Gen Mattis dislikes America's irrational thinking. Trump is irrational. Sometimes I think Trump does not think!
Mattis worked to bring rational thought to the President, and the President rejected it.
America, everything you work for is at risk today. You are in trouble for real now! Wisdom has been eradicated, only propaganda and ignorance remains with a sociopath President..
Donald Trump is worrying about a Wall ONLY because he said he would build one, NOT because it makes America secure or safe from "dirty, poor immigrants" (Fox's Tucker Carlson "truth" without proof or facts.). Trump is NOT aware how to secure America, quite the opposite! Gen Mattis resigned for this reason - see letter reproduced in The Atlantic today, 20 Dec 2018
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2018/12/read-text-james-mattiss-resignation-letter/578773/
"On Thursday, December 20, Secretary of Defense James Mattis submitted a letter of resignation to President Donald Trump. “Because you have the right to a Secretary of Defense whose views are better aligned with yours on these and other subjects,” he wrote, “I believe it is right for me to step down from my position.” The full text of the letter is reproduced below.
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 US 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 US 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 be 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 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 for 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 732,079 DoD civilians receive undistracted attention of the Department at 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"
"Mattis to step down as defense secretary over differences with Trump"
By Paul Sonne and Missy Ryan December 20, 2018 at 6:16 PM
"Mattis pointed to some of those differences in a resignation letter he submitted to the White House on Thursday. The retired general emphasized that the United States derives its strength from its relationships with allies and should treat them with respect. He said the country must also be “clear-eyed” about threats including from groups such as the Islamic State."
“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,” Mattis wrote. “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.”"
Who will Trump get GOOD military advice from who has better expertise than a man with 40 years experience immersed in the issue? Steve Miller? Ann Coulter? Rush Limbaugh? Sean Hannity? Laura Ingraham?
Trump is incredibly shallow in his judgement of advisors and incredibly ignorant about national security! Trump is making America LESS SECURE! Ask Lindsay Graham!
"In recent months, media accounts described the secretary quietly challenging or setting aside requests from the White House, even from the president himself, further fueling speculation about a possible departure. In October, Trump described Mattis as “sort of a Democrat.”"
"Graham: Trump's Syria withdrawal a 'stain on the honor of the United States'"
By Kate Sullivan, CNN Updated 9:25 AM ET, Thu December 20, 2018
https://www.cnn.com/2018/12/19/politics/lindsey-graham-trump-syria-withdrawal-stain-honor/index.html
"Trump fires back: 'Hard to believe' Lindsey Graham would be against Syria withdrawal"
Geobeats Geobeats Dec 20th 2018 4:36PM
"Trump turns on Lindsey Graham over Syria pullout criticism"
By Brooke Singman | Fox News 20 Dec 2018
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-turns-on-lindsey-graham-over-syria-pullout-criticism
"Trump suggests Lindsey Graham is 'against saving soldier lives' after GOP senator blasted Syria withdrawal as an 'Obama-like mistake' that's a 'stain on the honor of the United States'"
- The president suddenly announced Syria pullout Wednesday on Twitter to the chagrin of GOP legislators including Lindsey Graham
- On Thursday he said the decision was 'no surprise' and cited campaign pledges
- Said the U.S. was getting 'NOTHING' and spending 'precious lives' on war
- Warned in tweets that if ISIS hits U.S. they are 'doomed!' and suggested Graham is against saving soldiers' lives
- Sen. Lindsey Graham has grown close to Trump, but on foreign policy they continue to have sharp differences
- Graham angrily called the pull-out an 'Obama-like mistake' and said that lawmakers should have been consulted
By Francesca Chambers, White House Correspondent For Dailymail.com
Published: 15:30 EST, 20 December 2018 | Updated: 16:58 EST, 20 December 2018
