1/9. I served as an FSO for 17 months in Baghdad from 2012-2013, traveling from the north of Iraq in Kurdistan to Basra in the south. I worked w hundreds of Iraqis, coalition partners & close American friends. Baghdad was a searing experience - but I chose to be serve.
2/9. As an FSO, our family lived overseas, mainly in the Middle East from 1999-2016. My entire family had a great experience - it was all the kids knew. My kids also knew about war - too much about war, too many wars, in too many countries.
3/9. While we loved the foreign service, we also bore existential challenges and costs - challenges that continue even today as a direct result of our service to our country.
4/9. If I had to do it over again, I would still choose to serve America. Now the next generation of our family is serving - I will not give details. But, its not me going overseas -its the prospect of loved ones. This is extremely hard to bear as a father.
5/9. I served because I also trusted our leadership - Republicans and Democrats, even if they were ultimately wrong about Iraq. Our leadership - men and women, Republicans & Democrats, career & political, military & diplomatic had character, value. It was my time and my honor.
6/9. Donald Trump has destroyed the concept of honor and service above self. He demonstrates little character or moral authority. He speaks with disdain of my brothers and sisters in the foreign service, intelligence community, and military.
7/9. He derides them as the "deep state" - my colleagues, our patriots. Mike Pompeo has also traded his West Point honor code for Donald Trump's silver and has diminished the foreign service as well. #FSProud.
8/9. Tonight my colleagues in Iraq are under fire. I'm fine w/ killing Qassem Solemani; he was evil. But I am not fine w leading our nation into danger on the basis of arrogance and ignorance, putting out people in harm's way out of hubris, and executing an attack w/o planning.
9/9. America, this is not acceptable - not for this generation nor the next. God protect our patriots in Iraq tonight and tomorrow we must work to end the abyss through votes, advocacy, protests, and demonstrations. We must reclaim America.
