While Republican party leaders opened their convention last week with a focus on national security, Democrats will close their convention in Philadelphia this week with some of their heaviest hitters on foreign policy.

They'll include former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, former U.S. Central Command deputy chief Gen. John Allen, and Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, herself a former secretary of state.

Party planners have not scheduled a specific day dedicated solely to military and defense issues, as the Republicans did. But while many of the GOP's top defense policy voices skipped the Cleveland convention, Democratic organizers have slowly teased out a growing list of military-related speakers, offering them as a sign of party unity and strength.

"You are going to see a big change from the Cleveland convention," said Robby Mook, campaign manager at Hillary for America. "It is going to be optimistic. It is going to be hopeful. It is going to have specific plans."

On Monday morning, as more speaker details were being released, campaign officials also announced Clinton's latest high-profile endorsement: Allen, the one-time commander of NATO troops in Afghanistan and now a scheduled speaker for the final night of the convention.

He said Clinton has the skill set the next commander in chief needs for success, including "patience and a deep comprehension of the international landscape to make smart decisions about when and how to use military force as well as an understanding that other tools of American power such as diplomacy and development aid."

Panetta, who will speak Wednesday, has offered similar praise and is expected to attack Republican nominee Donald Trump's lack of foreign policy experience in his address to the convention. Retired Rear Adm. John Hutson, the Navy's former top lawyer and a frequent critic of Trump in recent months, will also speak that evening.

And Clinton's vice presidential pick, Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine, will also bring his experience on the Senate Armed Services and Foreign Affairs committees to the political fight.

Convention officials have also scheduled more personal stories on defense issues for the national stage.

Jamie Dorff, whose husband Patrick served as an Army helicopter pilot and was killed on a mission in Iraq, will talk Wednesday about her experience working with Clinton during her time in the Senate to help Gold Star families.

Khizr Khan, whose son Humayun was killed by a suicide bomber in Iraq, will talk Thursday about American Muslims serving America since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Clinton will offer her own national security thoughts in the convention's final speech Thursday. Campaign officials have promised a fuller vision of the military's future and international relations than what Trump offered last week, saying the contrast will clearly set their candidate up as the better choice in November.

Leo Shane III covers Congress, Veterans Affairs and the White House for Military Times. He can be reached at lshane@militarytimes.com.

Share:
In Other News
Load More