Washington D.C. — Ahead of Donald Trump’s vice presidential nominee announcement, the Center for American Progress Action Fund announced the Vice Chairs of the National Security Leadership Alliance, or NSLA. The NSLA is a home for policy-focused rapid response work on key national security issues. The Vice Chairs bring unrivaled experience at the highest level of civilian and military service. Today in a press call, three leading national security experts offered their insights into the selection of the Republican vice presidential nominee. As experts in foreign policy, defense, and homeland security, the Vice Chairs presented what is needed to ensure the individual selected can fulfill the critical duties of the commander-in-chief.
“The choice for vice president is the first true national security decision for presidential candidates,” said Wendy Sherman, former under secretary of state for political affairs. “It tells us how much they value leadership and the stability of the country. It communicates to voters the message we intend to send to the world. The Vice President represents America abroad and negotiates at the highest levels. He will be a top diplomat and it’s critical we choose someone who represents America, not just Donald Trump.”
A home for policy-focused rapid response work, NSLA, focuses on key national security issues, which will promote a vision of national security that rejects a reckless use of American power and embraces the nation’s ability to work with partners to protect the American people and build a better world. Housed at the Center for American Progress Action Fund, the NSLA will provide aggressive response to the reckless rhetoric espoused during the election cycle, including rhetoric coming from Donald Trump.
“The Vice Presidential pick is the most consequential decision a President will make. The Vice President is the President’s most important advisor. He will be at the President’s side when questions of war and peace are on the table,” said Derek Chollet, former assistant secretary of defense.
The NSLA comprises more than 50 progressive national security leaders who reject a reckless use of American power and embraces the nation’s ability to lead the world toward peace, stability, justice and opportunity.
The vice chairs are: Rand Beers, Daniel Benjamin, Nicholas Burns, William J. Burns, Kurt M. Campbell, Derek Chollet, Rudy DeLeon, Juliette Kayyem, Lawrence J. Korb, Michèle Flournoy, Kathleen H. Hicks, Jim Miller, Thomas R. Nides, Rajiv Shah, Andrew J. Shapiro, Wendy Sherman, Anne-Marie Slaughter, Tara D. Sonenshine, and James Steinberg.
Rand Beers stated, “The Vice President needs to be a straight shooter with a sense of calm. It requires someone who has a steady hand. The Vice President needs to be a very experienced person in international affairs. It’s very concerning to see the types of individuals Trump is vetting. We should all be concerned.”
NSLA is chaired by former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, former Attorney General Eric Holder, former National Security Advisor Tom Donilon, retired Sen. Carl Levin, retired Admiral James Stavridis, retired General John Allen, and the Congressional Co-Chairs Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT), and Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN)
Related sources:
Read “Too Reckless to Be Commander In Chief,” by Ken Gude and Lawrence J. Korb
Watch “Why You Don’t Want Donald Trump Controlling America’s Military Arsenal”
Visit www.nationalsecurityleadershipalliance.org