogance makes him act on impulse, relying on gut instinct rather than consulting with others.
Donald claims he doesn’t have time to read, however, he’s just intellectually lazy. These are scary character traits for America’s commander in chief – the person who has access to the nuclear launch codes!
Richard C. Pratt
Durango
