A matter of Principle
One of the things I was most happy about when Donald Trump was elected was that we might finally have a foreign policy that would at the very least have maximum input from Military advisors, maybe even policy making by them. Donald Trump is after all a complete novice when it comes to foreign policy. Mr Trump's only interest was his well known desire that the policy be based solely on American interests. It also prioritized the destruction of ISIS, taking a stand against Iran and China, renewed support for Israel and improving relations with Russia. Most of all he gave the US military more freedom to act and named some prominent Generals to his administration. Most noteworthy was General James Norman Mattis, former Commander of US Central Command and Commander of the 1st Marine Division during the 2003 invasion of Iraq. General Mattis was Trump's Secretary of Defense.
James Mattis was the steadiest of hands for the besieged Trump administration. I don't know the nature of the advice given or taken, but I do know that the General didn't play politics and was focused on those same American interests the President cared about. A few days ago General Mattis resigned after the President announced that he was removing the special operations forces from eastern Syria. I'm not sure why the President came to this sudden decision. It could be that he simply thought the US had been involved in the region for too long (he also will remove half the Afghanistan force). It might also be due to a recent conversation he had with the Turkish dictator Erdogan. There had been a recent weapons sale to Turkey and Erdogan had been threatening to go after our strategic allies - the Kurds. Maybe a private deal was arranged? It really dosen't matter, after all, the decision lies with the President. It was so when Truman overruled General MacArthur and so it is when President Trump decides he can't keep going along with his General.
Mattis, to his credit, knows that when you disagree with the President, it is time to resign. You don't become a yes man, nor do you stay in a government position and quietly sabotage the President like so many overpaid deep state hacks have done. No, you tender your resignation.
From his resignation letter:
"My views on treating allies with respect and also being clear-eyed about both malign actors and strategic competitors are strongly held and informed by over four decades of immersion in these issues. We must do everything possible to advance an international order that is most conducive to our security, prosperity and values, and we are strengthened in this effort by the solidarity of our alliances.
Because you have the right to have a Secretary of Defense whose views are better aligned with yours on these and other subjects, I believe it is right for me to step down from my position. The end date for my tenure is February 28, 2019, a date that should allow sufficient time for a successor to be nominated and confirmed as well as to make sure the Department's interests are properly articulated and protected at upcoming events to include Congressional posture hearings and the NATO Defense Ministerial meeting in February. Further, that a full transition to a new Secretary of Defense occurs well in advance of the transition of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in September in order to ensure stability within the Department.
I pledge my full effort to a smooth transition that ensures the needs and interests of the 2.15 million Service Members and 732,079 DoD civilians receive undistracted attention of the Department at all times so that they can fulfill their critical, round-the-clock mission to protect the American people.
I very much appreciate this opportunity to serve the nation and our men and women in uniform."
James Mattis
We should be pleased about one thing at the very least. This is what that "long grey line" has produced for America.
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To be filed under "civilian control of the military"
That has been going on since 1789 and is not going to change, as listed in the Constitution, Article 1, Section 8, para 16, Congressional responsibilities: To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the Militia, and for governing such Part of them as may be employed in the Service of the United States, reserving to the States respectively, the Appointment of the Officers, and the Authority of training the Militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress;
and, Article 2, Section 1: The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States, when called into the actual Service of the United States;
All of which are governed by Article VI, Section 2: This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land;
The military has always been under the direction of the President (usually with the approval of Congress). In many administrations, the relationship has been a workable one - in some, not so workable.
Mattis was a great commander for CENTCOM and 1st MARDIV - but he was a bit out of kilter working in the civilian political realm - as are most Generals (with the exception of Gen Powell).
I wish him well with his transition and with his future endeavors.
SEMPER FI General Mattis.
Yep, that's how it works. It's funny there's so much angst over this because early in his administration people were freaking out that he had so many generals in his administration. And specifically, they were mad that General Mattis was appointed Secretary of Defense when they felt a civilian should be in that role.
