Posted on 06/05/2020 4:49:55 AM PDT by Kaslin
In his statement to The Atlantic magazine, former Defense Secretary General James Mattis says of the events of the last 10 days that have shaken the nation as it has not been shaken since 1968:
"We must not be distracted by a small number of lawbreakers."
Is "a small number of lawbreakers" an apt description of wilding mobs who have showered cops with bottles, bricks and rocks in 40 cities, looted stores in the hundreds, torched police cars, and injured dozens of Secret Service personnel defending the White House?
Is "a small number of lawbreakers" the way a patriot would describe anti-American anarchists who desecrated the Lincoln Memorial, the World War II Memorial on the Mall and the Korean War Memorial and tried to burn down the Church of the Presidents in Lafayette Square?
Was the sacking of Georgetown, Rodeo Drive in LA, 5th Avenue in New York and 40 city centers, the work of a few "lawbreakers?"
Is that a good description of the people who gravely wounded that cop in Las Vegas and shot four cops and murdered that retired black police chief in St. Louis?
The protesters, says Mattis, are "rightly demanding ... Equal Justice Under Law." This is a "wholesome and unifying demand -- one that all of us should be able to get behind."
But what does the general think of the methods and means the "protesters" have used -- the massive civil disobedience, the blocking of streets, the vilification of police, the contempt for curfews. What does the general think of protesters who provide moral cover for insurrection?
"Donald Trump is the first president in my lifetime who does not try to unite the American people," says Mattis. Trump "doesn't even pretend to try. Instead he tries to divide us."
But it was not Trump who divided America in this racial crisis.
The nation was united in revulsion at the criminal cruelty that led to George Floyd's death. The nation was united in backing an enraged people's right to protest that atrocity.
What divided America were the methods and means protesters began using in the first hours of the Minneapolis riot -- the attacks on cops with bottles, bricks and Molotov cocktails.
In Mattis' statement, one finds not a word of sympathy or support for the police bearing the brunt of mob brutality for defending the communities they serve, while defending the constitutional right of the protesters to curse them as racist and rogue cops.
"Keeping public order rests with civilian state and local leaders who best understand their communities and are answerable to them," not to the military, says the general.
Correct. But what happens when mobs run wild to where a governor of New York is denouncing the NYPD for failing to protect the city from anarchy and is threatening to replace the mayor for failing to put down the insurrection.
In July 1967, the 82nd Airborne was sent into Detroit to put down the riot. In 1968, there were federal troops in D.C. to stop the rioting in the wake of Dr. King's assassination. In the violent protests of the Nixon era, U.S. airborne troops were brought into the basement of the Executive Office Building.
The general quotes James Madison: "America united with a handful of troops, or without a single soldier exhibits a more forbidding posture to foreign invaders than an America disunited."
And how, General, did that work out for Madison when the "foreign invaders" arrived in Maryland in August 1814, marched up Bladensburg Road, and burned the Capitol and White House and Alexandria, while "Little Jimmy" fled out the Brookville Road?
If memory serves, it was Gen. Andrew Jackson and the troops he pulled together for the Battle of New Orleans who defeated the British and saved the Union.
"Society cannot exist," wrote Edmund Burke, "unless a controlling power upon will and appetite be placed somewhere; and the less of it there is within, the more there must be without.
"It is ordained in the eternal constitution of things, that men of intemperate minds cannot be free. Their passions forge their fetters."
That is where we are now. Society and civilization are on the line.
If mob tactics are now how we change laws and alter public policy, the democratic republic is dead and we have gone full Third World.
Some of us do not believe America is a racist society or that the nation's police, numbering a million men and women, are shot through with anti-black racism.
Some of us believe the police are the last line of defense we have against that "small number of lawbreakers" Mattis tells us are no problem.
Did the general actually produce this pile of mush that reads like something out of Ramsey Clark in the 1960s?
My guess: Mattis, an obedient servant of President Trump for two years, has been persuaded that the wind is blowing the other way and his "place in history" demands that he get himself on the correct side.
The general has just defected to the resistance.
As long as media people start each article with the phrase “mostly peaceful protests” it’s okay for James Mattis to be confused about what is happening today. Put a mask on him, and then hold a picture of Mattis next to a picture of Joe Biden. Which one is which?
Generalissimo James “Bitch Dog” Mattis just wants to be on the winning side of the palace coup.
We're due another Civil War...this time, it will be a REAL civil war (The 1861-65 War between the States was actually two sovereign nations fighting one another- back then, people considered themselves more the resident of their State than an American.). This Civil War will for real be Brother vs. Brother, Father vs. Children, neighbor vs. neighbor.
And look for the fighting to begin in 2021, after Trump is re-elected. There are armed, violent Antifa shock troops out there, and they'll be led by Trump-hating perfumed prince Generals (you know, the ones denouncing Trump right now). It won't be a short war, it will overturn everything about our society, and there'll be many lives lost.
RIP America!
Exactly, I shut the TV off months ago.
