It has long been recognized that trust is the glue of a democratic society.
Unfortunately, in this Presidential election, distrust is the main ingredient.
Hillary and Bill Clinton’s long-standing propensity to walk the legal tightrope is a persistent albatross around their necks. Her problems concerning her emails, the dubious connections between her State Department and the Clinton Foundation, and both of their speaking fees raise numerous justifiable questions about their honesty and trustworthiness.
As a moderate Republican since 1972, I would have relished her defeat in this year’s election.
Regrettably, a catastrophic force burst onto the scene last year.
Donald Trump’s audacious comments about Mexicans, Muslims, self-respecting women, and trade stole the attention of the media and then the public.
Because it would take a book to discuss and adequately dissect Trump’s numerous preposterous pronouncements, I want to concentrate only on his position concerning Iraq.
He proclaims Hillary demonstrated bad judgment when she supported George W. Bush’s invasion of Iraq.
Trump claims that near its start he was against the war.
Did he know that Sadam Hussain was bluffing about having weapons of mass destruction?
Did he disregard the fact that Sadam previously used them to kill thousands of Iraqi Kurds?
Was he not suspicious about the numerous times Sadam found ways to prevent UN inspectors from doing their jobs?
Should his beliefs have superseded the intelligence gathered by our CIA and many other foreign intelligence services?
If there were WMD found, what would be the position of the great sage of infallible intuition?
A demagogue’s “brilliance” can always be demonstrated with 20/20 hindsight.
Trump’s statements about taking Iraq’s oil as either a payment for our services and/or a means to combat ISIS defies comprehension.
Iraq has billions of barrels of oil in the ground. Refineries are located in the northern, central, and southern regions of the country.
The oil is transported by pipelines and tanker trucks. To protect it, thousands of troops would have to be placed in numerous scattered and vulnerable defensive positions.
Apparently, a “militaristic” Trump, who idolizes famous and flamboyant generals like MacArthur and Patton, cannot comprehend that those troops could be better used to directly attack Mosul and Raqua.
If, by some quirk of circumstance, our military was able to seize Iraq’s oil, would not the other nations of the world see this action as a reincarnation of imperialism?
Dangerous Donald’s blinker-like concepts of America First and “to the victor go the spoils” would render the USA as an outcast nation.
Justifiably, sanctions could be placed on us. Trump would then have to change his motto from America First to America Only.
This November the American people must choose between a woman whose legalistic luck has saved her from criminal prosecution and a bombastic self-promoting salesman with a superficial understanding of government, national security, and foreign affairs.
Advisors basically make suggestions.
A President must have the background, demeanor, and curiosity to make vital well-thought out national and international decisions.
Hillary’s governmental experience and detailed knowledge of multiple issues trumps Trump.
Dr. Alan Wecksell
Great Neck
Readers Write: A Republican voting for Hillary
