General Jim Mattis will be retiring, with distinction, at the end of February, after having served my Administration as Secretary of Defense for the past two years. During Jim’s tenure, tremendous progress has been made, especially with respect to the purchase of new fighting equipment. 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!
5:21 PM ET December 20, 2018
UPDATE
Mattis quits, says his views aren't 'aligned' with Trump's
By Jeremy Diamond, Barbara Starr
December 20, 1018 - 5:59 PM ET
CNN
Defense Secretary James Mattis resigned Thursday on the heels of President Donald Trump's plans to withdraw troops from Syria, citing irreconcilable policy differences.
"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," Mattis wrote in his letter.
He also pointedly stated that the strength of the US depends in part on the strength of its alliances around the globe, many of which have become notably frayed under Trump.
"One core belief I have always held is that our strength as a nation is inextricably linked to the strength of our unique and comprehensive system of alliances and partnerships. While the US remains the indispensable nation in the free world, we cannot protect our interests or serve that role effectively without maintaining strong alliances and showing respect to those allies," he added.
[Trump's tweet announcing Mattis departure]
Trump said a successor "will be named shortly."
Mattis and the President's other top national security advisers opposed Trump's decision to withdraw from Syria.
[END REPORT]
Mattis Letter of Resignation
via Elizabeth McLaughlin ABC reporter/producer Pentagon News
https://twitter.com/Elizabeth_McLau/status/1075881565216010246
It's the Wall.
ReplyDeleteNot Syria.
Kelly out, Mattis out, Trump about to veto spending bill over the wall.
Trump is serious perhaps about telling the military to build the wall. Mattis balked at that.
Now I'm speculating but it's not bad speculation at all.
Wall - Syria apples and oranges. Wait. Watch.
ReplyDeleteYes they are.
ReplyDeleteAnd of course I want the wall so I'm biased.
Wait and Watch I learned from the best - The Arabs.
McGurk OUT. Double Bingo!
ReplyDeleteWell Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteThe only real justification for us smashing ISIS [is ISIS is D'aesh 2.0 and we per the media trained them to 2.0 SF tactics, swarm tactics and mission orders before they busted out in 2014].
That's enough damage.
Happy Holidays!
Merry Christmas, b! Daesh is just a derogatory term for Islamic State in all its different iterations; e.g., ISIL, ISIS. Anti-IS Muslims prefer Daesh to Islamic State for obvious reasons.
ReplyDelete