Subject: Fwd: Trump/Foreign Policy today
From: "Miranda, Luis" <[email-masked]>
To: "Miranda, Luis" <[email-masked]>
Date: Thu, 28 Apr 2016 13:02:55 -0700

Sent via the Samsung GALAXY S®4, an AT&T 4G LTE smartphone

-------- Original message --------
From: Zac Petkanas <[email-masked]>
Date: 04/27/2016 10:27 AM (GMT-05:00)
To: "Paustenbach, Mark" <[email-masked]>
Cc: "Miranda, Luis" <[email-masked]>
Subject: Re: Trump/Foreign Policy today

this is about to go out

Loose Cannons Tend To Misfire: Donald Trump’s Dangerous Foreign Policy

Continuing his efforts to convince the Republican establishment and the American people that he’s “presidential,” Donald Trump is set to give a foreign policy address today. But nothing he can say can hide the long list of dangerous national security proposals he’s put forward over the course of this campaign. He has used the most reckless rhetoric of any major presidential candidate in modern history.

These are not off-the-cuff quips. Despite his frequent contradictions and displays of ignorance, Trump has a long record of recklessness and has espoused a worldview that goes against everything that makes America great. A Trump presidency risks leaving both our country and the world dramatically less safe.

As Hillary Clinton has said, loose cannons tend to misfire.

Check out some of Trump’s most irresponsible comments and proposals, and experts’ condemnation of them, below:

Trump’s Recklessness With Nuclear Weapons

Donald Trump has displayed a reckless disregard for the dangers of nuclear proliferation, saying Japan and South Korea and Saudi Arabia may need nuclear weapons:

  *   CBS News, 3/29/16:<http://www.cbsnews.com/news/donald-trump-japan-south-korea-might-need-nuclear-weapons/> Donald Trump: Japan, South Korea might need nuclear weapons

     *   CNN Town Hall, 3/29/16<http://cnnpressroom.blogs.cnn.com/2016/03/29/full-rush-transcript-donald-trump-cnn-milwaukee-republican-presidential-town-hall/>: TRUMP:  At some point we have to say, you know what, we're better off if Japan protects itself against this maniac in North Korea, we're better off, frankly, if South Korea is going to start to protect itself, we have – COOPER:  Saudi Arabia, nuclear weapons? TRUMP:  Saudi Arabia, absolutely.

  *   Business Insider, 3/30/16<http://www.businessinsider.com/experts-blast-donald-trumps-nuclear-proliferation-statements-2016-3>: 'Total catastrophe': Experts say Donald Trump's position on nuclear proliferation would be a disaster

  *   CNN, 3/31/16<http://www.cnn.com/2016/03/31/politics/trump-view-from-south-korea-japan/>: Japan and South Korea hit back at Trump's nuclear comments

In a debate last December, Trump appeared to have no idea<http://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2015/12/17/what-is-nuclear-triad-debate-sot.cnn> what the nuclear triad was.

  *   Free Beacon, 12/15/15<http://freebeacon.com/national-security/rubio-explains-to-trump-what-the-nuclear-triad-is/>: Rubio Explains to Trump What The Nuclear Triad Is

  *   CBS News, 12/20/15<http://www.cbsnews.com/news/face-the-nation-transcripts-december-20-2015-rubio-bush/>: Jeb Bush: Donald Trump’s opinions on nuclear triad are “mind-blowing”

  *   Rolling Stone, 12/16/15<http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/trumps-terrifying-nuke-answer-at-the-debate-should-end-his-campaign-but-it-wont-20151216>: Trump's Terrifying Nuke Answer at the Debate Should End His Campaign (But It Won't)

Trump refused to rule out using tactical nuclear weapons against ISIS:

  *   Fortune, 3/23/16<http://fortune.com/2016/03/23/trump-nuclear-weapons-isis/>: Donald Trump Won't Rule Out Using Nukes Against ISIS

  *   Bloomberg, 3/23/16<http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2016-03-23/trump-lays-out-vision-for-gaining-respect-from-muslim-world>: ‘Unpredictability’ on Nukes Among Trump Keys to Muslim Respect

Trump’s Dangerous Plans For Fighting ISIS

Trump has called for sending tens of thousands of American ground troops to back into the Middle East to fight ISIS.

