washington group former u.s. national security officials include work top republicans call donald trump recent comment nato russia annexation crimea matter disgraceful letter release thursday last month republican presidential nominee suggest might defend nato ally spend defense appear invite russia hack email democratic opponent hillary clinton suggest might accept russia 2014 annexation crimea ukraine disgraceful statements betray longstanding value national interest embrace presidents party say open letter first report washington post 37 sign letter appear democrats include madeleine albright leon panetta respectively former secretaries state defense others serve republican presidents lawmakers among john bellinger state department legal adviser former secretary state condoleezza rice randy scheunemann neoconservative political operative foreign policy advisor republican john mccain presidential campaign signatories include former career diplomats tom pickering bill burn nicholas burn marc grossman serve undersecretary state political affairs effectively third-ranking u.s. diplomat letter late series former national security officials dismay think trump presidency march 90 republican foreign policy veterans include former deputy secretary state robert zoellick sign letter pledge oppose trump say proposals would undermine u.s. security former u.s. security officials call trump comment 'disgraceful