[JPJones]

“Do not doubt him for a minute.....our President’s got this!!”

Agree, and it’s another big win! Our troops come home and our “ally” does the dirty and pays for it.

Why would Mattis et al, be soooo against this?

[compuguru]

Why would Mattis et al, be soooo against this?

Think 'the military-industrial complex'.

There's no money in peace...

[mrsmith]

My impression is that Mattis mainly opposed the risk this presents to the Kurds.
It’s a gamble. May work out well for the Kurds IMO, but I’m no General.

[entropy12]

A military leader becomes more important when running a war. Without wars, military becomes diminished in necessity and stature.

Same reason doctors seldom give you advice on diet & exercise. They give you meds to cure the disease, but not show you how to avoid disease in the first place. If you seldom get sick, doctors will go out of business.

[Old Teufel Hunden]

"Why would Mattis et al, be soooo against this?"

If this had been the plan all along, I think General Mattis would have supported this. It realizes our objectives. Perhaps Khashoggi's death is paying off for us. The President realizes he's in trouble here and has to find a way out.

Hey Prince, do you have some extra troops lying around to send to Syria? That whole Khashoggi thing, fergeddaboutit!!

[usconservative]

Why would Mattis et al, be soooo against this?

Because the Saudi's are no friends of the Kurds and Mattis knows this.

I hardly think the Saudi's are going to be there to protect the Kurds at all. Time will tell, I just hope our country isn't again turning our back on the Kurds.