CAP Action Launches The National Security Leadership Alliance
Last night, at least 41 people were killed and hundreds more were injured in a series of suicide bombings at Istanbul’s Ataturk International Airport. Reminiscent of other recent deadly attacks in Turkey, Paris, Brussels, and Orlando, yesterday’s attacks have refocused global attention on the fight against terrorism, and remind us of the need for strong, pragmatic, and responsible American leadership to face these challenges.
Unfortunately, that’s not the type of leadership being displayed by the presumptive Republican candidate for President. At a campaign rally last night in Ohio, Trump responded to the events in Istanbul with renewed calls for torture, claiming we “have to fight fire with fire.” A new report and an accompanying video from the Center for American Progress Action Fund released today show Donald Trump is just too dangerous and unpredictable to sit atop the most powerful military command structure in the world. After all, he has argued that more countries should develop nuclear weapons, called for a ban on Muslims entering the United States, advocated for the practice of torture, and suggested that U.S. allies –such as our friends in NATO – be left defenseless.
Trump’s recklessness underscores the reality that today we are facing two very different visions of how best to keep America safe during these challenging times. One vision is of a withdrawn and pessimistic America with erratic leadership and reckless policies that often throw fundamental American values out the window. The other is a vision of a strong, confident, and engaged America with reliable leadership and smart policies rooted in our values.
To promote the second vision – and to rebut the dangerous claims of Donald Trump- we are excited to announce the launch of the National Security Leadership Alliance, or NSLA. Chaired by a group of leading experts that includes Secretary Madeleine Albright, Gen. John Allen (ret), former Attorney General Eric Holder, Secretary Leon Panetta, Sen. Carl Levin, Adm. James Stavridis (ret), former National Security Advisor Tom Donilon, Sen. Chris Murphy, and Rep. Keith Ellison, the National Security Leadership Alliance will be a policy and rapid response to promote a strong, progressive vision for national security policy. You can learn more about NSLA and its founding principles here.
BOTTOM LINE: Keeping America safe requires strong U.S. leadership and principled National Security Policy. We can defeat terrorism, stand up to tyranny, and create more peaceful and just world by strengthening our global network of alliances and leading global efforts to tackle emerging threats.
Like CAP Action on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!