Here is the New York Times publication for the following December 20, 2018 resignation letter by the republican President Donald Trump’s US Defense Secretary General James Mattis:
Dear Mr. President:
I have been privileged to serve as our country’s 26th Secretary of Defense which has allowed me to serve alongside our men and women of the Department in defense of our citizens and our ideals.
I am proud of the progress that has been made over the past two years on some of the key goals articulated in our National Defense Strategy: putting the Department on a more sound budgetary footing, improving readiness and lethality in our forces, and reforming the Department’s business practices for greater performance. Our troops continue to provide the capabilities needed to prevail in conflict and sustain strong U.S. global influence.
One core belief I have always held is that our strength as a nation is inextricably linked to the strength of our unique and comprehensive system of alliances and partnerships. While the US remains the indispensable nation in the free world, we cannot protect our interests or serve that role effectively without maintaining strong alliances and showing respect to those allies. Like you, I have said from the beginning that the armed forces of the United States should not be the policeman of the world. Instead, we must use all tools of American power to provide for the common defense, including providing effective leadership to our alliances. NATO’s 29 democracies demonstrated that strength in their commitment to fighting alongside us following the 9-11 attack on America. The Defeat-ISIS coalition of 74 nations is further proof.
Similarly, I believe we must be resolute and unambiguous in our approach to those countries whose strategic interests are increasingly in tension with ours. It is clear that China and Russia, for example, want to shape a world consistent with their authoritarian model — gaining veto authority over other nations’ economic, diplomatic, and security decisions — to promote their own interests at the expense of their neighbors, America and our allies. That is why we must use all the tools of American power to provide for the common defense.
My views on treating allies with respect and also being clear-eyed about both malign actors and strategic competitors are strongly held and informed by over four decades of immersion in these issues. We must do everything possible to advance an international order that is most conducive to our security, prosperity and values, and we are strengthened in this effort by the solidarity of our alliances.
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. The end date for my tenure is February 28, 2019, a date that should allow sufficient time for a successor to be nominated and confirmed as well as to make sure the Department’s interests are properly articulated and protected at upcoming events to include Congressional posture hearings and the NATO Defense Ministerial meeting in February. Further, that a full transition to a new Secretary of Defense occurs well in advance of the transition of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in September in order to ensure stability within the Department.
I pledge my full effort to a smooth transition that ensures the needs and interests of the 2.15 million Service Members and 732,079 DoD civilians receive undistracted attention of the Department at all times so that they can fulfill their critical, round-the-clock mission to protect the American people.
I very much appreciate this opportunity to serve the nation and our men and women in uniform.
Jim N. Mattis
Gronda Morin 
In years to come the dramatists will have a field day writing plays, films and TV series on these years.
It beggars belief that this creature Trump thinks he is actually doing anything useful in your nation. The power of Ego over Reflection and Rational Thought.
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Dear Roger,
The foreign policy thinking as detailed by General Mattis reflects the thinking of the vast majority of Americans. The president is an outlier but unfortunately he has the power to act unilaterally when it comes to the implementation of foreign policy.
But I’m praying that this signal by General Mattis is received by the GOP in the US Congress who care about US foreign policy decisions to where they will act.
Hugs, Gronda
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BBC News was leading last night on reports from Washington that some senior GOP are getting unhappy with this fool in the Whitehouse.
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Dear Roger,
Unfortunately, the GOP in the US Congress are not in a power position to directly block the president from acting stupidly when it comes to foreign policy but they can remind him that he can’t afford to lose republican senators once the impeachment process starts.
There are even republican right wingers on FOX TV who are challenging te president.
Hugs, Gronda
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There must be a grim sort of satisfaction in that Gronda.
It would seem to me that pulling US troops out of anywhere does not sit well with some in the GOP.
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Dear Roger,
I for one would normally champion the idea of US troops returning home from Syria. In the case of Afghanistan, I’m okay with withdrawing US troops. Syria is a bit more complicated and US can’t afford to let the world think that Russia and Turkey are directing US foreign policy. What could possibly make the US look weaker in the world’s view.
