[BwanaNdege]

“I paid a military security price every day as the commander of CentCom because the Americans were seen as biased in support of Israel, and that moderates all the moderate Arabs who want to be with us, because they can’t come out publicly in support of people who don’t show respect for the Arab Palestinians,”

This appears to be a statement of Fact - the geopolitical realities when trying to implement the US policy of working with Muslim 'allies' in the Mid East. It may not be a fact that we like, but it does closely represent reality. Mattis is not setting policy with this statement.

If chosen as SecDef, Mattis will implement the policies of his Commander in Chief and the treaties ratified by the US Senate.

[Girlene]

Mattis disapproves of the settlements...he is no friend to Israel.

He and Petraeus co-authored the COIN manual - the winning hearts and minds strategy that expects our servicemen to be further exposed in the hopes of winning the locals hearts and minds. I know he has been a great warrior, I just don’t trust his judgement as the Sec. of Defense.

[Piranha]

I have strong doubts that he would be able to overcome his prejudices.

What he wrote is not a statement of fact. He said someone is not showing respect for Arab Palestinians. Presumably he means Israel. In Israel every day there are countless daily interactions between Jews and Arabs. I live in Jerusalem and Arabs shop at the same stores as I do, I have been to Arab dentists, have had Arab cab drivers, met an Arab cardiologist, and encounter Arabs throughout my day, every day.

The fact that he believes that Israel doesn’t show respect to Palestinian Arabs means to me that he is biased against Istael, probably irretrievably. The fact that he accused Israel of practicing apartheid against Arabs confirms it.

I hope that President Trump picks a Secretary of Defense who believes in the policies that President Trump espouses. If not, they can be sabotaged in a thousand different ways.