Looks like Mattis was way more of a dem than thought.
So who really ran that Syrian bridge blitzkrieg?
Well, we already know he didn't run it. And providing an ROE that would allow a direct conflict with the Sovi..Russians would seem to fit a DS agenda. Fortunately the President and Putin had some kind of arrangement and while Russkies got whacked, I recall it was Russky mercs mostly. That fits the Sov..Russian model. The fact that we had no conflict with the Russkies in that small an airspace with a lot of AC and the S-400 system means the agreement must have been pretty comprehensive.
Makes you wonder who sent the guys into that ass-whoopin in the first place. While it shouldn't have been Putin green lighting it, because why? Someone did send those boys towards a strong defensive perimeter with all supporting arms arrayed. Had to be horrible after fighting ISIS losers and 'rebels'.