This move is counter to US taking a hard-line against Iran. If Israeli officials think Iran won’t play footsies in Syria along the Israeli border and that Russia will take steps to prevent this, they can thank whoever sided with President Trump for the unintended consequences. Their officials made deals with the devil and eventually they’ll figure this out.
Hugs, Gronda
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Quite so Gronda.
Before doing anything in the Middle East any western leader should have read at least one authoritative work on the region, then take a very deep breath and ‘think’.
Not an concept suited to him I know (actually he’s not alone in this as any visit to a FaceBook page will show).
Actually this might in the medium term cause a fracture with Israel, something Russia might be happy to exploit.
If there were clandestine feelers going on between Russia and Israel I for one would not be surprised. What better ally could Russia have to secure the final brick in the stability of its permanent Warm Water port and access to the Agean?
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Dear Roger,
You’ve got the picture. What do Syria, Ukraine and Georgia have in common but warm water ports that Russia is desperate for, due to military strategic goals, Russia cannot be considered a naval power without this.
Once Russia fulfills this goal, any commitments to Israel will be worth squat. Iran will come first.
Hugs, Gronda
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Russia had burnt fingers over an ‘adventure’ into Afghanistan and has not forgotten that. A secure southern flank in the Middle East at The USA’s expense would be a long-term goal and the pretence of being an honest-broker between squabbling states.
Russia plays a very, very long game.
Israel could well pick up on that and decide a closer partner might be more profitable….I understand there is a hot line between Tel Avi and Moscow over military air traffic.
Saudi Arabia could well find itself isolated in which case it will play its financial cards which are heavy. It will need ‘deep pockets’
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Reblogged this on It Is What It Is and commented:
‘Weep For USA’ … General ‘MadDog’ Mattis is leaving the White House!! … the Squatter is now by himself. No adult in the room. The future looks dim … scary times!!
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Dear Horty,
These are scary times. The president feels cornered where the walls are closing in on him to where he could act on impulse, in a very destructive way. He scares me more than any jihadist as he has the power to do a lot of harm.
Thanks a million times over for all of your support and for this reblog.
Hugs, Gronda
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The letter is outstanding … and pointed. Unfortunately, the intended recipient will fail to get that point.
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Dear Keith,
This is exactly the problem. The president makes the USA look weak in the eyes of the world by caving into Russia. He fools no one by tying this decision to Turkey’s leader Erdogan. The president needed to figure out a way to deliver Syria into the control of Russia as per President Putin’s demands.
The president has become an obvious clear and present danger to US national security interests as per the letter by General Mattis to where the GOP in the US Senate had better start acting to temper the actions of this president gone rogue.
Hugs, Gronda
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Dear Nan,
You are so right. That letter is wasted on the likes of President Trump. But I suspect that General Mattis was directing that letter to the GOP lawmakers on the hill. Let’s pray that General Mattis gets through to them.
Hugs, Gronda
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Gronda, great post. I also enjoyed the back-and-forth with Roger. Just add a little more seasoning. Trump wants to build a wall to make is more secure. But, we are much less secure by other actions and a wall won’t help that. His temporary Chief of Staff said in 2015 that a border wall was a simplistic solution. As for Syrian and Afghanistan withdrawals and Mattis’ resignation, our allies like Israel are quite worried. Several GOP Senators are in a panic mode. But, conservative pundit Michael Gerson said Senate leaders feel burned by his changing from an agreement with them on Wednesday. He noted that his caving into hard liners in the right wing media is a sign of “weakness in this President.” It shows how easily he can be manipulated. Keith
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Dear Keith,
President’s incompetence and lack of character is showing. He’s changed his mind at the last minute on foreign policy regarding the Middle East and domestically, his promise to sign off on the continuing resolution to keep the US government funded until February 2019.
We should ask the GOP lawmakers in the US congress, if they’ve had enough yet? Do they want more of this chaos, deflection from president’s bad news of the day? When do they have the good sense to yell, ‘uncle.’
What’s their limit for pain where they finally face the reality that keeping their jobs is NOT worth the pain of putting up with this president’s temper tantrums?
Hugs, Gronda
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