Folks, lets get something clear about foreign policy. Foreign policy is not a static concept that every American President is forced to accept, and then work from within that framework when promoting America’s interest abroad.
Foreign policy is whatever the sitting President determines that it is. Foreign policy is strictly and exclusively the prerogative of the President in power.
One does not have to like that fact, but guess what? That is the way it is! Once again, the President gets to set America’s foreign policy agenda.
This is what made the Actions of Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman so egregious when he decided to leak the President’s phone conversation with the President of Ukraine to the so called “whistle blower”.
According to Vindman, he was concerned by what he believed were President Donald Trump’s attempts to “subvert U.S. foreign policy.”
First of all, the notion that Trump was subverting U.S. foreign policy because he asked the Ukraine President to look in to corruption involving the company Crowstrike and Joe Biden’s son is absolutely absurd. It is ludicrous! But more important, who does this Lieut. Col. think he is, inserting himself in the political dealings of the executive?
This Officer stepped way out of his lane when he took the action that he did? His action, contrary to the breathless declarations of the media, was not the act of a patriot, but an untrustworthy individual. This was a Soldier who betrayed the trust and the confidence that was placed in him by the Commander in Chief, and he should be held accountable for his action.
When this officer concluded that his opinion on foreign policy mattered more than the President who was entrusted by the American people to do that job, and he made the conscious decision to leak the President’s conversation; he committed a grave act of betrayal.
Since the beginning of this country’s history, the founders stressed the importance of the Military being under the Command of civilian rulers. They insisted that the Military remain neutral in order to keep themselves out of the political fray, and always be in a position to follow the lawful orders of whoever the Commander in Chief may be.
It is not the privilege of any Military Officer to ever determine policy. The idea has has always been for there to be a clear dichotomy between the role of civilian leaders and the role of the Military.
The founders knew of the dangers in having a Military that is steeped in politics, and they wanted to make sure that we as a nation never have to deal with those complications.
Lieut. Col. Vindman should never be allowed to be in such a position of trust ever again. He should lose his top secret clearance, face disciplinary action under the Uniformed Code of Military Justice, and be forced to resign or retire.
Thank him for his service and send him packing.
We cannot afford to have Military Officers who behave in this manner.