Too Many Generals In Trump Administration?
Is Trump considering too many generals?
Is Trump hiring too many generals?
Trump’s Focus on Generals for Top Jobs Stirs Worries Over Military’s Sway
(Surprise! He's also hawkish on Syria and Trump is getting rid of him just like Obama did. For the same reason.)
Guess they were wrong.
"One of the things I was most happy about when Donald Trump was elected was that we might finally have a foreign policy that would at the very least have maximum input from Military advisors, maybe even policy making by them. Donald Trump is after all a complete novice when it comes to foreign policy."
"Mattis, to his credit, knows that when you disagree with the President, it is time to resign. You don't become a yes man, nor do you stay in a government position and quietly sabotage the President like so many overpaid deep state hacks have done. No, you tender your resignation. "
So first, you're happy he seems willing to listen to his military advisers because he lacks any sort of foreign policy experience, but then you're also happy when he ignores his military advisers and just does whatever the fuck he wants without taking their advice and creating such chaos we have our very first ever Secretary of Defense resigning in protest. Trump is a moronic half wit with no clue how to run the country or win a military conflict, we are all less safe now that General Mattis has resigned. Trump and his sycophants claim it's "cleaning house" but the reality is it's rats jumping ship because they all know it's going down.
Nope. Never did I say that. I only said that it was the President's right. You may not like it, but even Donald Trump has that right.
Mattis retiring isn't an "Earth Shattering" event as the media would like us to believe.
Hell, Obama had.....4? defense secretaries...….with one ….. Gates ……. writing a scathing book about his time with Obama, yet it wasn't news like this one is. (facepalm)
I liked General Mattis, but this country isn't gonna die over his retirement !
only the leftnuts think this is earth-shattering for trump.
every time trump sneezes... that's it, the last straw, his presidency is in jeopardy and dysfunctional, the end of trump is nigh.
are you not entertained? LOL
Better than watching "Meat head" on "All in the Family" ! (snicker)
Hey Wally,
would you care to explain why only Russia, Turkey, and Iran, are applauding Trumps latest tweet/policy decision ?
or, Y did he not inform our allies first ?
or, anybody else in our country ?
trump is not the president of the world
he told us first. and now the world knows.
So our allies that are depending on US in a life and death situation, don't deserve a heads up...?
They receive it the same time ours, and theirs, enemies found out ?
Does that make sense to you ?
Now Iggy, Trump simply misspoke with his campaign slogan. He meant to say Make Russia Great Again.
Well, then his plan seems to be working.
Way to go Trumpullthunskin !
It's quite a parent , by many of Trump's actions, or lack of, that he is hell bent on pleasing Putin him in his place Putin,
and, im not just talking in the Biblical sense either.
Just a little strange, the only ones applauding Trumps proposal, are Russia, Turkey, and Iran.
actually...
I find the notion that any allies working in syria with us "did not get the word via military backchannels first... ridiculous.
So Trump informed our allies and not Mattis ?
trump is not the president of the world
I don't think he got that memo.
trump told the globalists to fuk off...
I'm sure they got the memo.... you have been left out of the loop
I am not sure whether you just told me to f off or not.
geepers,
i hope i'm next
Next for what....to tell me also or to get told?
i don't believe we've argued about much before, but hell , Y wouldn't i
,
actually, i WAS hoping to be told to F off, by any, and hopefully ALL, cause , as difficult as it may B to C, i N joy
aNd i'm capable of going as high as some, and as low as about any it's amusing to moi'
I feel like I'm constantly experiencing whiplash when it comes to trying to understand Trump supporters.
I simply do not know what they stand for or what their goals are.
It's a constant moving goal post with no real rhyme or reason except to thumb their noses at 3/4 of Americans and all allies of the world.
Shameful and shortsighted.
It's Shameful and shortsighted to think our Allies are all on the up and up these days. They only have to "Defend" themselves against themselves right now. WWIII hasn't started yet …… but when it does....they'll call the "Bad Guy Busters" …… since they eventually ALWAYS need help from an outsider when SHTF !
