Another one bites the dust in the Trump administration with the impending departure of Defense Secretary Jim Mattis.
Trump, who of course announced Mattis’ retirement on Twitter, just lost the crown jewel of his national security apparatus.
[Read full text of Jim Mattis’ 595-word resignation letter here]
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 (@realDonaldTrump) December 20, 2018
Trump’s rash and idiotic proclamation that U.S. forces will leave Syria in the hands of the autocratic Bashar Assad, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and the Islamists ruling Iran was apparently a bridge too far for “Mad Dog” Mattis.
Trump always said that he could compensate for his lack of foreign policy and national security experience and knowledge by choosing “all the best people.” While the phrase has been levied against the president for his stellar staffing jobs with Omarosa Manigault Newman, Steve Bannon, etc., in the case of Mattis, it actually rung true.
Hence, why Mattis, the last adult in the room, bailed when Trump decided to defy him and leave Syria while at least 20,000 ISIS combatants still terrorize the region. If he can’t stop Trump from creating yet another powder keg in the Middle East ready to build a demonic caliphate, then what good can he do? Mattis, always a professional, didn’t publicly state that he loathed Trump’s decision, but he didn’t have to. A resignation speaks a thousand words.
“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,” wrote Mattis in his resignation letter.
Clearly, Syria was the last straw.
As recently as three months ago, Mattis compared the current situation in Syria to Obama-era Iraq.
“Getting rid of the caliphate doesn’t mean you then blindly say, ‘OK, we got rid of it,’ march out, and then wonder why the caliphate comes back,” said Mattis.
Sen. Lindsay Graham, R-S.C., said as much to CNN, telling Kate Bolduan that Mattis “firmly” believes that the U.S. role in the Syria conflict is not over.
What choice did Mattis have? If he stayed, resentful and unimpactful, he could have eventually gotten the despicable Rex Tillerson treatment. Plus, if the rumored “suicide” pact between Tillerson, Mattis, and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin forged was real, then Mnuchin will be the next to go.
With Mattis, John Kelly, and Nikki Haley all with one foot out the door, OMB Director-cum-chief of staff Mick Mulvaney will be stretched paper thin. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will be without any allies and will likely go the way of his predecessor eventually.
At least Trump will still have Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump. That, plus the approval of Putin and the caliphate.
