generalspeaking

A Man of Honour Serving a Dishonourable Leader

"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."
U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis

"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."  Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images

Handing in his resignation from his two-year posting as Secretary of Defense, 68-year-old James Mattis has seen much throughout his professional career. It was time for him to resign, he averred, noting that President Trump required someone at the Pentagon's helm "better aligned" with his views. Though who that someone might be remains as yet a mystery, given that possible successors all appear to agree that Mr. Trump's decision-making process absent advice-seeking from those whom he selects for that very purpose, is insensible and unreasonable.

This is a man of unmitigated hubris whose instinct is to overrule those put in place to balance his volatile decision-making born of complete ignorance of the details of any given subject at hand. Involuntarily retired from the Marine Corps and his position at U.S. Central Command in 2013 by an Obama administration which had no admiration for the forthright position of a man of his calibre, openly critical of the U.S. lead in negotiating with the Islamic Republic of Iran, General Mattis felt he could no longer be of use to the American public in his Trump administration role.

Without a doubt there is no deliberation nor action that President Trump has made that his Secretary of Defense agreed with, without gently persuading him to a modified alternative. The impulsive decision, despite ample warning it would come eventually, to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria, leaving the field open to Russia, Iran and Turkey, and abandoning the Kurdish population to the vagaries of 'good luck' in opposing Turkey's annihilating plans for the group he abhors is profoundly disturbing at the very least, as is leaving Israel wide open to Iranian/Hezbollah/Syrian existential vengeance.

The United States, pointed out General Mattis in his two-page letter of resignation, is honour-bound to stand by its allies. His country, he emphasized, draws its moral strength from the relationships it nurtures and respects with its allies. The county he loves has an obligation to remain alert and "clear-eyed" in its view of threats from outside sources, Islamic State group included. Now, however, the threat to U.S. stability and its stable relations with its circle of like-minded allies is threatened by none other than the casual decision-making of the President of the United States himself.

US withdrawal from Syria means likely an end to airstrikes, official says

There are new allies on the horizon, allies that the American people and their government would hardly have anticipated before the 2016 presidential election that upended all that was considered normal in that politically divided country. In Moscow, Vladimir Putin has expressed  his approval of Mr. Trump reaching the "right decision". Iran and Turkey also are pleased with this turn of events. North Korea has not yet been heard from. Some observers lament the fact that the 'last adult' has left the room, leaving infantile Trump to his own devices.

"[It is importance to maintain] the post-World War II alliances [and] a clear-eyed understanding of our friends and foes."

"So I was sorry to learn that Secretary Mattis, who shares those clear principles, will soon depart the administration. But I am particularly distressed that he is resigning due to sharp differences with the president on these and other key aspects of America's global leadership."

"It is regrettable that the president must now choose a new Secretary of Defense. But I urge him to select a leader who shares Secretary Mattis's understanding of these vital principles and his total commitment to America's service members."

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell 

Labels: Chaos, Instability, President Donald Trump, United States

posted by Pieface @ Friday, December 21, 2018