Nation remarks reckless

Thank you for printing the Washington Post’s editorial in support of NATO. Another reason to support NATO is that it allows us to maintain military bases in Europe. While over a dozen U.S. bases operate in Germany, arguably the most vital operation is Landstuhl Medical Center.

The largest U.S. military hospital outside the continental U.S., Landstuhl was the primary medical center for service members serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Landstuhl’s world-class critical care and trauma services were literally the difference between life and death for many thousands of service members injured in the line of duty. LMC continues to provide specialty care for 250,000 U.S. military personnel and their families in Europe.

When Donald Trump tweets remarks that question our commitment to NATO, he jeopardizes not only international relationships built over seven decades, but also bases and vital services for our military. Trump’s cavalier attitude toward foreign affairs and his thoughtless bloviating endanger service members’ lives, weaken our position in the world and put our nation at risk. International alliances are not real estate deals; lives hang in the balance.

Rebecca MacMullan

Spokane