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Dissent memo circulating in the State Department over Trump’s policy on refugees and immigrants

Jan 30, 2017 2:55 pm By Robert Spencer

“A policy which closes our doors to over 200 legitimate travelers in the hopes of preventing a small number of travelers who intend to harm Americans from using the visa system to enter the United States will not achieve its aim of making our country safer.”

Why not? What is the alternative? We saw what it was during the Obama administration: let in essentially anyone who wants to come, without adequate vetting procedures, and thereby admit a certain number of jihadis. That policy gets people killed. Vetting? Really? Tashfeen Malik, one of the San Bernardino jihad mass murderers, passed five separate background checks at five different U.S. agencies. Also, all of the jihadis who murdered 130 people in Paris in November 2015 had just entered Europe as refugees.

The choice is clear: either keep out some “legitimate travelers” or allow in jihad mass murderers. If these State Department wonks don’t want to stand behind President Trump’s choice, they can resign. The foreign policy establishment is a swamp that is in dire need of draining anyway.

“Dissent memo circulating in the State Department over Trump’s policy on refugees and immigrants,” by Carol Morello, Washington Post, January 30, 2017:

State Department diplomats are circulating a memo objecting to President Trump’s executive order last week to suspend the nation’s refugee program and deny U.S. entry to citizens of seven predominantly Muslim countries in the Middle East.

The document is destined for what’s known as the State Department’s “dissent channel,” which was set up during the Vietnam War as a way for diplomats to signal their disagreement on foreign policy decisions to senior management. The communications are typically private.

It is not known whether the memo has been submitted yet to Acting Secretary of State Thomas Shannon, a holdover from the Obama administration who is in charge of the department until a replacement is named. The Senate is expected to confirm Rex Tillerson, a former ExxonMobil executive who is designated for the job.

[Read the dissent memo]

The State Department officially acknowledged the existence of the memo Monday morning, and vowed to respect it. Since Trump’s announcement Friday, the document has been circulating swiftly.

“The Dissent Channel is a long-standing official vehicle for State Department employees to convey alternative views and perspectives on policy issues,” acting spokesman Mark Toner said. “This is an important process that the Acting Secretary, and the Department as a whole, value and respect. It allows State employees to express divergent policy views candidly and privately to senior leadership.”

According to a draft version of the memo, first reported by the Lawfare blog, the dissenters say the ban will not deter attacks on American soil, but will generate ill will to U.S. citizens.

“A policy which closes our doors to over 200 legitimate travelers in the hopes of preventing a small number of travelers who intend to harm Americans from using the visa system to enter the United States will not achieve its aim of making our country safer,” it said. “Moreover, such a policy runs counter to core american values of nondiscrimination, fair play and extending a warm welcome to foreign visitors and immigrants.”…

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Filed Under: Donald Trump, Featured, immigration Tagged With: U.S. State Department


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Comments

  1. Terry says

    Jan 30, 2017 at 3:05 pm

    I cannot understand the first post.

    • vlparker says

      Jan 30, 2017 at 6:26 pm

      That makes two of us.

  2. Terry says

    Jan 30, 2017 at 3:07 pm

    Fifteen or so Muslim nations refuse entry to Israeli. Sp. They go elsewhere.

    Back to Pres. Trump. The EO is to enforce laws passed in the recent past. Nothing new. Except enforcement

  3. Rev g says

    Jan 30, 2017 at 3:12 pm

    Obama 2011 banned iraqi’s, nobody complained.
    If we ban Cubans are we anti-catholic?

    • Angemon says

      Jan 30, 2017 at 3:26 pm

      Obama had skin colour privilege. Because, you know, racist, bigot white America and stuff – it’s only an outrage when a white male does it.

    • Terry says

      Jan 30, 2017 at 6:11 pm

      Many Cubans ( those that I knew when I lived in Miami) are brown; some are black; others white. So, by Obama stopping the wet/dry- he was screwing all NON COMMUNIST CUBANS.

