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Behind the Scenes of the Mattis Bombshell: More Resignations Expected after 'Protest' Exit

posted by martyb on Monday December 31 2018, @05:27PM   Printer-friendly
from the what-a-wicked-web-we-weave dept.

realDonaldTrump writes:

"Defense Secretary Jim Mattis’ resignation, which shocked Washington’s national security establishment and rattled America’s allies, was sealed in a fateful 18-hour period that saw President Trump resolve to withdraw troops from Syria – alarming Pentagon officials who see America’s role in the region as crucial." foxnews.com/politics/behind-the-scenes-of-the-mattis-bombshell-more-resignations-expected-after-protest-exit

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  • (Score: 2, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Monday December 31 2018, @06:09PM (1 child)

    by Anonymous Coward on Monday December 31 2018, @06:09PM (#780326)

    Link to the resignation letter:
    https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/read-james-mattis-full-resignation-letter [pbs.org]

    Wikipedia context:

    On December 19, 2018, Trump announced immediate U.S. withdrawal from Syria, over the objections of his national security advisers. Mattis felt strongly that the U.S. should remain in Syria following the defeat of ISIS to ensure they did not regroup. The next day, he submitted his resignation after failing to persuade Trump to reconsider. His resignation letter contained language that appeared to criticize Trump's worldview—praising NATO, which Trump has often derided, and the 74-nation Defeat-ISIS coalition that Trump had just decided to abandon. Mattis also affirmed the need for "treating allies with respect and also being clear-eyed about both malign actors and strategic competitors," and remaining "resolute and unambiguous" against authoritarian states such as China and Russia. He wrote that Trump has "the right to have a Secretary of Defense whose views are better aligned with [his] on these and other subjects." His resignation triggered alarm among historical allies. Mattis' letter said his resignation would be effective February 28, 2019. Three days later Trump moved Mattis's departure date up to January 1, after becoming angered by the implicit criticism of Trump's worldview in the resignation letter.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Mattis#Tenure [wikipedia.org]

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  • (Score: 3, Interesting) by realDonaldTrump on Tuesday January 01 2019, @02:11AM

    by realDonaldTrump (6614) on Tuesday January 01 2019, @02:11AM (#780489) Homepage Journal

    They say immediate, we're not doing immediate. We're doing slow. I campaigned on getting out of Syria and other places. Now when I start getting out, the Fake News Media, or some failed Generals who were unable to do the job before I arrived, like to complain about me & my tactics, which are working. ISIS is mostly gone, we’re slowly sending our troops back home to be with their families, while at the same time fighting ISIS remnants. Just doing what I said I was going to do!

    And by the way, thanks to General Kelly. In order to put any and all conspiracy theories to rest -- General Kelly is a tough, strong, four-star Marine. And a very elegant man. Who's done a very nice job. Good work. Like when he fired that dog Omarosa. When you give a crazed, crying lowlife a break, and give her a job at the White House, I guess it just didn’t work out.

    John is a Great American and a Great Leader. He also did a spectacular job at Homeland Security. He has been a true star of my Administration.

    But, all good things come to an end. As the great Pete Rose said. And for John and I it came to an end when I said, let's pull our brave soldiers out of Syria. And out of Afghanistan. Thousands of our guys -- and so many gorgeous Woman Soldiers too. Something I'd been wanting to do for a long time. And something the American people elected me to do. But John said, "oh, don't pull out too quickly, you might make a mess." Who wants to hear that, right? So I was very happy to get his Letter of Resignation. And hopefully Wednesday is his last day. Bye bye!!!