Washington – More than 175 former State Department and Pentagon officials added their names to a statement signed by national security officials criticizing President Donald Trump’s decision to cancel the security clearance of former Central Intelligence Agency director John Brennan.
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New signatories to the statement, which was initially issued last week by 15 former directors and deputy chiefs of the CIA and Office of Director of National Intelligence, include former political appointees and career civil servants. They worked under both Democratic and Republican presidents.
Among the most prominent individuals to sign a new version of the statement released on Monday by senior officials from the George W. Bush and Obama administrations are former State Department and National Security Counsel lawyer John Bellinger, former Deputy Secretaries of State Anthony Blinken and William Burns, former Undersecretaries of State Nicholas Burns, Wendy Sherman and Thomas Pickering.
Also, former National Security Agency general counsel Robert Deitz, former National Counterterrorism Center directors Michael Leiter and Nick Rasmussen, former National Security Advisor Anthony Lake and former NATO commander Admiral James Stavridis.
While those signing may not agree with all of Brennan’s public attacks on Trump, the statement reads, they believe that “the country will be weakened if there is a political litmus test applied” before expert former officials are allowed to voice their views.
Brennan, who has publicly characterized Trump’s comments at a recent summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin as “treasonous,” has said he might sue the Trump administration over the revocation of his clearance.
“I am going to do whatever I can to try to prevent these abuses in the future, and if it means going to court, I will do that,” he said on Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press” television program.
You know trump does the right thing when the swamp loses it. This guy was a communist and was leaking info, he deserves jail not just revoke security
Same thing happens everywhere – the “old boys network”. Even the Midrash tells us about it. As example, when Achan took booty from Jericho, and was uncovered, Joshua ordered a very quick and hasty search of Achan’s property. Why the unusual haste? The Midrash explains that Joshua understood that Achans brethren would spirit away the evidence to protect him – despite the fact that he had just caused a literal national catastrophe. (Similar thing in the story of exactly why Zimri brought in Cozbi.)
And when considers the size of the “security” establishment (especially when considering ex-members), the number 175 is actually small potatoes.
OK, Trumpies, all together now:
FAKE NEWS!!!
POLITICAL HACKS!!!
Ah, but just ask Paranoid Uneducated Archy…he’ll let you in on the real truth; all of those 175 former officials are really me!
Yoni
Not taking sides here, but why do so many ex-spies need to keep their security clearances? Isn’t it just a perk of the job, so they can make speeches for lots of money and write books? Surely, the fewer the number of retirees with security clearances, the better it is for security, no?
All u people regardless of hi voltage u are. Trump (rightfully) doesn’t give a flying hoot to all ur letters and recommendations. It was absolutely degrading of a former head of the CIA to lavish such beautiful praise on a sitting president. He absolutely went over the top plus homself being a loose target. Shut ur mouth. A president deserves some kind of half of respect. Now deal with it.
One fallout of it is that the republicans shldnt cry foul when a democratic president will do the exact same if he feels so. He seta new precedent which is what Trump does all the time.
Can someone explain to my why “former “ officials still need clearance!
It’s nothing more than a post government vehicle to market themselves for their post government careers, which is why all these “former” government officials are having a collective meltdown.
Kudos to Trump, for following through on his campaign promise to drain the swamp!!
I am truly amazed at most of these posts. Let’s take for example the case of security clearance for Pollard’s lawyers. The right to an attorney is a constitutional matter. More to the point, the right to competent legal representation, instead of nominal legal representation, is also a constitutional matter. So much so that no matter how guilty the accused may be, if the legal representation is not competent then the Supreme Court has long ruled the accused cannot be found guilty.
So Pollard’s lawyers were given security clearance for the purpose of seeing the alleged evidence against him. Rather fundamental – “habeas corpse”. But what really happened? Some materials the lawyers were allowed to see. But some alleged evidence these security-cleared and authorized lawyers were not permitted to see because of – eh – security reasons.
So there was a sham so-called security clearance, for the purpose of pretending that Pollard was given competent legal representation, when in truth his lawyers were severely obstructed by the so-called Justice Department.
So these other administrations de facto (in all but name!) revoked security clearance for the sake of perverting justice.
This is a win win situation all around. Pulling their credentials and access will decrease costs but more importantly will help keep our country safe.