  *   Weekly Standard, 3/10/16<http://www.weeklystandard.com/trump-calls-for-20000-30000-troops-to-fight-isis/article/2001505>: Trump Calls for 20,000-30,000 Troops to Fight ISIS

Trump has insisted that he would intentionally kill terrorists’ family members and has repeatedly called for returning to Bush-era torture, which has been widely denounced as ineffective, unethical, and dangerous for American servicemembers around the world.

  *   Donald Trump, 12/2/15<http://www.cnn.com/2015/12/02/politics/donald-trump-terrorists-families/index.html?sr=twCNN120215donald-trump-terrorists-families/0141PMVODtopLink&linkId=19235497>: "The other thing with the terrorists is you have to take out their families”

     *   Politifact, 12/17/15<http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2015/dec/17/rand-paul/rand-pauls-right-geneva-conventions-bar-donald-tru/>: “Geneva Conventions bar Donald Trump's idea of killing terrorists' families”

     *   Washington Post, 2/28/16<https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2016/02/28/former-cia-director-military-may-refuse-to-follow-trumps-orders-if-he-becomes-president/>: Former CIA director: Military may refuse to follow Trump’s orders if he becomes president

  *   Donald Trump, 2/6/16<http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2016/02/06/donald_trump_and_ted_cruz_advocate_bringing_back_waterboarding.html>: "I'd bring back a hell of a lot worse than waterboarding"

  *   Donald Trump, 2/17/16<http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/17/politics/donald-trump-torture-works/>: “Torture works.”

     *   Politifact, 3/30/16<http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2016/mar/30/hillary-clinton/evidence-backs-hillary-clinton-claim-torture-count/>: “All ethical issues aside, the experts say, [torture] doesn't work because it is extremely inefficient and, in many ways, counterproductive.”

These calls clearly violate international laws, so in turn, Trump has denounced the Geneva Conventions and urged us to fight more like ISIS.

  *   Face The Nation, 3/7/16<http://www.cbsnews.com/news/face-the-nation-transcripts-march-6-2016-trump-cruz-clinton-priebus/>: TRUMP: We are playing by rules, but [ISIS has] no rules. It's very hard to win when that's the case. DICKERSON: Isn't that separates us from the savages, rules? TRUMP: No, I don't think so. We have to beat the savages. DICKERSON: And therefore throw all rules out? TRUMP: We have beat the savages. DICKERSON: By being savages? TRUMP: No. We -- well, look, you have to play the game the way they're playing the game. You're not going to win if we are soft, and they are -- they have no rules.

  *   Donald Trump on waterboarding being a violation of international law, 3/22/16<http://www.businessinsider.com/donald-trump-brussels-attacks-waterboarding-2016-3>: "Well I would say that the eggheads who came up with this international law should turn on their television and watch CNN right now, because I'm looking at scenes on CNN right now as I'm talking to you that are absolutely atrocious,"

  *   Donald Trump, 3/30/16<http://www.politico.com/blogs/2016-gop-primary-live-updates-and-results/2016/03/donald-trump-geneva-conventions-221394>: “The problem is we have the Geneva Conventions, all sorts of rules and regulations, so the soldiers are afraid to fight.”

Trump’s Damaging Islamophobia

Donald Trump has proposed banning Muslims from entering the United States, and toyed with the idea of creating a national database to track all Muslims. Not only are these plans un-American, but experts agree that they would play right into terrorists’ hands.

  *   Donald Trump statement, 12/7/15<https://www.donaldjtrump.com/press-releases/donald-j.-trump-statement-on-preventing-muslim-immigration>: “Donald J. Trump is calling for a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States until our country's representatives can figure out what is going on.”

