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Scoop: FULL TEXT of @StateDept Dissent Cable I obtained, signed by over 100 officials: 1/many
1. On January 6, 2021, the United States witnessed an unprecedented effort by American citizens to violently subvert the democratic will of the American people...
After months of promoting baseless claims of voter fraud, which were rejected by the judiciary in dozens of cases, President Trump encouraged supporters, some armed, to storm the U.S. Capitol while Congress was certifying the results of a free and fair presidential election...
His incitement led to a violent riot in the U.S. Capitol, five deaths, untold injuries, destruction and vandalism of government property, and incalculable damage to our democratic system and our image abroad...
He played an integral role in breaking the 220-year streak of peaceful transfer of power between political parties during U.S. elections. (End of point 1). Continuing....
STATE DEPARTMENT DISSENT CABLE POINT 2: The Department of State should explicitly denounce President Trump's role in this violent attack on the U.S. government. Just as we routinely denounce foreign leaders who use violence and intimidation to interfere in peaceful democratic...
... processes and override the will of their voters, the Department's public statements about this episode should also mention President Trump by name. It is critical that we communicate to the world that in our system, no one -- not even the president -- ...
... is above the law or immune from public criticism (End of Point 2) Continuing...
Over 100 State Dept officials sign Dissent Cable, here is Point 3: Department press guidance describing this violent riot should include the following line: "President Trump's incitement of violence against the certification of the United States' free and fair elections...
... is unacceptable and incompatible with our laws, the democratic values and protected fundamental freedoms enshrined in our founding documents, and our long tradition of a peaceful and orderly transfer of power." ...
Our guidance should NOT include any quotes by President Trump about the episode, as his is not a credible voice on this matter. (End of Point 3) Continuing...
4th and Final Point in State Dept Dissent Cable: This change in our guidance would be a first step towards repairing the damage these events have inflicted on our international credibility. It would allow the United States to remain a beacon of democracy...
... despite this dark episode. It would also send a strong message to our friends and adversaries that the Department of State applies an ethos of integrity and objective standards which it condemns assaults on democracy at home or abroad. (END CABLE)
ANALYSIS: Although it's unlikely to expect the State Department to publicly criticized the President of the United States, this Dissent Cable is symbolic and representative of how the people who defend democracy each day are horrified by what Trump did Jan. 6.
WHILE YOU ARE HERE: Read my Friday @PostOpinions column on the exit of Matt Pottinger, whose impact on U.S.-China strategy will be felt for years to come:https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/global-opinions/matthew-pottinger-exits-but-his-china-strategy-is-here-to-stay/2021/01/07/0a54df32-512e-11eb-83e3-322644d82356_story.html …
DEEPER DIVE: Pre-order my upcoming book CHAOS UNDER HEAVEN: Trump, Xi, and the Battle for the 21st Century now: https://www.amazon.com/Chaos-Under-Heaven-Twenty-First-Century/dp/0358393248/ref=mp_s_a_1_2 …
Credit to @RobbieGramer for breaking the news of the existence of the cable @ForeignPolicyhttps://twitter.com/RobbieGramer/status/1347604490044665857 …
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