Secretary of Defense James Mattis began his first day on the job at the Pentagon by delivering a message to all Department of Defense employees, the U.S. military, and to ISIS terrorists in Syria and Iraq.
In a dispatch dated January 20, the retired Marine General released a personal dispatch expressing his pleasure with returning to duty and his belief that American military might represents “sentinels and guardians of our nation” that unite around “a common good.”
It’s good to be back and I’m grateful to serve alongside you as Secretary of Defense.Together with the Intelligence Community we are the sentinels and guardians of our nation. We need only look to you, the uniformed and civilian members of the Department and your families, to see the fundamental unity of our country. You represent an America committed to the common good; an America that is never complacent about defending its freedoms; and an America that remains a steady beacon of hope for all mankind.Every action we take will be designed to ensure our military is ready to fight today and in the future. Recognizing that no nation is secure without friends, we will work with the State Department to strengthen our alliances. Further, we are devoted to gaining full value from every taxpayer dollar spent on defense, thereby earning the trust of Congress and the American people.I am confident you will do your part. I pledge to you I’ll do my best as your Secretary.MATTIS SENDS
Mattis also sent a message of a different sort to ISIS terrorists in Syria and Iraq by continuing attack, bomber, fighter, and drone strikes in that region. The air strikes (twenty five in Syria and six in Iraq) were part of the ongoing Operation Inherent Resolve launched with the intent of destroying ISIS.
Strikes in Syria Attack, bomber, fighter, and remotely piloted aircraft conducted 25 strikes consisting of 39 engagements in Syria: — Near Bab, two strikes engaged an ISIL tactical unit, destroyed an artillery piece and damaged a tactical vehicle. — Near Raqqa, 22 strikes engaged 12 ISIL tactical units; destroyed nine fighting positions, two tunnels, two tanks an improvised-bomb factory and an ISIL headquarters; and suppressed three ISIL tactical units. — Near Dayr Az Zawr, a strike destroyed two oil well heads. Strikes in Iraq Attack, bomber, fighter and remotely piloted aircraft conducted six strikes consisting of 16 engagements in Iraq, coordinated with and in support of the Iraqi government: — Near Rutbah, a strike engaged an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed a tactical vehicle, two weapons caches and a mortar. — Near Beiji, a strike engaged an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed a vehicle. — Near Kisik, a strike engaged an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed a vehicle and an ISIL-held building. — Near Mosul, two strikes engaged two ISIL tactical units; destroyed a vehicle-borne-bomb factory, a vehicle-borne bomb, a tank, three fighting positions and a vehicle; and suppressed an ISIL tactical unit. — Near Tal Afar, a strike engaged an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed a semi-truck and a command-and-control node.
In his inaugural address, President Donald Trump vowed to “unite the civilized world against radical Islamic terrorism which we will eradicate completely from the face of the earth.” It will be Mattis’s responsibility to implement the new administration’s strategy to accomplish that ambitious objective.
