Former Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Paul Selva
WASHINGTON: Many of the most respected defense leaders in America have come together to oppose another term for President Donal Trump and support Joe Biden.
The most notable signature comes from Paul Selva, an Air Force general who served under Trump as Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs. I knew Selva pretty well, and greatly respect his calm and rational approach to the military and to life. He helped foster much of the current commitment to artificial intelligence and grappled with the difficult issues of the Joint Requirements Oversight Council (JROC), as well as being closely involved with the White House during much of the most difficult period with North Korea. Selva’s commitment to Biden, as someone who worked closely with senior Trump officials, cannot easily be dismissed for any reason.
Also joining the fray was Sean O’Keefe, former Navy Secretary and NASA Administrator, and Dave Oliver, former principal deputy undersecretary of Defense for acquisition, technology and logistics. I knew Dave Oliver quite well while he battled for defense trade changes during his time in the Pentagon under both a Republican and Democratic president. Oliver possesses a remarkably sharp and ruthless mind. Both men’s commitment to Biden should ring a loud bell for any national security fence sitters.
Joining them is another bipartisan former senior defense official, Mike Vickers, former undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence, served under both Presidents Bush and Obama and is most famous as the man who led much of the CIA’s successful operations designed to drive the Soviets out of Afghanistan. Mike’s record speaks for itself.
Among the Republican heavy hitters signing the pro-Biden letter is former Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage.
Many of the signatories are former Obama political appointees, which is to be expected. But the list includes five former Navy Secretaries, four former Air Force secretaries and two former Army secretaries — few of whom have been known for their political views one way or the other.
Ten days ago the Trump campaign released a letter signed by 235 former military officers. It did not include any former senior defense officials but does include eight four-star general officers, including five admirals. The Biden letter is signed by 22 retired four-stars.
The Trump letter echoes the administration’s rhetoric, charging that the Democrats are “welcoming to socialists and Marxists, (so) our historic way of life is at stake.” The Biden letter is more fulsome, noting its signers are Republicans, Democrats, and Independents. “We love our country. Unfortunately, we also fear for it. The COVID-19 pandemic has proven America needs principled, wise, and responsible leadership. America needs a President who understands, as President Harry S. Truman said, that ‘the buck stops here.’
His supporters aver in the letter that Biden ”is guided by the principles that have long made America great: democracy is a hard-won right we must defend and support at home and abroad; America’s power and influence stem as much from her moral authority as it does from her economic and military power; America’s free press is invaluable, not an enemy of the people; those who sacrifice or give their lives in service of our nation deserve our respect and eternal gratitude; and America’s citizens benefit most when the United States engages with the world. Joe Biden will always put the nation’s needs before his own.”
While it’s difficult to believe many ordinary voters will be swayed by either of these letters, they are useful as indicators for how many of those who know the most about America’s national security establishment view Biden and Trump. And, of course, they aren’t a bad spot to look for possible job holders.
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