A bunch of staffers in a broad reach of offices in the Biden administration Executive Branch have signed a letter. Carefully anonymously.
Four hundred government officials from 40 departments and agencies within President Biden’s administration signed a letter opposing the president’s handling of the Israel-Hamas war and demanded a cease-fire.
The Tuesday letter, first reported by the New York Times, includes officials from the State Department, White House, National Security Council, and the Justice Department. The signatories of the letter remained anonymous to protect against professional retaliation.
They…wish to see…President Biden to
urgently demand a cease-fire; and to call for de-escalation of the current conflict by securing the immediate release of the Israeli hostages and arbitrarily detained Palestinians; the restoration of water, fuel, electricity, and other basic services; and the passage of adequate humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip[.]
It doesn’t matter whether a ceasefire is in any way legitimate, or whether the items demanded are in any way practical to impose.
What matters is the illegitimacy of the letter, via the signatures affixed.
These cowards have hidden their faces, worn masks, ducked behind a wall—whatever metaphor you wish—with their refusal to put their names to their demands. These cowards have put their careers ahead of their morality, which demonstrates that they have no sense of morality. That alone removes any legitimacy of their position re cease fire or any other matter.
The White House has yet to respond to the letter.
Which Biden and the rest of the Executive Branch should continue to do. The Coward’s Missive is beneath contempt, and it should be beneath notice.
And not only Vindman. There’s also Fiona Hill, who was quite cross that she and her ad hoc Interagency Coordinating Committee were being bypassed by a President in setting and carrying out foreign policy.
It’s why certain candidates’ commitment to seriously cul the Civil Service is so attractive.
Eric Hines.
There’s one other problem – nobody elected them to set policy. For good or ill, we elected the President and Vice President. Those staffers’ jobs are to carry out the elected leaders’ policy. They may inform and advise – if asked to do so by said elected leaders – but they are there to carry out policy, not set it. Period.
Paging Lt. Col. Vindman …