President-Elect Trump is setting the stage for a rocky presidency filled with conflict, bickering, turmoil, miscalculations and potential diplomatic and military confrontations.

So far, with his disdain for intelligence briefings and his lack of intellectual curiosity, I fear we could be in deep trouble in the world, and our adversaries, including Russia and China, could take advantage of Trump’s ego and his lackadaisical attitude towards the intelligence briefings.

Trump’s children, Ivanka, Donald Jr. and Eric, and his son-in-law Jared, are on the president-elect’s transition executive committee. They are involved in the decision-making process that determines who will be in the Trump administration, and it appears they will continue to be involved in the affairs of state when Donald takes the helm at the White House. The American people did not elect a Trump family committee to run our country.

Another major concern is the conflict of interest that exists between Trump’s vast business interests and the presidency. Trump is handing the reins of his businesses to his sons, but it appears they will be heavily involved in providing advice during his presidency.

It appears Trump is going to have an arrogant rogue authoritarian administration. He is filling positions with people who were loyal supporters during the presidential campaign, but they are not necessarily qualified and fit to fill the positions. He is loading up his regime with former military personnel, including three former generals and others who are part of the wealthy business elite. His administration appears to have the trappings of the military/industrial/financial complex, and it does not bode well for our country. 

The media reported the CIA conducted an investigation of Russian interference in our presidential election and found significant hacking of Democratic information. The CIA analysis showed the Russian hacking negatively impacted Clinton and helped Trump win the election. Trump and his transition staff subsequently denounced the CIA report and referenced the CIA’s past supposed mistake about Iraq having weapons of mass destruction. It is incredible to me that a president is taking the side of Communist Russia and criticizing a U.S. intelligence agency that is responsible for our national security. This can only alienate CIA personnel who Trump must rely on to provide critical intelligence on Russian and other adversaries in the world. He is setting himself and the country up for huge problems in the world.

The big question is, does Trump and any potential cabinet members and advisors have a relationship with Russia that would adversely impact decisions made by the Trump administration and endanger our national security? It doesn’t look good right now.  Trump admires Putin; Tillerson, the potential secretary of state, has a number of joint ventures in place between Exxon/Mobil and Russian oil companies; Flynn, potential national security advisor, is pro-Russian; and Bannon, senior consultant to Trump, is inspired by the views of Lenin, the founder of Russian Communism. Trump invited Russia to hack into Clinton’s emails and they responded by hacking into our election for president.

All of these issues loom very large in a Trump presidency and could create chaos, constant controversy, and national and world insecurity in a potential authoritarian administration. Our Democracy and freedom could be in peril.

P.S. My family and my wife’s family have a long patriotic history in the U.S. My wife, the former Elizabeth Jones, and I have had a close family member serve in every war from the Civil War through the Gulf War, and I have voted in every election since 1960. This is the first time I have been concerned for the safety and security of our country.

Donald Moskowitz

Londonderry, NH