Trump And The Burning Of The Boats by Gary Berntsen, former CIA Operations Officer

The current presidential campaign in the U.S. reminds us that politics is civilized conflict, but conflict none the less.

In 1518 The Conquistador Hernan Cortes, not a man known to seek votes, departed Cuba with six ships and 600 men. He landed at Vera Cruz, Mexico, refused orders to return to Cuba and burned his ships just prior to marching inland toward a bloody confrontation and victory over an Aztec civilization of several hundred thousand. En route to his battle with the Aztecs, Cortes defeated smaller vassal states, built a coalition, then marched on the Aztecs. This act of risk and defiance changed the course of history. The burning of his ships brought many of his men to tears. The act defined the reality that there would be no turning back. It would be victory or death.

Fast forward to the 2016 presidential campaign and political observers understand that a different type of coalition building is going on. On the right and in the center the electorate is horrified by a president that campaigned on “Hope and Change” but has wrought enmity domestically and chaos on the international stage. Despite a national news media establishment heavily vested in President Barack Obama, the internet, talk radio and other outlets have provided channels of news independent of the President’s media team. Enter billionaire builder, entrepreneur and media sensation Donald Trump into the political arena. Trump, having honed his branding skills in the market place and media skills on a lengthy and successful reality show “The Apprentice,” has demonstrated mastery in terms of communication with the masses. Trump has been a dominant factor in the Republican Presidential primary race.

A fair person must admit, the Republicans have a strong cadre of seasoned candidates. A number of the candidates have had long distinguished careers in public service. However, none of these candidates have been able to match Donald Trump’s ability to communicate and connect with the masses. I have spoken with a large number of blue-collar Democrats who have told me that they are voting for Trump! Again and again, their explanation, “he says what I am thinking.”

I am 58 years of age, served in the Air Force, the CIA, participated in campaigns, and even ran for the U.S. Senate. I have never seen anything like this. Trump is a non-traditional candidate with an uncanny ability to reach a significant portion of the population on both sides of the political spectrum.    

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ABOUT GARY BERNTSEN

Gary Berntsen is a retired Senior CIA Operations Officer and Chief of Station.  Mr. Berntsen is the President of The Berntsen Group and bestselling Author of Jawbreaker, The Attack on Bin Laden and Al Qaeda where he recounts his leadership role in the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan in response to the 11 September 2001 attacks.  Mr. Berntsen is the recipient of CIA’s Distinguished Intelligence Medal and Intelligence Star.

Mr. Berntsen regularly appears as a counterterrorism and national security guest commentator on Fox News, CNN, CNBC and Newsmax.

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