washington republican foreign policy veterans come donald trump presidential campaign say wednesday stick gun follow election victory others signal objections serve new administration soften trump stun upset democrat hillary clinton create new dilemma republican national security establishment much publicly distance party candidate declare unfit lead must decide whether return fold career diplomats intelligence officials military officer also face choice whether quit post concern trump presidency would violate principles else stay try influence policy inside however state department spokesman mark toner say expect mass exodus 150 republican party prominent national security specialists sign open letter march august outright opposition trump candidacy one say utterly unqualified white house warn would reckless president american history neither letter say former officials would never work trump scathing critique clearly intend discourage fellow republicans support trump respond time deride members fail washington elite deserve blame make world dangerous place number signatories contact reuters wednesday make clear unswayed negative view trump would work however stop short urge others also shun next administration widely see limit foreign policy expertise time next president face challenge syria civil war fight islamic state newly assertive russia rise china expect ask serve others matter individual conscience say eliot cohen serve counselor former secretary state condoleezza rice help spearhead march letter post blog call war rock create stir among republicans concern ignorance belligerence misunderstand world work cohen say trump wealthy real estate developer former reality tv host ride victory wave voter anger toward washington insiders max boot foreign policy adviser republican mitt romney 2012 presidential campaign supporter u.s.-led iraq invasion 2003 say anything trump know others hope good people go government others appear waver say decisions whether join trump administration could depend president-elect behave transition appoint senior post among trump ally say consideration former house representatives speaker newt gingrich one-time unite nations ambassador john bolton secretary state general michael flynn former head defense intelligence agency national security adviser dov zakheim former pentagon undersecretary sign one dissent letter say trump would reach beyond circle supporters find enough qualify people fill many important job want show divide republican party extend olive branch party oppose zakheim say ask whether expect offer post say idea me bryan mcgrath retire us navy officer co-organizer war rock letter say expect sign sign away employment right go work trump administration president ask service say take request seriously patrick cronin asia expert former third-ranking official usaid president george w. bush say despite early opposition trump eventually brief transition team would continue provide advice say interest join administration michael mcfaul president barack obama former ambassador moscow clinton supporter election say republicans deep bench experience enlist foreign policy experts even trump prepare form foreign policy team career diplomats intelligence officials military officer face post-election quandary say privately tuesday vote would consider retire quit rather work trump alarm campaign question u.s.-led alliances praise russian president vladimir putin suggest japan south korea allow nuclear weapons threaten order resumption interrogation methods condemn torture officials suggest would wait see act office name senior post say responsibility government service transcend one president keep campaign promise use torture example many us discuss whether honor-bound resign stay try influence inside early say one cia officer say speak condition anonymity republican foreign policy veterans quandary trump