Gentlemen. Why on earth are you destroying the reputations that you’ve spent your entire adult lives in building for a President that undermines all of your efforts to keep the country safe.
General Kelly. You find nothing unusual about Kushner establishing backchannels with the Russians during the transition period? Seriously? Your analysis stands in sharp contrast to that of General Hayden who was, as you know, director of both the CIA and the NSA and knows a bit about intelligence matters. Probably a bit more than you yourself. It also stands in stark contrast with Richard Haas of the Foreign Relations Council’s view that we have only one administration at a time. The transition is a time to begin assembling the White House staff. Not a time to undercut the current administrations foreign policies.
Both you and General McMaster certainly must know that so-called “back-channels” with foreign countries are always arranged through the State Department. In other words; Professionals that know how this is done. Not by rank amateurs who’s only experience is in real estate development. Do you really want us to believe that you don’t find it unusual that Kushner along with General Flynn not only pushed for back-channels, but that we should do it using Russian facilities and equipment with the obvious intention of avoiding US Government scrutiny? That’s an invitation to charges of treason and espionage.
Do you not realize that you are destroying your own reputations and credibility by defending this nonsense? The idea that Kushner is new at this kind of thing, is no excuse. We can’t afford the luxury of bringing him up to speed on matters of basic common sense. Nobody in his right mind would suggest using the Russian Embassy to set up a private back-channel between the Administration and the Kremlin. The very idea was even shocking to the Russian Ambassador. If this were done in secret, it would establish an open door to blackmail by the Russians. They would have this as leverage over the White House to extract any kind of deal they choose, as long as it was favorable to Putin. If we don’t agree to whatever demands they would make, it could easily be leaked that we have a secret communication with Putin coming out of his own Embassy. All communications would be on record. And...just like Wiki Leaks we would find out just how deeply destructive those communications could be. The release of that kind of information would be enough to topple the entire administration. That includes you. Both of you. It undermines our national security. How could you do the job as Secretary of Homeland Security or National Security Advisor and claim no knowledge of this kind of undertaking? The level of incompetence would be breathtaking and inexcusable. You have to be able to see that. You’re both experienced military men. A novice like myself can see the potential disaster that something of that nature could be for our country.
It doesn’t have to be this way. Donald Trump needs you more than you need him. When the two of you were appointed, the country breathed a sigh of relief that at least somebody, along with General Mattis would assert some adult influence on the Administration. That is now being eroded. Your reputations that you spent entire careers in building will lay in ruins if you keep this posture. You’re already being damaged in ways that might be lasting forever.
General Flynn’s career is finished and he will be disgraced forever. Of course, he engaged in acts that will likely land him in jail. But your own careers are also on the line. Both of you are enabling Trump in ways that can only lead to disaster for the country and for yourselves as well. General McMaster wrote a book that spoke truth to power. I don’t know where that man went, but we need him back today. General Kelly, you’ve served your country with distinction, and your own son paid the ultimate sacrifice. Don’t let this man-child destroy all that you and your son have stood for. It’s painful to watch this take place, and I can’t imagine what you must be thinking. I hope you can extricate yourself from this train-wreck before it consumes you as well.