It sounds like a plot out of an espionage thriller: An elite group of special-forces soldiers goes rogue, vowing to stop a politically ambitious president.
In reality, a group of former special-operations warriors in fact has precisely that goal in mind. And to accomplish their aim, they have created their own super PAC.
Ryan Zinke, a former Navy SEAL Commander and Republican state senator from Montana, has announced the formation of a new Special Operations for America PAC. He told Newsmax in an exclusive interview that the PAC is dedicated to supporting a strong military, and hopes to give the soldiers who put their lives on the line a political voice.
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| Ryan Zinke (AP Photo/Montana Legislative Information Office) |
“We’re not a Republican or a Democrat organization,” insisted Zinke, who served two tours with the elite Seal Team Six and 23 years in the SEALS overall. Yet he admits the group’s immediate objective is to fight President Barack Obama’s bid for re-election.
Zinke, who was awarded two bronze stars, told Newsmax that his organization seeks to restore leadership to the Oval Office. And he contends that President Obama has exploited military accomplishments for his own political advantage. Of special concern, in his view are the leaks attributed to the administration that identified the specific unit that killed Osama bin Laden.
“It put that force, those dependents, at a greater degree of risk,” Zinke said. “And the continuing leaks put our troops that are in harm’s way at greater risk. So there was a point where myself and our board members were compelled to stand and say ‘Enough.’”
Zinke, who acknowledges the military is not “monolithic” when it comes to politics, also is critical of a controversial Obama ad that depicts his decision to take out Osama bin Laden as politically courageous. Zinke has called the decision to take out bin Laden “a no brainer.”
“I respect that he made the decision,” Zinke said. “But the consequence of failure was on the shoulders of those SEALs and special operations forces that were involved. The reason he could make that decision was because the United States has that capability, which to a large degree this administration inherited, and the administration before them inherited it as well.”
Even though influencing the outcome in November is the PAC’s immediate objective, Special Operations for America (soforamerica.org) has long-term interests beyond the next election.
Zinke, a fast-rising star on the GOP scene, said the Special Operations PAC will work to preserve military might in the face of the draconian sequestration threat that looms over the Pentagon, and help veterans returning home from war.
“Veterans coming home require some unique help that is different from previous wars,” he explained. “For example, the amount of soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines coming home with injuries from IEDs.
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“We’ve been in sustained combat for over 10 years, the longest period in the history of our country. There are unique demands put upon our returning soldiers in terms of making sure they have what they need. The No. 1 thing is probably that they have a job,” he adds.
Zinke told Newsmax the reaction to the PAC’s formation has been “overwhelmingly positive” so far. He adds that people do not need to be veterans in order to participate.
“I think most Americans view our military as not a Republican or Democrat organization,” Zinke said. “They view it as an American organization — it’s all of ours. So when the military is used for political gain, I think there’s an outrage and a concern. We’re speaking out.”
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