I'm not sure I understand your point. All countries try and do what is best for their own countries first and foremost. It would be stupid not to.
There is a way to find a balance. We've completely pulled our hands off the scale and are now actively giving the world's foes assistance in positioning themselves into a more powerful role on the world stage.
We are putting our allies at risk which will ultimately put the US at risk. What is confusing to you about that?
Trump, N cump a knee,
don't seem to comprehend that without our "hands" ON "the scale", bad things happen in these other countries, that WILL affect our country.
so we should just endlessly bomb the hell out of everyone who does not agree with us?
that would be an interesting foreign policy right there.
if and when syria attacks us? we can flatten them.
our soldiers should not be dying in syria today.
That's GREAT.....as long as it's not President Trump doing it for his own country .....so the media says that is !
You're mischaracterizing what I said. US troops are stationed around the globe for a variety of reasons. One is to have a visible presence in order to AVOID conflicts.
syria and afghanistan are not examples of "one of those places...
You're being selective with my comment.
That's what you got from my comment?
Nope !
You said:
"We are putting our allies at risk which will ultimately put the US at risk."
like a "Parent" with a "Child"...… you have to let them go so they can grow to be a contributing adult in society !
Our Allies have had a much longer time to become "Adults" than this country has. Are we as a 300 + or - year old PARENT, still required to raise a 1000 + or - year old child ?
It seems to me that Trump has never had a true friend, only those who either work for him or that he can do business with and they are expendable. Maybe his supporters are the same and that's why it doesn't seem to matter to them.
It's starting to make sense to me now.
What does that have to do with anything?
I see now.
Yup, I have no problem with President Trump pulling the, 2,000 isn't it?, Troops out of Syria. I wish he would pull us out of Afghanistan also.
It's not a sweeping generalization. I'm sorry if my questions make you uncomfortable.
What problem, friendships?
True story. But President Trump pulled them out so people are going to Bitch about it. What happened to the anti military left? Some seem to be acting like chicken hawks.
Maybe next week we can get back to the President Trump will cause a nuclear war talking points?
Bill and Hillary, and even Al (tax evader) Sharpton, and Jessie (Kiss my Ass) Jackson were Besties with him, until they WEREN'T !
True friends are few and far between for anyone it seems ! (smiley face with a wink and thumbs up)
It would be one thing if our "allies" in the region (S. Arabia and Turkey) would be there to step in to fill the void our leaving will make but they don't get along so we can't count on them to do anything but clusterfuck everything even more than it may already be. And Turkey isn't concerned about ISIS but rather will annihilate what's left of the only effective US ally (Kurds--who've lost thousands in rooting out ISIS from N. Iraq and E. Syria) in the fight against ISIS. No way around it--this withdrawal will strengthen our enemies and make us much less safe--not just in this region but everywhere. That seems to be Scumbag's grand strategy.
I simply do not know what they stand for or what their goals are.
Its simple, really - undo everything, particularly if it was done by the black President. Cut off your nose to spite your face, and act like it’s all going per plan.
but this has nothing to do with "a black president" obama just continued with what bush was doing.
and yes, the globalists 60+ yrs of bs is being trashed. "everything"
btw nice try playing the racist card... but you got trumped again
Make up your mind. Bushistas spent his last year in office praising his plan to exit Iraq and then attacked Obama for carrying the last of it out.
One would think that the progressives would have given up on dealing the race card from the bottom of their deck. I’m just glad we have the Trump card.
And the left praised Obama for carrying it out; even when Obama tried desperately to keep any amount of US forces in Iraq. It was the Iranian backed Iraqi government that stuck to the SOFA agreement to get all US forces out.