      Which, as a non-Spanish speaker, my take on the Cubans- clannish; sort of self contained; helped their pwn, AND WERE UPWARDLY MOBILE AND PUSHED FOR EDUCATION.

  4. Angemon says

    Jan 30, 2017 at 3:24 pm

    Dissension dully noted, now carry on doing what you were told.

  5. somehistory says

    Jan 30, 2017 at 3:54 pm

    Some people in this country make methamphetamine using a sinus/cold medicine.

    Because some people are criminals and make an illegal drug, the rest of the country is only allowed to buy the sinus/cold medicine when a clerk is available who has the authority to sell it and a driver’s license must be shown. If one approaches the drug counter to buy the medicine, the pharmacy must be open and the one authorized to sell it available. If the pharmacy is closed or the person has no key, the one suffering sinus congestion must wait or go elsewhere to buy the medicine.

    So, “200” travelers must be told “no, you can’t come in right now.” How many have been told to “wait” in line for hours because some of these travelers want to blow up planes?

    If thousands have to wait to buy sinus medicine until they can show their id to a certain clerk, and thousands must wait in line to board a plane, then what do those 200 have to complain about?

    There are most likely a bunch of people who would like to sit at a desk and get paid for it if these people at state don’t want to say “no, you can’t come in right now.”

    • Rev g says

      Jan 30, 2017 at 7:36 pm

      How many grandmas, children, and handicapped persons have been violated or inconvenienced by TSA, because of….

      • Terry says

        Jan 30, 2017 at 9:03 pm

        A few years ago, ONE OF THESE “INCONVENIENCED GRANDMA’S” was a terrorists, and, if I remember correctly, had a bomb. (or, perhaps just a gun).

        I would rather be inconvenienced then killed because a terrorist was let through, as the airline wanted to leave on time, and make up their fuck ups.

        • Rev g says

          Jan 30, 2017 at 10:30 pm

          Unclear on the concept, huh?
          If grannies and children can be inconvenienced for “safety”, so can millions of foreigners as I see it.

        • Terry says

          Jan 31, 2017 at 6:23 pm

          You misunderstood my comment. I SEE NO ISSUE WITH THE INCONVIENCE.
          Sort of amusing story- about inconviences.
          Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY- son of Ron Paul) was trying to board a plane, and asked to go through the metal detector booth. he asked, (approximate wording) do you know who I am? The TSA person said no. He said, I am a US Senator. The TSA man is suppsoed to have said, that is nice. Now please go through the booth.

          ————————————————————————————————————————————————–

          A (at the time, WSJ blogger-now an editor there) was at a private gathering, and one fo the other guests was Henry Kissinger. WSJ person told Dr. Kissinger this about Senator Paul. Dr. Kissinger told his story. He had (or has) a metal brace in or on his leg. As he was approaching, he told the TSA man, ” I have a metal brace and it would set off the machine. Please use the scanner. The TSA man said, “you are Dr Kissinger, my ( child, I forgot the gender) is doing a report on you. Just go through. Dr. Kissinger said, NO. These other passengers have to go through screening, I am no better. So, they used the wand- and he went through.

          Safety first. i would rather be inconvienced then dead- because of a terrorit.

        • Rev g says

          Jan 31, 2017 at 7:14 pm

          My apologies, yes I did misunderstand.

        • somehistory says

          Jan 31, 2017 at 10:37 am

          Rev,

          That was my point exactly. If citizens, of all ages, must be inconvenienced by the authorities for the safety of all, then non-citizens have no reason to complain at being made to “wait.”

      • Carolyne says

        Jan 31, 2017 at 6:20 pm

        I was traveling from Knoxville TN to August GA with my sister-in-law who was 82 and in a wheelchair. When she went through security, they made her stand out of her wheelchair while they even looked at the bottom of her feet. It was outrageous. So we detain a couple of Muslims because Terrorists are always Muslims, and thousands demonstrate. The world is crazy.

        • Rev g says

          Jan 31, 2017 at 7:18 pm

          Exactly. Hundreds of innocent Americans are inconvenienced daily, actually all the TSA inconvenience is because of Islamic terror.

