BREAKING: General Jim Mattis retiring.

Forced out? I don't think so.

He sets out what his views are in terms of alliances and America's role in the world. Then he says the president deserves someone whose views align with his own (i.e. the president's). He is saying that Trump does NOT share those views.

And so he has to go. I see this as Mattis resigning in protest against Trump's world view, which he considers dangerous and anti-American.

 

I'm not happy about it either. It doesn't serve the country well.

 

I will be interested in Trump's future comments about Mattis, if Mattis starts a speaking tour...

 

Lol...We already know that the great orange hope will attack Mattis with his puerile twitter rants if Mattis contradicts trump's lie about him retiring.

 

Probably has something to do with US withdrawal from Syria, one of the few competent people in the cabinet.

 

You are almost certainly right, Andrew. Mattis probably supports the concept of the United States military doing the following --
1. Staying in Syria.
2. Staying in Iraq (oh, yeah, we're there, and still burning money we don't have in-country).
3. Staying in Afghanistan.
4. Challenging the Russian Federation in Crimea and the Black Sea.

Too bad he, uh, 'missed' serving with his fellow Marines in Vietnam... it might have taught him something else that this much-celebrated 'intellectual' didn't know....

."Take the hill, give it back. Take the hill again... repeat."

 

A President deserves to have a Secretary of State who is aligned with his strategy and vision. If Mattis has trouble doing that, it's appropriate for him to move on.

 

Agreed, Mattis wrote a well crafted letter of resignation, getting his points across, pointing out the vast gulf between Trump & himself (aka the real world) - in a non confrontational manner. Mattis however does make it quite clear why he is resigning....and Trump demonstrates once again his infinite capacity to lie, as he did in his tweet saying Mattis "is retiring, with distinction" - it appears the letter wasn't released until after Trump's lying tweet went out.

I wonder who Putin told Trump to nominate for Sec Def........

 

Why are we in Syria Andrew?

 

It's not so much about leaving Syria, but how Trump suddenly announced it without telling anyone or any plan in place. Likely this was the final straw, not the sole reason.

 

Never have we seen a presidency lose so many people and find it so hard to replace them with experienced, balanced, capable professionals. Trump has been unfit from day 1, but now he is also becoming utterly incapable. It's long past time for the Republicans to declare him incapacitated or unfit and remove him and his crime family. It's going to take years to repair the damage this mental case has done.

 

Drastic action, whatever it may be, is only practical if there is sufficient support, or it will garner sufficient support, to get something important done. Trump is doing this for the wall, but he found that Pelosi told him the truth when she said he didn't have the needed votes in the House or Senate. So he can't use a shutdown to get anything done. Yet he is determined to do it. It's the equivalent of stamping his feet and whining. Bring in the capital police to arrest and remove him.

 

You sound just like a neoconservative. Why the sudden change? Interventionist foreign policy gets the green light now?

Weird.

 

And, thus, your conclusion is that we should stay in Syria? In addition to Iraq, Afghanistan, etc., etc.? Aw, c'mon... don't be bashful.

This is bringing back so many memories from this country's fun-times during Vietnam Era....

 

Which of those, today, is our battle against a foreign popular revolt?

 

Something like this?

 

The pearl clutching here is rather fun to watch.

 

Mattis DID NOT RETIRE he resigned.

 

Professional through and through

BUT there is a sting in this and the sting is the admonition to remain true to allies whilst remaining strong against opponents like Russia and China. If he were just resigning that would be all that would or should be included in a letter. The fact that he is stepping down, giving enough notice to ensure smooth succession, and has an admonition and caution in it states VOLUMES

 

it wasn't just Syria, the President is trying to micromanage everything, not listening to anyone, this President is constant Chaos, the President changes his mind based on the last person he speaks to or sees on tv

Dirty Donald thinks he is a Dictator

 

What game plan would you have for Syria (the country Obama got us involved in)?

What is your end strategy?

I'll give you one big tip if you're a fan of military sciences.

 

A distinction without a difference. General Mattis is 68. The old soldier will now simply fade away.

 

I said this is not just about Syria, it's about Mattis finding out about this on Twitter and many many other things, Trump doesn't communicate with anyone, he thinks he is a Dictator

did you read his resignation letter?

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news...esignation-letter-president-trump/2381698002/