Unfortunately, the wrong person has resigned. The Mattis letter below is a clear rebuke of the impulsive and misguided foreign policy of the person who should resign. Donald Trump has delighted fellow authoritarians Vladimir Putin and Bashar al-Assad as well as the Islamic State. He has shown our allies that we are now unworthy of their respect.
SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
1000 DEFENSE PENTAGON
WASHINGTON, DC 20301-1000
December 20, 2018
Dear Mr. President:
I have been privileged to serve as our country’s 26th Secretary of Defense which has allowed me to serve alongside our men and women of the Department in defense of our citizens and our ideals.
I am proud of the progress that has been made over the past two years on some of the key goals articulated in our National Defense Strategy: putting the Department on a more sound budgetary footing, improving readiness and lethality in our forces, and reforming the Department’s business practices for greater performance. Our troops continue to provide the capabilities needed to prevail in conflict and sustain strong U.S. global influence.
One core belief I have always held is that our strength as a nation is inextricably linked to the strength of our unique and comprehensive system of alliances and partnerships. While the U.S. remains the indispensable nation in the free world, we cannot protect our interests or serve that role effectively without maintaining strong alliances and showing respect to those allies. Like you, I have said from the beginning that the armed forces of the United States should not be the policeman of the world.
Instead, we must use all tools of American power to provide for the common defense, including providing effective leadership to our alliances. NATO’s 29 democracies demonstrated that strength in their commitment to fighting alongside us following the 9/11 attack on America. The Defeat-ISIS coalition of 74 nations is further proof.
Similarly, I believe we must he resolute and unambiguous in our approach to those countries whose strategic interests are increasingly in tension with ours. It is clear that China and Russia, for example, want to shape a world consistent with their authoritarian model gaining veto authority over other nations’ economic, diplomatic, and security decisions to promote their own interests at the expense of their neighbors, America and our allies. That is why we must use all the tools of American power to provide for the common defense.
My views on treating allies with respect and also being clear-eyed about both malign actors and strategic competitors are strongly held and informed by over four decades of immersion in these issues. We must do everything possible to advance an international order that is most conducive to our security, prosperity and values, and we are strengthened in this effort by the solidarity of our alliances.
Because you have the right to have a Secretary of Defense whose views are better aligned with yours on these and other subjects, I believe it is right for me to step down from my position. The end date of my tenure is February 28, 2019, a date that should allow sufficient time for a successor to be nominated and confirmed as well as to make sure the Department’s interests are properly articulated and protected at upcoming events to include Congressional posture hearings and the NATO Defense Ministerial meeting in February. Further, that a full transition to a new Secretary of Defense occurs well in advance of the transition of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in September in order to ensure stability within the Department.
I pledge my full effort to a smooth transition that ensures the needs and interests of the 2.15 million Service Members and the 732,079 DoD civilians receive undistracted attention of the Department of all times so that they can fulfill their critical, round-the-clock mission to protect the American people.
I very much appreciate this opportunity to serve the nation and our men and women in uniform.
James N. Mattis
20 comments:
Matis has served proudly, and he is right about not being the policeman of the world, our allies especially NATO have taken advantage of the US, everyone believes we are rich and should share our wealth, and when they get in trouble we should come to their rescue. We are always the 90 % of men and materials to try to keep bad actors in line. We are the ones paying for this international order. Should we be happy about our expenditure of men and treasure for the last 40 years? Who shouldered the cost in Viet-Nam, Korea, Iraq, Afghanistan, Our interventions in the MIddle East have not solved the problem. Yes, we should have the biggest strongest military in the world and yes we should use it when we need to. We have played with rules that the world knows we dont want to win. Just keep the peace. You will only win when you are ready to destroy the enemy completely. Then go home. We keep putting our troops in close contact with the enemy, with target on their back. They are considered expendable, part of the global police force. Re-thinking a failed strategy is a good idea.
Can you blame him? The commander-in-idiot is a clown. Matis has had enough as have most rational adults in the WH.
Trillions spent on securing foreign nations, but no money to secure our border. Please explain this.
The last adult in White House.
Blah, blah, blah.
Let the Middle Easterners shed their own blood and spend their own money fighting for their own freedom.
Enough is enough with this perennially thankless World's Policemen crap.
And, yes, NATO must stop sponging and pay their fair if they expect the U.S. military to keep protecting them.
America first, period.
The old days, the old ways are gone. This is not Obammy's one-armed military anymore. No longer do General Stars get handed out as participation trophies. Thank you for your service, General Mattis. Now go home and don't behave like Obama, Clinton, Mueller, and Comey.
I'm not opposed to troop withdrawal. But we should do it wisely.