Mattis is a bitter, lonely old man. Desperately seeking relevance in his life. While perhaps a good military man he lacks band width of knowledge for civilian leadership. It’s not unusual for these career generals to express contempt of their civilian leaders. As an example, MacArthur was very close to subordination toward Truman concerning Korean War strategy. In fact, Truman had to personally go meet with him and fire him. But, MacArthur thought everyone except himself was stupid.
TV really is the enemy. It presents a world view divorced from reality.
Lap Dog Mattis opens his speech impediment mouth.
An excellent piece by Buchanan.
And how, General, did that work out for Madison when the "foreign invaders" arrived in Maryland in August 1814, marched up Bladensburg Road, and burned the Capitol and White House and Alexandria, while "Little Jimmy" fled out the Brookville Road?
If memory serves, it was Gen. Andrew Jackson and the troops he pulled together for the Battle of New Orleans who defeated the British and saved the Union.
Pat, you didn't go past the burning of the Capitol. The Brits were about to begin a devastating march to Baltimore, when a hurricane blew their army apart, killed 5 or 6 troops. Then, the bombing of Ft. McHenry. Then, the commanding general of the British Army forces was killed by an American sniper...all this preceded Andy Jackson's classic payback-is-a-mutha moment in New Orleans (The Brits nearly killed him and caused his brother and mother's death, causing Jackson to loathe the British the rest of his life).
18 friggen years of losing wars with geniuses like this turd running them.
I absolutely cringed every time President Trump hired one of these @ssholes.
Don’t tell me what to do.
Disgusting. “Mad Dog” has become Patton’s dog, Willy. Kelly is no better. Whatever happened to their oath; it has no expiration date. I guess their new motto is “Semper fi, unless I’m offended”.
I’ll keep Semper fi; Do or die.
Poor, old, retired, fired old fart isn’t getting much face-time lately. Wonder if he’s bucking for some meely-mouthed private sector gig?
Amen. Deep state swamp dweller for sure. As Barr and Durham continues to tighten the noose on these people they’re starting to panic, flail around out of their minds. Yeaaa....
John Dowd’s letter to Mattis must be posted every time Mattis’ name is mentioned-—
Jim,
I slept on your statement and woke up appalled and upset. You lost me. Never dreamed you would let a bunch of hack politicians use your good name and reputation—earned with the blood and guts of young Marines. You did what you said you would—engage in this discourse.
Marines keep their word.
The phony protesters near Lafayette park were not peaceful and are not real. They are terrorists using idle hate filled students to burn and destroy. They were abusing and disrespecting the police when the police were preparing the area for the 1900 curfew. Jim, this is the new nihilism. See Dan Henninger in WSJ today.
Marines support the police in harm’s way.
Did you forget that President Bush used active duty Marines to quell the riots in LA? President Trump has countless cities and some snowflake governors and mayors wetting themselves in the use of force to protect innocent lives and property. The AG of Massachusetts thinks burning property is good protest. Three more policemen were stabbed and shot in NYC last night. Think about it. Should he be upset about the obvious failure in leadership? Where are you Jim?
Marines go to the fight.
No one divided this country more than Obama. He abandoned our black brothers and sisters. He gave guns to the cartels. He apologized for our precious sacrifice and generosity overseas. You remember, he fired you.
President Trump has done more to help our minority brothers and sisters in three years than anyone in the last fifty. Ask the black pastors. Ask the leaders of the black colleges and universities. He got them funded. Ask them about the prison reform which ended the draconian sentences imposed on young black men by the law enacted by Biden and his hacks. You need to bone up on your homework and stop listening to Uncle Leon.
I understand, you had to stick to the assigned narrative which did not include three years of corrupt investigations and evidence to destroy this President, his office, and his lawful free election. Nancy has no tolerance for dissent in the ranks—including those with stars.
You said nothing of the ugly, hate filled, disgraceful coments of Pelosi, Schumer, Perez and other Democrat hacks defaming the President and his office. You said nothing of the unlawful sanctuary cities and the unlawful release of hoodlums. You said nothing of the resistance movement to paralyze our courts and our government operations. You said nothing of the obstruction and subversion of our immigration laws. You said nothing of MS-13 killers and the drug cartels who own huge sections of our major cities. Jim, do you think that rhetoric and those corrupt actions were inspiring and unifying? Do you think the DI’s at Parris Island would find such behavior as unifying?
Maybe, your problem, is a lot deeper. Perhaps you ought to explain how and why you (and John Allen), as CG Central Command, did not engage and take out Iranin Major General Soleimani who roamed the Middle East and wreaked havoc and death on our American boys with his infamous IEDs?
Why did it take President Trump to have the instincts and balls to take him out (of course over the objection the geniuses in the Pentagon)?
Looks like the Persian mullahs were a one horse sleigh and Trump nailed the horse… forever. It has been quiet ever since. Perhaps, your anger is borne of embarrassment for your own failure as the leader of Central Command. Did you applaud when the President recognized the central problem in the Middle East? Did you applaud the President when he wanted to save American lives by bringing them home in one piece?
John M Dowd
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