Posted on 12/20/2018 2:42:05 PM PST by Trump_the_Evil_Left
President Trump said Thursday evening that Defense Secretary James Mattis will be retiring in February, in a shock announcement adding to the list of the president's outgoing Cabinet members after his second year in office.
Mattis will step down "with distinction" after serving in his role for two years, the president said on Twitter.
"During Jim’s tenure, tremendous progress has been made, especially with respect to the purchase of new fighting equipment," Trump tweeted. "General Mattis was a great help to me in getting allies and other countries to pay their share of military obligations. A new Secretary of Defense will be named shortly. I greatly thank Jim for his service!"
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Thanks for sharing. Makes me wonder whether this was precipitated by POTUS’s announcement yesterday, of troop withdraw from Syria.
I didn’t read the letter.
Yes, if I have to guess based upon rumors, Mattis was eventually on the losing end of debates about reducing our military presence in the Middle East and South Asia (Afghanistan). I suspect that Syria and Afghanistan were two places where Mattis was holding out for US forces to remain??
I’ve read a lot of Tweets from Democrats about how we’re to expect a coup, this is terrifying, we’re all in danger, blah blah blah.
Funny how they claim Republican’s are war hawks and play ‘war is over if you want it’ but when they get it the world is going to hell in a hand basket.
“Something big is about to happen with Turkey and I think POTUS wants our troops out of there”.
I think you nailed it.
2019 is going to be crazy.
“He should stay and follow CIC orders like a real Marine.”
He’s not following orders that’s the problem. It’s an epidemic in the swamp.
the article only mentions syria. I am asking everyone if they know disposition on the wall.
Good.
This old fart was a coward in the fight against the fake News Media and a prime leaker.
The old bastard is a horrible deep state actor
From his letter:
“Because you have the right to have a secretary of defense whose views better align with yours....I believe it is right for me to step down from my position”
At least he isn’t Resisting. Not sure if he is/was ever on the MAGA train.
Thanks for your service General. Enjoy your retirement.
yeah, the MSM/Leftards claim that Trump is such a warmonger, but he is the one insisting upon reducing our troop presence now in war zones.
Could also be that mattis didn’t support the Border mission, refusing to erect tents aNd other stuff. Personally I am glad to see him go. He always was a globalist moderate. Never had much use for the guy.
Interesting resignation letter which would allow a Democrat controlled house to call him as a witness while he is still Secretary of Defense. He will undoubtedly asked to expand on his resignation letter in that or many other forums.
President “deserves a secretary of defense with views more aligned” with his.
Now what do you make of an old soldier like Mattis saying that anyone “deserves” anything?
Trump will have difficulty finding people of the caliber of the ones who are leaving. The Never-Trumpers and Resist movements have made the lives a living hell for people who have aligned with him and they will be very difficult to replace since most people would prefer not to have their lives, careers, and families destroyed.
The Swamp is undrained, and the Syria policy needs some explaining.
“Interesting resignation letter which would allow a Democrat controlled house to call him as a witness while he is still Secretary of Defense.”
You have the right level of cynicism. “Was Trump giving you unlawful orders....” Blah, blah, blah.
Was Mattis a Democrat?
He’s unhappy that Trump has been mean to our allies. You know, those guys in sandals who don’t contribute to their own defense and are being overrun by muslims. He is right to be concerned about Russia and China. He is wrong to think that letting Germany turn Europe into a fascist state which doesn’t let American goods in and doesn’t defend itself is the way to keep the commies at bay.
We can find better among our defense establishment. Hell, Mike Flynn might be available by February.
Thank you for linking to his resignation letter.
He is resigning because he disagrees with Trump’s approach to handling Russia/China “enemies” and those whose non-authoritarian governments who are “allies”.
This is not a retirement due to age or health. It’s due to disagreement with the President on fundamental strategy.
I didn’t comment on Mattis’ performance.
I commented on my sons experience at MCRD involving Mattis.
He was responsible for some much needed equipment acquisition for the USMC that I know from first hand accounts with 20 year active Marines. One is the CO of a Cobra squadron.
I would have loved for him to make some other changes but I have no knowledge of how much more he could have done verses what he did.
After 8 years of an American hating progressive social justice warrior as Commander in Chief installing like minded brass it’s gonna take longer than 22 months to get it straightened out.
Mattis served the Corps honorably. I’m going to give him the benefit of the doubt he continued on in his public service.
I may be wrong, you may be wrong, we both maybe wrong but we have no way of knowing exactly what Mattis or anyone else has been up against behind the scene.
Hell, anyone of the first 100 names in the Ames Iowa white pages would be better.
I read that, unbelievable. Shouldn’t that have become apparent during Mattis’s Vetting?
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