Secretary Mattis resignation letter

Document Cloud ^ | Dec 20, 2018 | Sec Def

[robowombat]

SECRETARY OF DEFENSE 3000 DEFENSE PENTAGON WASHINGTON, DC 2030i 41060

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 con?ict and sustain strong U.S. global in?uence.

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. 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 ?irther 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 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 for my tenure is February 28, 2019, a date that should allow suf?cient time for a successor to be nominated and con?rmed as well as to make sure the Department?s interests are properly articulated and protected at upcoming events to include Congressional

[central_va]

An honorable person,

Pffffffft.

[central_va]

Mattis comes out of the closet in 3,2,1....

[robowombat]

The government is not the country. It has its interests which may in no way are congruent with the people who work and pay taxes.

[robowombat]

Can you honestly point to any really significant, not to say vital, interest that the US invasion of Iraq, the US presence in Afghanistan for the last decade or any US ground presence in Syria might serve. All the US has been party to since 2003 is the shattering of the nations and societies in an arc stretching from Libya to Afghanistan. Both the GWB ‘Democracy Initiative’ and ‘Arab Spring’ have only brought tragedy and destruction to countries already fairly dysfunctional. The Wizards of Smart have plenty of blood on their hands both American military and natives and in the end it has only served the interests of K Street, the think tank whores and proponents of perpetual war for perpetual peace.

[snoringbear]

Thanks 😊