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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsLt. Col Vindman: "Coming forward ended my career. I still believe doing what's right matters."
PAYWALL: Use incognito window. https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/08/01/alexander-vindman-retiring-oped/Opinion by Alexander S. Vindman
August 1, 2020 at 8:00 a.m. EDT
After 21 years, six months and 10 days of active military service, I am now a civilian. I made the difficult decision to retire because a campaign of bullying, intimidation and retaliation by President Trump and his allies forever limited the progression of my military career.
This experience has been painful, but I am not alone in this ignominious fate. The circumstances of my departure might have been more public, yet they are little different from those of dozens of other lifelong public servants who have left this administration with their integrity intact but their careers irreparably harmed.
A year ago, having served the nation in uniform in positions of critical importance, I was on the cusp of a career-topping promotion to colonel. A year ago, unknown to me, my concerns over the presidents conduct and the presidents efforts to undermine the very foundations of our democracy were precipitating tremors that would ultimately shake loose the facade of good governance and publicly expose the corruption of the Trump administration.
At no point in my career or life have I felt our nations values under greater threat and in more peril than at this moment. Our national government during the past few years has been more reminiscent of the authoritarian regime my family fled more than 40 years ago than the country I have devoted my life to serving.
Our citizens are being subjected to the same kinds of attacks tyrants launch against their critics and political opponents. Those who choose loyalty to American values and allegiance to the Constitution over devotion to a mendacious president and his enablers are punished. The president recklessly downplayed the threat of the pandemic even as it swept through our country. The economic collapse that followed highlighted the growing income disparities in our society. Millions are grieving the loss of loved ones and many more have lost their livelihoods while the president publicly bemoans his approval ratings.
. . .
To this day, despite everything that has happened, I continue to believe in the American Dream. I believe that in America, right matters. I want to help ensure that right matters for all Americans.
redstatebluegirl
(12,265 posts)SheltieLover
(57,073 posts)peacebuzzard
(5,165 posts)as well as Ambassador Yovanovitch, who also went into retirement.
iluvtennis
(19,844 posts)Phoenix61
(17,000 posts)make a hell of an ambassador. He embodies the best of the American Dream.
Bayard
(22,048 posts)Defines the word, Patriot. I admire him greatly, and hope Biden awards him the Medal of Freedom.
Gothmog
(145,091 posts)UTUSN
(70,674 posts)NNadir
(33,512 posts)...is removed from office. I also remind everyone that acquittal by a kangaroo court in the Senate as no bearing on a federal criminal court trial.
Trump needs to die in prison.
sarge43
(28,941 posts)He shouldn't be forced to do so.
Further, he did nothing illegal. He retired of his own volition.
ffr
(22,668 posts)America was founded by people like him. The complicit conservatives are the beneficiaries of his type of sacrifice.
ChiTownDenny
(747 posts)If there are no consequences, nothing will change. See: Valerie Plame.
Olafjoy
(937 posts)Another honorable American who ...laid so costly a sacrifice on the alter of freedom. He will forever be on the right side of history but that is of little comfort to him now.
BigmanPigman
(51,584 posts)onecent
(6,096 posts)I salute you...you are a man that IS WONDERFUL!!!