Admiral William McRaven, Retd has written a letter to Donald Trump, President of USA in which he has called Mr Brennan, the ex CIA boss as “one of the finest public servants I have ever known”. This letter has been published in the news papers.
Mr Trump revoked the security clearance for the former CIA director after accusing Mr Brennan, who was the CIA director under the Obama administration, of using his access to classified information to “sow division and chaos” about the Trump administration.
The decision was announced through a statement read by White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders at her daily news briefing.
It was also announced that Mr Trump would review the security clearances of several other former ranking government officials who have criticised him.Admiral McRaven was not on that list.
Admiral McRaven led the US Joint Special Operations Command from 2011 to 2014. This US Navy admiral had overseen the raid that killed Osama bin Laden has told Donald Trump he would be honoured if the 45th President would yank his security clearance just like he did to former CIA director John Brennan.
“I would consider it an honour if you would revoke my security clearance as well, so I can add my name to the list of men and women who have spoken up against your presidency.
Through your actions, you have embarrassed us in the eyes of our children, humiliated us on the world stage and, worst of all, divided us as a nation.” he wrote
He said few Americans had done more than Mr Brennan to protect the nation.”He is a man of unparalleled integrity, whose honesty and character have never been in question … except by those who don’t know him,” he wrote.
Mr McRaven said Mr Trump could not suppress his critics’ voices, which would continue until he became “the leader we prayed you would be”.Mr Brennan criticised the decision as an effort to “supress freedom of speech and punish critics”.
“It should gravely worry all Americans, including intelligence professionals, about the cost of speaking out,” he said.
“My principles are worth far more than clearances. I will not relent.”
