Draft Dodger Don

Published October 14, 2020

Dear Editor,

                “America’s enemies must never know our plans or believe they can wait us out.”  Donald Trump 2017 in a speech critiquing President Obama for “telegraphing” when the United States might withdraw troops.

                “We should have the small remaining number of our BRAVE Men and Women serving in Afghanistan home by Christmas.”  Donald Trump 2020 in an announcement Thursday which earned praise from the Taliban.

                Once again we see Draft-Dodger Don playing politics with our national security, showing he has no core values or beliefs when it comes to protecting America from its enemies.  We probably should expect this of a rich kid who played dress-up soldier at a preppy academy and now believes he is smarter than the generals who actually served.  Consider how he used and then demeaned our military leaders: Generals Mattis (“overrated general”), Kelly (“he was way over his head”), McChrystal (“big, dumb mouth”), and many others.  I understand that Americans are free to criticize their military leaders.  My father-in-law hated “Dougout” Doug.  But he earned the right to do that by putting on a Marine uniform and serving on Guadalcanal.  President Bone Spurs never earned the right.

                Trump repeatedly demonstrates he is not fit to lead.  A commander accepts responsibility for those he sends into battle.  President Truman kept a sign on his desk reminding him “The Buck Stops Here.”  Trump believes his job is to pass the buck.  When Navy SEAL Ryan Owens died during a mission personally authorized by Trump, Trump said this: “[the Generals] lost Ryan.”  Where is the shame in this person who refuses to take responsibility for the life of one who followed his orders, calls our service men and women suckers and losers, stands at the grave of our war dead and questions their sacrifice, seeks to hide those who bear the scars of combat, and praises a dictator who put a bounty on our soldiers’ heads?

                No Trump – not his draft-dodging grandfather, his stay-at-home dad, Donald, nor his adult sons – served a day in the military.  We have a name for such people.  Military service, of course, is not a prerequisite to being President, unless as President you are pretending to be a military genius even as you contradict your own strategy and insult those who actually served and sacrificed to defend our nation.

David Plunkett