Anyway, congrats America, now that Mattis is gone, its only the mad reality TV show host calling his own shots.
BTW, don't forget Mattis told Trump to go fuck himself on arming troops at the border, the Trump trans-gender ban, and the military parade. So there's that.
Trump has been promised by many, maybe next year, not now, all hoping to never change course.
8:33...If you think Mattis was handed his stars as participation trophies you don't understand him and you don't understand Marines. Take time to learn some real facts about Mattis or better yet go speak with someone who served with him before you offer your opinions.
I don't know why Trump did what he did because no one shares all the relevant information with me. I will say however that if Trump is removing both US forces and full US protection for the Kurds and other indigenous fighters who we have been supporting in Syria, it is one of the most irresponsible decisions I have ever seen. If Trump cut some sort of guaranteed deal with Assad, the Russians, Iranians and Turks to protect our current allies on the ground, the move to get out might make sense. If not, the likely blood bath to come will be awful and no one in that part of the world will ever trust us again.
We live in a country where the military is under civilian control. Matt is was probably a bad pick to begin with. Generals should stay
Generals. We will be better off. I recall Truman firing Big Mac. Saved a land war in China. LeMay telling Kennedy to strike the Russians with every nuke we had. Or, Westmoreland wanting a million soldiers to expand the war to Cambodia and Laos. American lives are not cheap and expendable to every corner of the world where strategies are unknown and uncertain.We have been at war in Afghanistan for 17 years. What is the end game? Or, we have been at war with North Korea for over fifty years. Most of our population does not even know why we are there. The world is changing and we are unprepared to deal with the change. Not really certain that Trump has the answers, but who does.
Let's not kid ourselves, our ONLY interest and 50+ years of involvement in the Middle East is for the cheap, plentiful oil its provided us with. The US government, both Dems and Reps have jumped in and out of bed, supported and opposed, planted and deposed, any # of regional leaders who would make life easier and more profitable for United States business interests. The price tag for that oil has been American lives, gold and assorted military hardware.
There are long term consequences for any political shift or move. Based on his 2 year track record, my faith that Trump has thought this out is not overly optimistic. The fact that Russia and Iran are "in country" as we're leaving is deeply concerning.
If Trump will not consider the advice of his general on military affairs...and that general reigns over it..we are in deep...deep waters with no one at the helm.
Two years of Trump supporters. Mattis was good until he wasn't. Kelly was good until he wasnt. Blah,blah,blah. Enjoy the Kanye West CD you're getting for Christmas.
So, Bernie, perhaps rethinking not voting for Hillary Clinton? Well, you should be, because Clinton certainly wouldn't have deserted our military the way Donnie boy has.
But no, I'm sure you are continuing to rationalize your mistake. You can certainly find plenty of "reasons" to continue to think you were right to throw away your vote. But it all comes down to failing to realize that not supporting the only candidate capable of defeating an idiot makes it possible for the idiot to be elected.
Excuse me, but I held my nose and voted for her. I have always detested Trump. I have always been critical of him here. I don't know where the hell your head is at,except up your ass.
On the other hand, Trump won precisely bc morons like you have lost sight that the Dem party exists to help the working poor and blue collar folks. The Dem party has done NOTHING for either and is more focused on tangential issues. That's how Trump was able t slip into office.
Trump won because Russia
I deleted a comment from some partisan and anonymous asshole who claims again, falsely, that I either did not support Clinton or only voted for her at the last minute. Between her and Trump, no contest.
Today I went to lunch at a local restaurant, sat at the counter and got into a disagreement with some NRA asshole singing the praises of Trump. Recently Lou Barletta was crying the blues over loosing his election. When he was with Trump at the Wilkes Barre rally the scum from the NRA and the Tea Party were seated directly behind the president wearing shirts that read " Better To Be Russian Than a Democrat". No wonder he lost. Tea Party and NRA folks remind me of the fanatics that supported Hitler even when the Russians were marching into Berlin. I can only hope that the people being hurt by this shutdown are the same ones that voted for Trump.
Intolerance is never a good thing, whether it is on the left or right. Fuck'em, and have a Merry Christmas.
I have had the pleasure of having dinner with James Mattis. The man is brilliant. I supported Trump in his election,but my faith is with Mattis. This is a worrier that can get on the phone and find ot what’s going on well before the CIA can get it ,because he is a man of ‘relationships’ . The folks down range ,the heavy guys on the-battlefield trust him . I have to say that a couple of thousands troops are not significant of for an assault but depending on MOS they could be significantly changing the dynamics. So - pulling our people out of Syria will absolutely change the security of the Kurds . Big mistake. They are wonderful people and should be protected.h
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