'Our country is going to hell': Trump, Clinton spar over national security

Hillary Clinton accused Donald Trump of insultingAmerica's veterans and pressing dangerous military plans around theglobe on Tuesday, seeking to undercut his appeal to service familiesin Southern voting battlegrounds. Trump declared "our country isgoing to hell" because of policies she would make even worse.

Clinton, addressing supporters in Florida, warned that Trumpwould lead the nation back to war in the Middle East. And tomilitary vets and their families, she pointed anew to his summertimedust-up with the Muslim parents of a slain American soldier.

"His whole campaign has been one long insult to all those whohave worn the uniform," the Democratic nominee said at theUniversity of South Florida in Tampa.

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Republican Trump, trying emphasize his military support, releaseda letter from 88 retired generals and admirals citing an urgent needfor a "course correction" in America's national security policy.

It was aimed at rebutting Clinton's arguments that she would be bestpositioned to lead the military and reassuring Republicans who haveopenly worried that his provocative statements might undermine U.S.alliances.

"We believe that such a change can only be made by someone who has not been deeply involved with, and substantially responsiblefor, the hollowing out of our military and the burgeoning threatsfacing our country around the world," the military leaders wrote.

"For this reason, we support Donald Trump's candidacy to be ournext commander in chief."

Conflicting campaigns

Clinton pushed back, saying Trump has lagged in securing keymilitary supporters compared to past Republican nominees includingJohn McCain and Mitt Romney. She pointed to her endorsements fromretired Marine Gen. John Allen, who blasted Trump at the DemocraticNational Committee, and former CIA deputy director Mike Morell.

"They know they can count on me to be the kind of commander inchief who will protect our country and our troops, and they knowthey cannot count on Donald Trump," Clinton said en route toFlorida. "They view him as a danger and a risk."

The conflicting messages came as the candidates prepared toappear at an MSNBC forum Wednesday night on national security. Whilethey will appear separately and not be on stage at the same time, itcould serve as a warm-up to their highly-anticipated firstpresidential debate on Sept.26 in New York.

Campaigning in Virginia Beach, Virginia, Trump vowed to takeaggressive action to help veterans at home and confront threatsabroad including acts of terrorism from the groupIslamic State in Iraq and Syria.Hewas questioned by retired Gen. Michael Flynn, the former director ofthe Defence Intelligence Agency who is a strong supporter.

"We are going to solve the ISIS problem," Trump said. "But wehave to get back to building our country, because our country isgoing to hell."

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Trump promised to fix problems at the Veterans Administration, which has grappled with patient care mismanagement during the Obama administration. Until those problems are resolved, he said he would allow veterans to seek treatment at private doctors or hospitals free of charge.

"Your government is going to pay your bill," he pledged.

Clinton releases new defence ad

Meanwhile, Clinton's campaign released a new television adentitled, "Sacrifice," that shows military veterans watching someof the New York businessman's more provocative statements.

The spot includes clips of Trump claiming to know more about ISISthan military generals, and his criticism ofMcCain, the Republican senator from Arizona and a former prisoner ofwar. The adalso keys on Trump's assertionthat he has sacrificed a lot compared to families who have lostloved ones in conflict. She posted accompanying attacks on her Twitter account.

Wehave to get back to building our country, because our country isgoing to hell. U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump

"Our veterans deserve better," reads a line at the end of thead, which is airing in Ohio, Florida, Iowa, Nevada and Pennsylvania.

Republicans, too, have questioned Trump's capacity to serve ascommander in chief. Dozens of GOP national security leaders releaseda letter last month warning that he would risk the nation's"national security and well-being."

Separately, Trump continued to face questions about hisimmigration policy a day after refusing to rule out a pathway tolegal status for immigrants in the country illegally.Last week in Phoenix, he told a raucous crowd of supporters thatthere was "one way only" for immigrants here illegally to becomelegal to return home and get in line for official re-admittance.