Tyler Durden
The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of this site. This site does not give financial, investment or medical advice.
Via Zerohedge…
President Trump announced over Twitter on Thursday that Defense Secretary James Mattis will be retiring in February.
Mattis reportedly resigned during a meeting with Trump on Thursday after the two had a difference of opinion on some issues according to Reuters, citing a senior White House official.
“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,” Trump tweeted. “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!”
Donald J. Trump on Twitter: “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…. / Twitter”
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….
Donald J. Trump on Twitter: “….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! / Twitter”
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!
Mattis, in his resignation letter, took at jab at Trump’s recently announced pullout from Syria, writing “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’ resignation letter in full:
I have been privileged to serve as our country’s 26th Secretary of Defense which has allowed me to serve alongside our men and women of the Department in defense of our citizens and our ideals.
I am proud of the progress that has been made over the past two years on some of the key goals articulated in our National Defense Strategy: putting the Department on a more sound budgetary footing, improving readiness and lethality in our forces, and reforming the Department’s business practices for greater performance. Our troops continue to provide the capabilities needed to prevail in conflict and sustain strong U.S. global influence.
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. Like you, I have said from the beginning that the armed forces of the United States should not be the policeman of the world. Instead, we must use all tools of American power to provide for the common defense, including providing effective leadership to our alliances. NATO’s 29 democracies demonstrated that strength in their commitment to fighting alongside us following the 9-11 attack on America. The Defeat-ISIS coalition of 74 nations is further proof.
Similarly, I believe we must be resolute and unambiguous in our approach to those countries whose strategic interests are increasingly in tension with ours. It is clear that China and Russia, for example, want to shape a world consistent with their authoritarian model — gaining veto authority over other nations’ economic, diplomatic, and security decisions — to promote their own interests at the expense of their neighbors, America and our allies. That is why we must use all the tools of American power to provide for the common defense.
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.
Developing…
The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of this site. This site does not give financial, investment or medical advice.
“””It is clear that China and Russia, for example, want to shape a world consistent with their authoritarian model — gaining veto authority over other nations’ economic, diplomatic, and security decisions — to promote their own interests at the expense of their neighbors, America and our allies.”””
This man lacks a proper perspective on the despotic character of the republic he has been serving.
One US war hawk gone, the next will come. The US as a global despot will never leave the world in peace.
He’s mastered the art of projection.
Can’t take the shame of being a terrorist-abetting Zio-loser – while false-flagging war-criminal Swamp-Chump just goes along with his sly pretend-victory lie and ruse. Sad bunch of sickos.
Ok, this confirms Trump’s Syria pull-out is serious and required he stand up to Mattas. Now it is clear that Trump is standing on his word to pull American troops out of world conflicts. Reasons to celebrate. Merry Christmas to all, as we remember that at his birth angels sang ‘Peace on Earth.’ So may it be. May there come more peace, prosperity and abundance in the new win-win world than any of us ever imagined.
“China and Russia…want to shape a world consistent with their authoritarian model — gaining veto authority over other nations’ economic, diplomatic, and security decisions — to promote their own interests at the expense of their neighbors”
You couldn’t make it up, could you? He is exactly describing the USA’s bullying of the entire world over the Iran sanctions. Please someone give me a single example of Russia or China doing anything remotely similar.
One has to assume he is simply so brainwashed as to not realise what an idiot he comes across as. Four star general clown.
Guy,
I totally agree with your comment. Not only is pepa probably 65, but obviously blind and brainwashed. He’s doing his best to make America Great Again for eight if not nine more decades to come! His thinking is garant of another world living period under his American boot.
Mattis is not quitting but has been simply dismissed
If only President Trump could get rid of all the warmongers surrounding him on a permament basis. What a relief! But this is wishful thinking. Pentagon and the Deep State will block it.
“the US remains the indispensable nation in the free world” … exceptional, indispensable … oh dear.
Out before Feb 28. His views are toxic.
A very strange resignation letter. In my day the boss would not have accepted such a resignation letter. Why is Mr Trump, who is so famous for employee assessments and relations even appearing on The Nanny, so eager to accept?.