Former CIA Director: Op-Ed is ‘An Expression of Deep Concern’

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It seems like everybody in the world is commenting this morning about the New York Times op-ed written by an anonymous Trump administration official.

Even in a Washington used to scandals under the current president this editorial was a shocker. Everyone interviewed said they had never seen anything like it in their lifetimes.

The author of the op-ed piece (whose identity is known only to Times editors) claims that he or she is a member of a secret group working inside the White House to thwart the president. They say they are protecting the country from a man who is not up to the task of being president, and wouldn’t want to properly perform the job even if he could.

“Morning Joe” co-host Joe Scarborough discussed the editorial on his show this morning where his guest was former CIA Director John Brennan, who just last month had his security clearance revoked by Trump.

Scarborough said that there had been plenty of leaks in the Bush and Obama administrations, but they never occurred in “such a dramatic manner.”

Brennan, however, said he did not think Scarborough’s analysis was correct because the editorial in the Times is not really a “leak.”

When his host asked Brennan, “Is this a new chapter or have we seen it before?” the former CIA director replied as follows:

“I might will take issue with your premise. I don’t think George Bush or Barack Obama said there was leaking around the clock. They were concerned about it. But the New York Times editorial to me is not a leak. It is an expression of deep concern and worry. It’s certainly reflective of what people a lot of people have been saying over the last year, that Donald Trump has not fulfilled his responsibilities.”

“So, I think there are a lot of people within the government that are quite frustrated with the situation and are now taking extreme measures to try to reassure the American people that there are people within the administration who are trying to counter what Donald Trump is doing.”

The Times editorial, published on late Wednesday, sent shockwaves through the White House and the entire country. Trump blustered about it like the crazy man he is, but there was little he or his communications staff could do other than to blindly lash out at the unknown perpetrator.

The author of the piece made clear that Trump is not fit for office, saying:

“We believe our first duty is to this country, and the president continues to act in a manner that is detrimental to the health of our republic.”

“That is why many Trump appointees have vowed to do what we can to preserve our democratic institutions while thwarting Mr. Trump’s more misguided impulses until he is out of office.”

John Brennan is right. What’s going on now is not just leaking from the White House — it is a veritable flood of information coming out that is trying to warn the United States that we have a crazy man for a president and the country is in danger unless action is taken.

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Leo Vidal

I am a lifelong Democrat with a passion for social justice and progressive issues. I have degrees in writing, economics and law from the University of Iowa.