  *   MSNBC, 11/20/15<http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2016-election/trump-says-he-would-certainly-implement-muslim-database-n466716>: Donald Trump's Plan for a Muslim Database Draws Comparison to Nazi Germany: “Trump was repeatedly asked to explain how his idea was different [from Nazi Germany]. Four times, he responded: "You tell me."”

  *   Washington Post’s David Ignatius, 11/24/15<https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/donald-trump-undermines-our-fight-against-the-islamic-state/2015/11/24/d03c8eb6-92f2-11e5-b5e4-279b4501e8a6_story.html>: Donald Trump undermines our fight against the Islamic State

  *   Jonathan Russell, head of policy at anti-radicalization group Quilliam, 12/9/15<http://www.cnn.com/2015/12/08/opinions/trump-isis/>: Why Trump is playing right into ISIS' hands

  *   Dan Rather, 12/16/15<http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/12/16/dan-rather-donald-trump-is-the-best-thing-to-happen-to-isis.html>: Trump’s rhetoric “helps ISIS tremendously”

Trump has repeatedly peddled lies to demonize Muslims, including refugees and Muslim-Americans, further undermining our fight against terrorism.

  *   Politifact, 11/22/15<http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2015/nov/22/donald-trump/fact-checking-trumps-claim-thousands-new-jersey-ch/>:Fact-checking Trump's claim that thousands in New Jersey cheered when World Trade Center tumbled [PANTS ON FIRE]

  *   Washington Post Factchecker<https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/fact-checker/wp/2015/11/22/donald-trumps-outrageous-claim-that-thousands-of-new-jersey-muslims-celebrated-the-911-attacks/>: Trump’s outrageous claim that ‘thousands’ of New Jersey Muslims celebrated the 9/11 attacks

  *   Politifact, 1/14/16<http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2016/jan/14/donald-trump/donald-trumps-false-claim-refugees-migrants-are-mo/>: Donald Trump's false claim that refugees, migrants are mostly 'strong, powerful men'

  *   Donald Trump on Syrian refugees, 4/25/16<http://www.businessinsider.com/trump-syrian-refugees-isis-2016-4>: “We can't let this happen. But you have a lot of them resettling in Rhode Island. Just enjoy your — lock your doors, folks….who knows, who knows, maybe it's ISIS.”

Undermining Our Key Alliances

At a time that calls for strengthening our cooperation with our allies to tackle shared challenges, Donald Trump seems set on undermining them. He’s called NATO obsolete, said we gain nothing from the United Nations or from protecting our allies in Asia, and has said he’d ask Israel to reimburse the US for military assistance:

  *   Donald Trump, 3/29/16<http://cnnpressroom.blogs.cnn.com/2016/03/29/full-rush-transcript-donald-trump-cnn-milwaukee-republican-presidential-town-hall/>: “NATO has to be either changed, or we have to do something.”

  *   Donald Trump on NATO, 3/30/16<http://info.msnbc.com/_news/2016/03/30/35330907-full-transcript-msnbc-town-hall-with-donald-trump-moderated-by-chris-matthews?lite>: “No, we don't really need NATO in its current form. NATO is obsolete… If we have to walk, we have to walk.”

  *   Times of Israel, 3/22/16<http://www.timesofisrael.com/trump-says-hell-make-israel-pay-for-defense-aid/>: Trump says he’ll make Israel pay for defense aid

  *   Foreign Policy, 4/7/16<http://foreignpolicy.com/2016/04/07/donald-trump-doesnt-understand-the-value-of-u-s-bases-overseas/>: Donald Trump Doesn’t Understand the Value of U.S. Bases Overseas

  *   Trump meeting with Washington Post editorial board, 3/21/16<https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/wp/2016/03/21/a-transcript-of-donald-trumps-meeting-with-the-washington-post-editorial-board/>: HIATT: Well I guess the question is, does the United States gain anything by having bases [in Asia]? TRUMP: Personally I don’t think so. I personally don’t think so.

