Retired Air Force Major Gen. Bentley Rayburn threw his support Tuesday behind a letter signed by 88 retired generals and admirals endorsing Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump over Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.

Rayburn, who chairs the Colorado Trump campaign’s military and veterans’ coalition, charged in a statement that the Obama administration “completely fell down on the job” of protecting Americans, leading to “a weakening of U.S. preparedness and the rapid growth of ISIS.”

Referring to the letter released earlier in the day by the national Trump campaign, Rayburn added, “Today’s endorsement by 88 retired generals and admirals proves that Mr. Trump has the temperament and judgment to be Commander in Chief and will  ensure that the failures of [President Barack] Obama and Clinton will no longer continue. Under President Trump, we will be a safe and secure country once again.”

Tuesday’s letter was a counter to multiple letters and statements by dozens of prominent GOP national security experts arguing that Clinton was the better choice for president.

“Not only am I not voting for Donald Trump, but also I am not voting for any Republican who endorsed or supported Trump,” said Kenneth Adelman, the U.S. Arms Control director under President Ronald Reagan and a member of President George W. Bush’s Defense Policy Board.

The Trump endorsers said the election offers the opportunity for a  “long overdue course correction in our national security posture.” In separate statements, the letter’s organizers said they believed it was important to make it clear that military leaders believe “Donald Trump is more trusted to be commander-in-chief than Hillary Clinton.”

The letter warns that the combination of a weakened military and emboldened adversaries is creating an “extremely perilous” situation, and a Clinton administration would only heighten the danger.

“For this reason, we support Donald Trump and his commitment to rebuild our military, to secure our borders, to defeat our Islamic supremacist adversaries and restore law and order domestically,” the letter reads.

It isn’t a new position for Rayburn, who has run three times for the GOP nomination in the 5th Congressional District.

A Twitter meme popular last fall quoted Rayburn saying that Obama’s national security policy has meant the the United States’ “stature in the world has been so badly diminished that it’s putting every American in danger.”

“The only explanation for the blundering decisions of not just Obama but Hillary and the State [Department] is that our safety is in the hands of clowns and amateurs,” Rayburn concluded.

The letter supporting Trump comes as both candidates are directing their focus this week toward national security matters, including an hour-long televised forum on Wednesday night devoted to national security, military and veterans’ issues sponsored by the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America on. The forum will be moderated by NBC’s Matt Lauer and feature questions from the audience. Following the results of a coin toss performed on Tuesday, Clinton will appear for the first half hour, followed by Trump. NBC and cable network MSNBC will broadcast the forum at 6 p.m. MDST.

Denver-area veterans, including supporters of both Clinton and Trump, are gathering to watch the forum at Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5061 at 5220 W. Warren Ave. in southwest Denver. The Trump campaign is also throwing watch parties at the El Paso County GOP office in Colorado Springs, the Mesa County GOP office in Grand Junction, and at the RNC’s Weld County office in Greeley.

The forum will give veterans a good chance to hear directly from Donald Trump “about his plan to reestablish American leadership in the world,” said Colorado Republican Party Chairman Steve House. “Between our deteriorating national security and scandal plagued VA system, Democrat leadership is failing the American people and Colorado veterans,” he added. “The Colorado GOP is committed to engaging our veteran community and ensuring that service members and their families have a voice this fall.”

Rayburn is scheduled to attend a “Trump for Veterans” event in Parker at the same time as the forum, featuring 18-year-old country singer Trey Taylor.

– ernest@coloradostatesman.com