William McRaven, commander of the US Navy Seal raid that killed Osama bin Laden, has condemned President Donald Trump for revoking the security clearance of former CIA chief John Brennan - and asked that his be withdrawn as well.
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| President Donald Trump meets troops |
The decorated retired Navy admiral, in an open letter published in the 'Washington Post', defended Mr Brennan as "one of the finest public servants I have ever known" and accused Mr Trump of using "McCarthy-era tactics".
"Few Americans have done more to protect this country than John," Mr McRaven said. "He is a man of unparalleled integrity, whose honesty and character have never been in question, except by those who don't know him.
"Therefore, I would consider it an honour if you would revoke my security clearance as well, so I can add my name to the list of men and women who have spoken up against your presidency," he said.
Mr McRaven was the head of US Joint Special Operations Command from 2011 to 2014 and supervised the Seal raid that killed bin Laden in Pakistan in 2011.
"Like most Americans, I had hoped that when you became president, you would rise to the occasion and become the leader this great nation needs," Mr McRaven said.
"A good leader tries to embody the best qualities of his or her organisation," he said. "A good leader sets the example for others to follow.
"A good leader always puts the welfare of others before himself or herself."
"Your leadership, however, has shown little of these qualities.
"Through your actions, you have embarrassed us in the eyes of our children, humiliated us on the world stage and, worst of all, divided us as a nation.
"If you think for a moment that your McCarthy-era tactics will suppress the voices of criticism, you are sadly mistaken," Mr McRaven said.
"The criticism will continue until you become the leader we prayed you would be."
Mr Trump revoked the security clearance of Mr Brennan on Wednesday and warned several other prominent critics that they too risk being blacklisted.
Following the president's summit last month with Russia's Vladimir Putin, Mr Brennan - who headed the CIA under President Barack Obama - described Mr Trump's behaviour as "nothing short of treasonous".
Mr Trump accused the ex-spy chief of tossing around "unfounded and outrageous allegations - wild outbursts on the internet and television - about this administration" and engaging in "increasingly frenzied commentary".
A dozen other former US intelligence leaders have backed Mr Brennan. The former CIA and national intelligence bosses called Mr Trump's move "an attempt to stifle free speech" in a joint statement.
The signatories of the joint statement - who include former CIA directors Robert Gates, David Petraeus, Leon Panetta and Porter Goss - noted that while they may not all agree with Mr Brennan's comments, they supported his right to voice an opinion.
The ex-officials called Mr Trump's move against Mr Brennan "ill-considered and unprecedented".
Two of them - ex-director of National Intelligence James Clapper and former CIA director Michael Hayden - are also on the White House list of those whose security clearances have been publicly threatened.
Mr Clapper and Mr Brennan were among the Obama administration officials who briefed Mr Trump before his inauguration on evidence of Russian meddling in the 2016 election.
Meanwhile, China's military has expanded its bomber operations in recent years while "likely training for strikes" against the United States and its allies, according to a Pentagon report.
The assessment, which comes at a time of heightened US- China tensions over trade, was contained in an annual report that highlighted China's efforts to increase its global influence, with defence spending that the Pentagon estimates exceeded $190bn (€166.5bn) in 2017.
"Over the last three years, the PLA has rapidly expanded its overwater bomber operating areas, gaining experience in critical maritime regions and likely training for strikes against US and allied targets," the report said, using an acronym for China's People's Liberation Army.
The report comes as China and the United States plan to hold trade talks, offering hope they might resolve an escalating tariff conflict that threatens to degenerate into an all-out trade war.
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