Lawrence Butler of Thomaston is a retired ambassador. He worked with NATO and U.S. commanders in Afghanistan.
As the lights and cameras turn on and presidential nominees sit in the hot seat before their Senate confirmation hearings, I can relate. In 2002, President George W. Bush nominated me to serve as the United States ambassador to Macedonia. I wasn’t familiar with the Senate process, but Maine Sen. Susan Collins graciously introduced me to the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations after her staff thoroughly vetted my qualifications, helping ensure that I would be confirmed for the role of serving as the president’s personal representative to that Balkan nation.
As I watch the confirmation hearings for President Donald Trump’s selections to serve on his cabinet with dismay, I urge Sen. Collins and her staff to similarly subject the nominees who, if confirmed, will hold incredible responsibility for our nation’s security, to the same process. I advocate that she review their records and work with her senatorial colleagues so that those who I view as plainly unqualified are rejected by the Senate. Here I have Pete Hegseth and Tulsi Gabbard as the prime examples.
The Senate recently considered the nomination of Hegseth to lead the Department of Defense — arguably one of the most important roles in government. I have had the honor to work directly with a half-dozen previous secretaries of defense. By nearly any measure, Hegseth lacks qualifications for this role, and maybe more importantly, does not possess the character we expect from the man who will lead nearly 3 million military personnel and civilians. While his military service in two war zones is admirable, that didn’t give him the experience or expertise to manage a department with a trillion dollar annual budget and 3 million employees, many of who serve in harm’s way.
There is nothing in his background that indicates to me he is up to the task, but more worrisome for me was Hegseth implying, in writing, that the Geneva Conventions and our law of armed conflict are obsolete and shouldn’t apply to American military in current combat. While I sympathize with the “rules of engagement” that constrain our armed forces from committing war crimes even though our adversaries do, Collins must demand that all persons subject to the advice and consent of the Senate be clear on upholding the rule of law, or we risk whatever little respect the rest of the world has for us.
Having worked as a leader representing the United States, I knew that my staff held me to a high personal, professional and moral standard. How can a person with a litany of accusations — although not proven — of alcohol abuse and sexual misconduct be a fit leader for our defense establishment? What message would that send to the troops about what is acceptable? I believe confirming Hegseth requires ignoring standards and norms that Collins has championed in the past.
As a senior member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Sen. Collins will also consider the nomination of former Hawaii Congresswoman, and Army National Guard officer, Tulsi Gabbard to be America’s top spy as the Director of National Intelligence. The recent terror attack in New Orleans highlights the threats we face globally from terror organizations are not hypothetical.
Yet, Gabbard has downplayed U.S. military involvement in opposing them, accusing President Trump of acting “recklessly” when he launched missiles at Syria to stop former dictator Bassar al-Assad from using chemical weapons on his own population. Collins was right to call the U.S. missile strikes ” justifiable” especially since the United States involvement saved lives without risking our own troops. Gabbard also appears to hold views out of line with Collins on the Ukraine War, attempting to blame the United States and NATO for the war by suggesting that our nation was ignoring Vladimir Putin’s “legitimate security concerns.” Even former Sen. Mitt Romney criticized Gabbard for “parroting false Russian propaganda” and “treasonous lies” when she suggested that Russia invaded Ukraine in an attempt to stop U.S.-funded bioweapons labs.
Collins will have an opportunity to explore Gabbard’s knowledge and perspectives in detail ahead of her confirmation hearing.
We live in an increasingly dangerous world. All Americans should expect that those entrusted with our national security are qualified public servants of good character who will put the nation and the mission first. In the cases of Hegseth and Gabbard, Mainers should ask that Collins use her voice in the Senate to encourage the president to course correct. And, she should vote to reject these unqualified nominees.
