Feb 6, 2017 4 min read

In 1988, Democratic presidential candidate Michael Dukakis proclaimed that the election that year was not about ideology, but about competence.

Almost 30 years later, it’s safe to say that President Trump’s ill-thought executive order to temporarily ban immigration from seven Muslim-majority nations, halt our refugee program and indefinitely bar Syrian refugees is about ideology. And about competence.

Apparently issued without consulting with Customs, Homeland Security or Justice Department officials, it stirred up confusion at points of entry in the United States, and earned richly deserved condemnation from human rights groups, allies, business leaders, Democrats and even some of Trump’s more courageous Republican colleagues.

How bad is it?

It appeared at first that even permanent residents of the United States from Iran, Iraq, Somalia, Syria, Sudan, Yemen and Libya would be barred from returning to the United States if they had the unfortunate circumstance of being abroad when the executive order was issued Friday.

Travelers from those seven countries were summarily detained when they arrived at airports in the United States, though federal judges in Massachusetts, Virginia, New York and other states issued orders that prevented them from being deported. Another federal judge in Washington State temporarily halted the ban nationwide, although a decision on his ruling by a higher court is expected this week.

But the fact remains that families are being separated, scholars are being prevented from continuing their work at our colleges and universities and, most heartbreakingly, the country that had prided itself on taking “huddled masses yearning to breathe free” is shamefully turning its back on refugees fleeing war and oppression.

And for what? The president and members of his administration claim it’s for our safety. But none – not one – of the countries on the list has brought forth a terrorist who has committed criminal deeds in the United States. Think back to the two perpetrators of the 2015 shootings in San Bernardino, Calif. One was born in Chicago and was a U.S. citizen; his wife hailed from Pakistan and had spent much of her life in Saudi Arabia.

The 9/11 hijackers came from Egypt, Lebanon, Saudia Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. None of these countries is being targeted. In fact, as several news reports have pointed out, no country where Trump has business interests has been included.

More importantly, the president’s actions will almost certainly increase the likelihood of a terrorist attack here. After all, he loudly tubthumped on the campaign trail that he wanted “a total and complete shutdown” on all Muslims entering the United States, and some of his key advisers have made no bones about their hostility to Islam. In some corners of the world, it will appear the United States is at war with Islam as a whole, not with the infinitesimal number of adherents who pervert their faith and commit terrorist acts.

In fact, The Washington Post reported last week that jihadist groups were crowing about the travel ban, calling it “blessed.”

Robert Richer, a veteran of the CIA, also told the Post the ban would hinder efforts by the United States to gain friends who could work alongside us in the Middle East.

“This was a win for jihadists and other anti-U.S. forces,” he said.

“It fuels the belief out there that Americans are anti-Islam. Otherwise, it accomplishes nothing, because the (potential terrorists) we are most concerned about can still get to the United States.”

This can’t be written off as a rookie mistake by an administration still trying to find its legs. The United States has just lost some of its moral authority. And it won’t be easy to regain it.