Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019 | 2 a.m.
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Operational security is of the utmost importance with military deployments. During President Donald Trump’s surprise visit to Iraq, he revealed that a Navy SEAL team was deployed there. He even had a photo op with the team to boost his ego.
The commander in chief can declassify information, but he should not reveal special operations or troop movements.
Intelligence officials worry about Trump’s discretion and reliability, especially regarding his use of unsecured cellphones.
Jim Mattis resigned as defense secretary because he disagreed with Trump’s order to withdraw troops from Syria. That would cede control of vital territory to Russia and Iran, not to mention the abandonment of our Kurdish fighting partners.
Trump disregarded Mattis’ extensive military experience and literally treated him as a procurement officer.
Trump downgrades the importance of our NATO allies, then proffers our protection as if we are mercenaries. He actually said that in front of our troops, and their silent response to that risible remark was deafening. He further confounded the esprit de corps with his simplistic approach to the world by depicting us as suckers for our reliance on allies who don’t pay the “pizzo.”
Trump has forsaken the role of world leader. His tweets often reveal his unstable state of mind. His erratic behavior has undermined the functioning of government with a needless shutdown over a needless and unpopular border wall.
