James Mattis, former Secretary of Defense and, worshiped, retired Marine General James Mattis has a new book “Call Sign Chaos, Learning to Lead” available today. The denizens of the left and the media elites had hoped in the black depths of their hearts that Mattis would rip President Donald Trump apart. I haven’t read the book, but it appears former Vice President and 2020 Democrat presidential hopeful Joe Biden takes a portion of the book. Not favorably.
The Washington Examiner has an article that reaffirms everything we, thinking people, have always known about Joe Biden. We all nodded like bobblehead dolls when Obama SecDef Robert Gates said, and recently stood by comments about Biden:
“I think vice president did have some issues with the military and I did say that recently that I stand by the statement that I thought he had been wrong about most foreign policy issues for 40 years, especially during the Cold War, but in truth apart from Afghanistan there were a number of issues he and I agreed on,” Gates said.
Yes. He has been wrong about many things, but foremost, foreign policy and the military. Let’s set aside his recent, dumb statement about “magazines that can hold multiple bullets”.
What does the new Mattis book have to say about Joe Biden? Mattis uses the words “indifferent” and “amiable”. From the Washington Examiner article:
As vice president, Biden was tasked by President Barack Obama with overseeing Iraq policy. In his new book, Mattis, 68, argues that Biden, 76, was “indifferent” to the consequences of complete withdrawal – consequences that included “tens of thousands of casualties, plus untold misery for millions of innocents,” as well as the kidnapping and beheading of westerners, and horrific terrorist attacks across the world.
Well, we know that the Obama Administration policy led to the rise of the “JV squad” ISIS.
Both Biden and Obama could learn how to lead from General Mattis. And, Mattis is actually quite a good leader in this discussion with Fox & Friends this morning:
I am a huge fan of Mattis’s co-author Bing West, by the way.
This passage from the Washington Examiner article caused me to lose the teensy smidgen of respect I had for Joe Biden. Do not ever disrespect a war-fighter like Mattis. Disagree, but don’t disrespect.
“I liked the Vice President,” Mattis writes, despite Biden’s odd jibe to the general: “Know why you’re at CENTCOM? Because no one else was dumb enough to take the job.” In reality, commanding CENTCOM, based at Tampa, Florida, was a position coveted by many four-star officers and was often a springboard to even greater things.
“…no one else was dumb enough” to take the CENTCOM job? Joe Biden couldn’t polish the boots of the personnel at CENTCOM or AFRICOM or any other COM.
The Mattis book could prove to be interesting politically. Yes, Colonel (now General) does have another outstanding suggestion.
Photo Credit: Official Portrait of James Mattis/Public Domain
Kevin says: Here is a more applicable and concerning comment about a president than a passage in his book. I’m sure you’ve seen this.
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
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