The Revenge of Jim Mattis - WSJ editorial
Former Defense Secretary Jim Mattiss denunciation of President Trump on Wednesday isnt surprising, but it still looks like an important political moment. Mr. Trumps polarizing and hyper-personal governance is catching up with him, as we and so many others warned.
Mr. Mattis, the former four-star Marine General, is a man of accomplishment and dedication to country. He made the decision to join Mr. Trumps Administration despite the misgivings he must have had about the Presidents foreign-policy views. He served loyally until he resigned on Dec. 20, 2018 after Mr. Trumps abrupt decision to withdraw troops from the Syrian border with Turkey after a telephone call with Turkeys President. But as he so often has, Mr. Trump couldnt resist kicking Mr. Mattis as he was going out the door. His initial tweets were supportive, but within two days he was criticizing Mr. Mattis for not helping enough to dun allies for more cash for U.S. foreign deployments. General Mattis did not see this as a problem. I DO, and it is being fixed! he tweeted.
He told a cabinet meeting that I wish him well. I hope he does well. But, as you know, President Obama fired him and essentially so did I. Mr. Mattis said in his resignation letter hed stay until Feb. 28, but Mr. Trump ordered him out on Jan. 1. In his statement to the Atlantic, Mr. Mattis denounced in particular Mr. Trumps threat this week to order the military to restore order amid riots in U.S. cities.
(snip)
But the generals real motivation here is to tell the public that Mr. Trump lacks the character to be President and should be defeated in November. Donald Trump is the first president in my lifetime who does not try to unite the American peopledoes not even pretend to try. Instead he tries to divide us, Mr. Mattis said. We are witnessing the consequences of three years of this deliberate effort. We are witnessing the consequences of three years without mature leadership.
(snip)
Every President has breakups with advisers, but Mr. Trump has gone through them like an assembly line. His demand for personal loyalty and his thin skin clash with people who care about larger causes and have strong views. Mr. Trumps habit of blaming others for policy decisions or events that go wrong also builds resentment. This was bound to boomerang as he ran for re-election, and so it is.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-revenge-of-jim-mattis-11591314007 (subscription)
soothsayer
(38,601 posts)IMHO
BComplex
(8,066 posts)having had enough of a hitler-wannabe.
Thomas Hurt
(13,903 posts)Just call the Pig a fascist and a liar.
delisen
(6,044 posts)For DT's fascism
Maribelle
(4,783 posts)And as I expected, his work in the White House reflected poorly on his years of experience in the military.
Knowing from day one that Trump was merely using all of his generals merely for their polished, shining brass, to blindside his followers, I am not impressed with denunciation after the fact, after they helped mesmerize the mad right.
Mattis helped light the Gaslight which still glows brightly in the morning sun.
He should have known who Trump was before he was elected. He should have refused the position.
delisen
(6,044 posts)in2herbs
(2,947 posts)to curb drump and their exclamations now are too little too late.
zentrum
(9,865 posts)..for opportunistic "Mad Dog".
stopdiggin
(11,371 posts)given the headline. But it is the WSJ.
(anything there about extorting allied foreign governments .. or playing pals-ies with enemies and dictators?)
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