Biden is the President we need in these uncertain times

Having served in national security leadership roles throughout our careers, we know firsthand the gravity of the decisions that a President must make and how much depends upon the sound judgment of one solitary human being. For example, the President retains the sole authority to direct action to use nuclear weapons – a responsibility for which clarity, calm and nuanced thinking are necessary. Reviewing the declassified deliberations that took place 58 years ago during the Cuban Missile Crisis – arguably the closest we have come to a nuclear war – we now know how our fate depended on President Kennedy’s careful evaluation of the options and determination to wield his power judiciously.

Since the end of the Cold War, we have worked together to prevent the spread and potential use of weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear, chemical and biological weapons. Each of these capabilities has the capacity to do damage on a grand scale; each has different characteristics. Awareness of biological risks is now heightened, but unfortunately through global tragedy. It is no surprise that adversaries and terrorist groups have explored weaponizing viruses and other pathogens. As terrible as the current pandemic is, a deliberate biological attack is a threat for which we need to be far better equipped. This scenario would put even greater stress on top leaders, including public health and military officials, to develop a coherent and effective response.

To meet these challenges, America needs competent, fact-based leadership in the Oval Office. Joe Biden’s depth of experience at the highest levels, his evident intellect, rigorous evaluation of information and keen interest in avoiding group-think prepare him well for dealing with the wide array of problems we face on the international stage.

On that stage, we should not stand alone. One of our top security priorities in an uncertain world must be to rebuild and strengthen our alliances, including NATO. Allies are force multipliers, and we are much stronger when we stand together with like-minded countries that share our values. We need a President who knows that consulting with allies before making decisions will contribute to building effective coalitions for action – and lead to reestablishing America’s global leadership role. Joe Biden has years of experience working with world leaders as Senator and Vice President and he knows what it takes to rally his counterparts to tackle the world’s toughest problems – from countering nuclear proliferation to fighting climate change to preventing terrorists from disrupting the American way of life.

In this national security landscape of multiple, complex threats, we need a President who fields the strongest possible bench of experienced national security cabinet and subcabinet members from Day 1. Honest, smart people need to be appointed to top positions and melded into an effective national security team. Notably, an unprecedented number of senior national security professionals across both parties – including former civilian and military leaders who have never before spoken out about a political choice – have stepped forward to publicly express their support for Joe Biden. They recognize that, as retired Episcopal bishop William Swing observed, “Whoever wins will have his hand on the weapons that could end life, as we know it, on this planet.”

We also need a President who respects the career professionals who patriotically serve our country and provide a bedrock of expertise and continuity across administrations. Joe Biden will consistently seek the expertise of our diplomats, our intelligence community, our civil servants and our military service members; he will listen to them and give them credit where it is deserved. He recognizes that one of the reasons our military is the envy of the world is because of its unflinching code of honor, which includes the rigorous avoidance of partisan political activities – and he will never debase that standard.

Indeed, across the government, Joe Biden will hold everyone – including himself – to the highest standards of conduct. He is a devoted husband, father, friend and public servant. If elected to serve as our 46th President, we know that he will act with dedication, decency, decorum and integrity. Having watched him function under the most demanding circumstances, we are confident that he has the requisite courage, experience, steadiness and skills required to lead our nation through these perilous times toward a brighter future.

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