    • Laura says

      Jan 31, 2017 at 8:01 am

      And, SomeHistory, if one has year-round allergies, you are SOL, since you can only purchase ONE package per month! And the law-abiding allergy sufferer must suffer for the remaining 24 days of the month. Ridiculous.

      • somehistory says

        Jan 31, 2017 at 10:38 am

        Yes, it is, esp when one knows that the meth industry is alive and well.

  6. somehistory says

    Jan 30, 2017 at 4:06 pm

    The memo acknowledges that people already here are committing acts of terrorism. And the ban on visas is making moslims angry.

    So, maybe they should be sent back from where their families came, two, five or ten years ago.

    Bowing to the beast is in the epidemic stage. Nothing good will come from this bowing.

    Revelation 13

  7. David E Munson says

    Jan 30, 2017 at 4:52 pm

    I hope these idiots sign because we need to drain this swamp too.

  8. Westman says

    Jan 30, 2017 at 6:03 pm

    Apparently the State Department has employees with the attitude of 1981’s PATCO. What could possibly go wrong?

    Perhaps they could do some vetting at the State Department by having all applicants walk through all offices on all floors of every building of the State Dept in DC. Just leave weapons and letter openers right where they usually lie and if anything happens, they can claim a similar experience to that they would impose on the citizens. Fair enough.

  9. Terry says

    Jan 30, 2017 at 6:16 pm

    There was a few days ago, large items that SEVEN senior State Dept. people retired.

    Not mentioned, Some (or all) WERE ASKED TO LEAVE BY TRUMP. (WSJ, this past Friday-print edition).

    Perhaps more will follow.

    AND, as I noted earlier, the E.O. IS CALLING FOR ENFORCEMENT OF LAWS PASSED WHEN OBAMA WAS PRESIDENT.

    Nothing really new. And he lsited the countries.

  10. Jack Holan says

    Jan 30, 2017 at 7:44 pm

    This is perfect! When I was a Fed it was a firing offense. They just put their name to it.

  11. Vic says

    Jan 30, 2017 at 7:59 pm

    All top officials and their staff normally clear out. It is expected. The incoming Secretary will bring his own trusted people with him. Institutional memory resides at the lower levels where the grunt work is done, not at the top levels. Grunt workers have been there for many years and know who, what, how, when and why do hints are done. It would be good for someone to thank them every so often for all they do. Some 9 years ago I worked for DOS as an overseas contractor. Truly, a learning experience. Not an easy place to work for or fit into. Very tight community difficult to penetrate and collaborate with. Lots of people who want to do good, but the programs selected in “nation building” are far from reality on the ground. Just because you work with people in a country, doesn’t mean those people won’t turn against you given the right circumstances. It means you have to be aware always that their loyalties lie with their own people and ideology, no matter how magnanimous the US/any country is. DoS has a naïve worldview not suitable for a dept that claims to engage In demonstrating strength through diplomacy around the world. I don’t want to sound cynical, but many of our consulate and immigration officials demonstrate the same naive beliefs (innocent until proven guilty) when admitting people into the US. IMHO, Rex Tillerson is a very good pick for SOS. Eyes wide open, no illusions about the people he will deal with around the world.

    • Laura says

      Jan 31, 2017 at 8:05 am

      Vic, it’s the same State Department that send Chris Stevens (a gay man) as Ambassador to Libya, a muslim country. What could possibly go wrong? It did.

      • Rev G says

        Jan 31, 2017 at 9:44 am

        He was engaged to Lydia Denier, a French actress?

        • Terry says

          Jan 31, 2017 at 6:50 pm

          I THINK I had read that he was suppsoed to have been bisexual. REGARDLESS, he was anally raped by the Muslims.

  12. Lesley says

    Jan 31, 2017 at 4:24 am

    So, the lives and well-being of their fellow countrymen mean so little to the workers at the Department of State that they are more worried about the inconvenience of 200 travelers than saving even one American life?

    Disgraceful!

