Relationship with Putin unacceptable

Donald Trump and his apologists are doing their best to reframe his recent call for Russian hackers to become involved in our electoral process as “sarcasm” or a “dare.” I heard his words and observed his demeanor, and it surely looked more like an “invitation” to me.

I served in a nuclear artillery unit in Germany in the early ‘60s and remember rolling out in the middle of the night on icy roads to counter Soviet Russian Cold War provocations. Trump probably doesn’t remember much about the Cold War because he was busy dodging the draft, but Putin does, and Putin seems to be intent on restoring Russia’s Cold War stature.

Trump’s invitation to Russian hackers was borderline treasonous; his suggestion that he might not fulfill U.S. obligations to some NATO signatories is unacceptable; his hints that he might reassess U.S. policy positions on Crimea and the Ukraine are ominous; and the allegations that he is obtaining funding from Russian oligarchs are worrisome.

All-in-all Trump seems to have far too cozy a relationship with Putin to be an acceptable candidate for the U.S. presidency.

Charles Kocher

Spokane