Kamala Harris Scores Surprise Endorsement From Ex-Commander of U.S. Forces in Afghanistan

Photo by Lenin Nolly/NurPhoto via AP

Vice President Kamala Harris received a surprise endorsement on Thursday from the former commander of all U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, Gen. Stanley McChrystal.

McChrystal became a household name during his time leading U.S. forces overseas and for tendering his resignation to then-President Barak Obama in 2010 after criticizing then-Vice President Joe Biden and other administration officials.

McChrystal backing Harris, who he wrote in a New York Times op-ed he has already voted for, pushed back on critics who claim Harris is unfit to lead U.S. foreign policy after her administration’s much-maligned exit from Afghanistan.

“Some deeply consequential decisions are starkly simple. That is how I view our upcoming presidential election. And that is why I have already cast my ballot for character — and voted for Vice President Kamala Harris,” McChrystal wrote to begin his op-ed, adding:

As a citizen, veteran and voter, I was not comfortable with many of the policy recommendations that Democrats offered at their convention in Chicago or those Republicans articulated in Milwaukee. My views tend more toward the center of the political spectrum. And although I have opinions on high-profile issues, like abortion, gun safety and immigration, that’s not why I made my decision.

The celebrated general went on to explain that while he does care about tax policy and a myriad of other issues, all of which he has his own opinion on and often votes on, his choice between Harris and Trump was dictated more by knowing that the next president will face challenges that require a statesman.

“Our president, therefore, must be more than a policymaker or a malleable reflection of the public’s passions. She or he must lead — and that takes character. Character is the ultimate measure of leadership for those who seek the highest office in our land,” McChrystal wrote, making clear he has little appreciation for Trump’s character.

While McChrystal never mentions Trump by name, he makes clear he disagrees with his stance on foreign policy issues – particularly his open appeasement of Russia’s Vladimir Putin.

“Character will dictate whether we stand by our NATO allies and against Vladimir Putin’s continued aggression. Character will dictate whether we have a commander in chief who honors and respects the men and women who serve in uniform,’ McChrystal writes, adding:

Fortunately, neither candidate in this pivotal election is unknown to us. We’ve had years to watch both closely.

Each of us must seriously contemplate our choice and apply the values we hope to find in our president, our nation and ourselves. Uncritically accepting the thinking of others or being swayed by the roar of social media crowds is a mistake. To turn a blind eye toward or make excuses for weak character from someone we propose to confer awesome power and responsibility on is to abrogate our role as citizens. We will get — and deserve — what we elect.

He concludes by noting that he made his choice for president with the best interests of his three granddaughters in mind. “ I’ve concluded that it isn’t political slogans or cultural tribalism; it is the best president my vote might help select. So I have cast my vote for character, and that vote is for Vice President Kamala Harris,” he wrote.

Read the full op-ed here.