    Why weren’t these people up in arms when the Cubans were stranded?

    • Terry says

      Jan 31, 2017 at 6:26 pm

      Newt Gingrich, on some radio program – while not directly answering that question- his response to anothe rpoint makes it clear.

      Some 90+ of the campaign contributions in the Pres. election from State Dept. people went to Clinton.

  13. politicalqrm says

    Jan 31, 2017 at 7:28 am

    The State Department has always believed in its heart of hearts that it is “above” the laws of the US. The hubris in that agency is amazing and disgusting.

    Anyone who was involved in that memo should be fired. Good-bye cushy job.

    • Terry says

      Jan 31, 2017 at 6:33 pm

      To Politicalgrm– Eithe rlate yesterday or today (Tues Jan 31) (I believe it was the Press Secretary) said that they could leave or support the Pres.

  14. pbay says

    Jan 31, 2017 at 7:46 am

    this after the muslim countries refused to take them as they were too dangerous

  15. steve says

    Jan 31, 2017 at 9:26 am

    So, am I to understand that for these State Department “do-gooders”, a few more dead Americans have no place in the Socialist calculus of the “greater good”?

  16. Idania says

    Jan 31, 2017 at 10:20 am

    Those are Obama’s loyalist. Trump should be getting ready the pink slips for them all. They are supposed to follow their BOSS.

  17. RL Robison says

    Jan 31, 2017 at 2:15 pm

    It’s not at all surprising that the U.S. State Department is seeing a lot of dissent regarding Trumps 7 nation immigration/travel ban (even though the ban is based on an Obama idea). After all, Obama and Clinton spend 8 years trying to pepper governmental agencies with Muslims and label anyone who questioned their actions as another ugly incident of “Islamophobia”.

    It is disgusting, however, that any actual American would characterize the immigration/travel ban as “a policy (that) runs counter to core american values of nondiscrimination, fair play and extending a warm welcome to foreign visitors and immigrants.”. My family ties to America’s history predate the American Revolution, and I know that NONE of that long line of patriotic citizens EVER considered common sense, facing reality and protecting their families as anything other than the most fundamental of core American values. As for non-American citizens protesting the ban – BUGGER OFF!

  18. Scott says

    Jan 31, 2017 at 5:41 pm

    Funny no letter of dissent for hillary and obama arming isis and al quada in syria and libya(see doj drops charges on arms dealer with connections to hillary.
    Or fast and furious ,irs targetting and admitting conservative groups,iran money deal lie about nuke part,or god so much more and just heard guy on hannity working in intelligence in 2009 to delete all info on possible radicalized muslims in america.
    Seems they choose to ignore all that.

  19. Terry says

    Jan 31, 2017 at 6:53 pm

    Newt Gingrich (I sort of quoted above) ALSO SAID THIS ABOUT THE AMERICAN STATE DEPARTMENT.

    THEY (State Dept. people) BELEIVE IN FAIR AND HONEST ELECTIONS-EVERYWHERE.

    EXCEPT IN THE UNITED STATES.

    (They are Emocrap loyalists–see my above entry)

  20. common sense says

    Jan 31, 2017 at 7:52 pm

    “This will generate ill will to U.S. citizens.”- So what? Since they are peaceful no worries then. If not then we did ourselves a favor.

    Trump is shaking disloyalty out of DC. Most of us including some Democrats knew they wouldn’t comprehend what was coming.

  21. Richard Koethe says

    Jan 31, 2017 at 8:09 pm

    Kindly please. kick their butts out of government service – this is the ONE time that a straight-forward termination action can be launched against a federal employee that doesn’t have to take a year or more to bring to completion,

  22. Ken says

    Feb 1, 2017 at 1:55 am

    I’m so sick of lying tongues and false witnesses telling us what are values are. The Democrats just lie about everything. Maybe that’s why they like Islam so much, they like the Muslim doctrine of taqiyya, lie and deceive in order to advance your religion. After all Allah is the Master Deceiver, Quran 3:54; 8:30.

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