While I've always been a fan of Mattis, and agree with much of what he said, it was petty, unprofessional and insubordinate to publicly air his dissension with the CINC. He is basically saying he can't work for a CINC who doesn't provide effective leadership to our alliances, nor treat our allies with respect, then goes on to lecture the President about the geopolitical ambitions of Russia and China. This is the kind of stuff you say, very bluntly but respectfully, behind a closed door; not in your public resignation letter. This was a bit of a knife in the back.
I suspect this is strategic. This is Mattis publicly distancing himself from Trump, and what he sees as future failures of US international and geopolitical goals. In reality, the "new world order" of the past two decades has so damaged our economy and military, Trump has a near impossible task to prevent a coming decline. Mattis knows Trump, and by extension he himself, will be blamed. Of course, should Trump succeed, Mattis still looks great. So, distance...
While I’ve always been a fan of Mattis, and agree with much of what he said, it was petty, unprofessional and insubordinate to publicly air his dissension with the CINC. He is basically saying he can’t work for a CINC who doesn’t provide effective leadership to our alliances, nor treat our allies with respect, then goes on to lecture the President about the geopolitical ambitions of Russia and China. This is the kind of stuff you say, very bluntly but respectfully, behind a closed door; not in your public resignation letter. This was a bit of a knife in the back.
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Agreed, and it’s an indicator that his leaving is a good thing.