Also, it wasn't Bush that reinserted US ground troops into Iraq; rearmed and retrained a failed Iraqi government that is loyal to Iran; and is using the US air force to give cover to Iranian militias that entered Iraq to fight ISIS/ISIL- and our now making their way to join up with Syrian government forces. That was all Obama. It also wasn't Bush that injected US ground forces into Syria; and started bombing in that country with no end game.
So please tell us what is the end game for both Iraq and Syria? What will constitute a win for the US to be able to pull out troops and stop US military planes for entering either country's air space?
Remove ISIS/ISIL and we are left with an Iraqi government that is loyal to Iran; with pissed off Kurdish and Sunnis that backed the US fight there. They will be facing a government with US military weapons and training; bolstered by Iranian militias.
Remove ISIS/ISIL from Syria and that would leave a highly fractured Sunni rebels (backed by Turkey, and maybe Saudi Arabia); the Kurds (backed by US only); and the Syrian government backed by Russia, China, and Iran. The Sunni rebels and Kurds want Assad gone; which is unacceptable to the Russians, Chinese, and Iranians. The only thing both sides can agree on is they all want the Kurds gone. Ready to start WWIII over Syria? A piss ant 3rd world country that holds 0 significance to the US other than further limiting Russian and Chinese world power. If you want WWIII, and somehow manage to win it- what is to stop those "moderate Sunni rebels" we are backing from turning on the US? They have "moderate Sunni brothers" in Iraq that the US hung out to dry. It wouldn't be the first time a US backed rebel group turned on the US (see Al Qaeda).
US foreign policy is stuck on stupid; and the left is worried about how our so called allies will view the US not continuing to waste money, resources, and lives to make them feel "safe".
I don't think they actually have a point of view other than they hate everyone who's different from them. Tap into that hate and they're more than willing to enslave themselves and their future generations to Wall Street and the corporations.
Donald Trump is a person of profound ignorance. Before he became president, if you showed him a map of the middle east with the borders of the countries shown but the names removed, I guarantee you he would not have been able to pick out Syria and Iraq.
He made the decision to remove the US troops arrayed against ISIS based on a whim. Erdogan asked him why the US still had troops in the area since ISIS had been defeated. Erdogan sounded authoritative so Trump figured he knew what he was talking about. He went into the phone call with the intention to tell Erdogan that the US would continue with it's mission and purpose there, and came out of the phone call having decided to remove the US presence in the region.
There is nothing thoughtful about that, and we need the president and other national leaders to be thoughtful.
And I agree with Dismayed Patriot, Trump is an idiot. He needs expert advice surrounding him more than any other president.
That's a powerful statement from Mattis .
Someone should explain it to Trump supporters, still supporting.
They've put the patriotism so far into question already, I doubt they'll bother trying to change now.
One of the things I feared when Donald Trump became president was that he would run off many of our truly decent leaders. That seems to be the reality of it tough.
This president want to be boss. at any cost.
You are ether 10% behind whatever HE wants or he may try to destroy you if you oppose him
That's fucked up man.
IMO: People are smart to get away form this man.
Don't know about that but seeing how Schumer is still a around and Pelosi is back, the shitty was are still here.
Ooo, some big-time sore losing there, by gum.
OK, but he is the president. That means he is the boss of the executive branch of government.
I don't see him trying to destroy General Mattis, do you?
I will concede that as a general matter, I don't think I would want to work for him.
This morning we hear that the top US envoy to all our allies involved in fighting ISIS has also resigned. If there was reluctance of some Republicans to dismiss this matter up to now, this resignation should be enough to wake them up to the security crisis of major proportions that it is. Where did those "patriots" go?
People keep calling on administration officials to resign on principle. One finally does, and it's a crisis? There's no pleasing some people.
I don't know about everyone else, but knowing Trump as we have for so long, did anyone really expect there not to be a lot of turnover in his administration?
There is turnover in every administration (granted: some more than others) and while it always makes the news, it's rarely a cue for everyone to freak out. This story seems driven by confirmation bias more than anything else. It's a kind of "See? We told you Trump was unstable and here's the proof!"