William McRaven, commander of the U.S. Navy SEAL raid that killed Osama bin Laden, condemned President Trump today for revoking the security clearance of former CIA chief John Brennan – and asked that his be canceled as well.
The decorated retired Navy admiral, in an open letter published in The Washington Post, defended Brennan as “one of the finest public servants I have ever known” and accused Trump of using ‘McCarthy-era tactics.”
The statement below:
“Dear Mr. President:
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.”