Trump’s Support For Brutal Dictators And Strongmen

Trump has expressed a disturbing amount of admiration for the actions of widely reviled dictators and strongmen. He has praised the leadership of Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong Un, Saddam Hussein, and even the Chinese government’s strength in the Tiananmen Square massacre.

  *   NBC News, 3/11/16<http://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/trump-calls-tiananmen-square-protests-riot-defends-calling-crackdown-strong-n536761>: Trump Calls Tiananmen Square Protests a 'Riot,' Defends Calling Crackdown 'Strong'

     *   Donald Trump, 1990<http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/432043/donald-trump-praised-tiananmen-square-massacre>: “When the students poured into Tiananmen Square, the Chinese government almost blew it. Then they were vicious, they were horrible, but they put it down with strength. That shows you the power of strength. Our country is right now perceived as weak … as being spit on by the rest of the world”

  *   Washington Post, 12/18/15<https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2015/12/18/donald-trump-glad-to-be-endorsed-by-russias-top-journalist-murderer/>: Donald Trump isn’t fazed by Vladimir Putin’s journalist-murdering

     *   Trump on Morning Joe, 12/18/15<https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2015/12/18/donald-trump-glad-to-be-endorsed-by-russias-top-journalist-murderer/>: TRUMP: He's running his country, and at least he's a leader, unlike what we have in this country. SCARBOROUGH: But, again: He kills journalists that don't agree with him. TRUMP: Well, I think that our country does plenty of killing, too, Joe.

  *   CNN, 12/19/15:<http://www.cnn.com/2015/12/18/politics/donald-trump-vladimir-putin-bromance/> Donald Trump's bromance with Vladimir Putin

  *   The Hill, 1/9/16<http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/gop-primaries/265353-trump-kim-jong-un-deserves-credit-for-taking-out-rivals>: Trump: Kim Jong Un deserves ‘credit’ for taking out rivals

     *   Donald Trump, 1/9/16<http://www.businessinsider.com/donald-trump-north-korea-kim-jong-un-2016-1>: "And you've got to give him credit. How many young guys — he was like 26 or 25 when his father died — take over these tough generals…. It's incredible. He wiped out the uncle. He wiped out this one, that one. I mean, this guy doesn't play games.”

  *   Daily Beast, 2/16/16<http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/02/16/donald-trump-s-insane-praise-of-saddam-hussein.html>: Donald Trump’s Insane Praise of Saddam Hussein

     *   Donald Trump, 2/15/16<http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-na-trump-south-carolina-20160216-story.html>: “Saddam Hussein killed terrorists. He didn’t do it politically correct. He found a terrorist, they were gone within five seconds, OK. With us, we find a terrorist, it’s going to be 25 years and a trial.”

On Wed, Apr 27, 2016 at 9:56 AM, Paustenbach, Mark <[email-masked]<mailto:[email-masked]>> wrote:
Great!

Mark Paustenbach
National Press Secretary &
Deputy Communications Director
Democratic National Committee
202.863.8148<tel:202.863.8148>
[email-masked]<mailto:[email-masked]>

On Apr 27, 2016, at 9:55 AM, Zac Petkanas <[email-masked]<mailto:[email-masked]>> wrote:

The call is definitely 3pm now.  We're going to advise shortly. Although, we may be adding another expert, which would push the advisory back a bit.  I almost have a final of the pre-buttal release that details the top hits.

On Wed, Apr 27, 2016 at 9:25 AM, Paustenbach, Mark <[email-masked]<mailto:[email-masked]>> wrote:
Hey Zac,

Hope all's well.

Just let us know when you've nailed down a time for your Trump foreign policy press call and if there are any points you'd like us to amplify today.

Best,
Mark

Mark Paustenbach
National Press Secretary &
Deputy Communications Director
Democratic National Committee
202.863.8148<tel:202.863.8148>
[email-masked]<mailto:[email-masked]>