Mattis out!

[kona]

https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-says-mattis-retiring-at-end-of-february-11545344800?mod=mhp

[kona]

U.S. Weighs Sharp Pullback of Troops From Afghanistan https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-administration-is-considering-substantial-afghan-troop-drawdown-11545341452

[Swordsmyth]

Good, now let's see who he replaces him with.

It can't be a coincidence that this happened after Trump ordered the military to pull out of Syria, hopefully this will mean more pullouts coming soon.

[oyarde]

I want everyone out of Afghanistan .

[Swordsmyth]

I didn't see this:

U.S. Weighs Sharp Pullback of Troops From Afghanistan https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-administration-is-considering-substantial-afghan-troop-drawdown-11545341452

When I posted this:

Good, now let's see who he replaces him with.

It can't be a coincidence that this happened after Trump ordered the military to pull out of Syria, hopefully this will mean more pullouts coming soon.

:D

[Swordsmyth]

I want everyone out of Afghanistan .
Hopefully we will see that soon.

[Swordsmyth]

https://media.8ch.net/file_store/0512b30ace9af4ea2599ff64ab31fce443e34032509da3c6eb e14abf38764ce3.jpg

[kona]

I didn't see this:


When I posted this:


:D
Trump is cascading the good news right now.

[kona]

Ted Lieu crushing it last two days.

https://twitter.com/tedlieu/status/1075624993936031744?s=19

1075624993936031744

[oyarde]

Mattis leaving March 01 . Today ,Britain deploying troops to airport at south of London due to interference with drone activity . All Thurs flights cancelled stranding thousands of holiday travelers .

[Brian4Liberty]

Queue the hysteria from the neocon left.

Zippy must be busy working out the talking points.

[RonZeplin]

Must be bucking for the Nobel Peace Prize.

https://www.historians.org/Images/Annual/2007/Jimmy-Carter-Nobel.jpg

[Swordsmyth]

Must be bucking for the Nobel Peace Prize.

https://www.historians.org/Images/Annual/2007/Jimmy-Carter-Nobel.jpg
Is there anything Trump could do that you wouldn't criticize?

[Swordsmyth]

Ted Lieu crushing it last two days.

https://twitter.com/tedlieu/status/1075624993936031744?s=19

1075624993936031744
Don't read the replies, your head may explode.

[euphemia]

I have been telling you all the President has been asking for justification for occupying so many places. He is not getting satisfactory answers and is ordering these drawdowns.

[kahless]

Syria, Afghanistan and now Mattis comments no doubt will have the war mongers in the news media and in both parties in total meltdown. Break out the popcorn, should be good for a few laughs and some good memes coming out from their breakdown.

[Origanalist]

U.S. Weighs Sharp Pullback of Troops From Afghanistan https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-administration-is-considering-substantial-afghan-troop-drawdown-11545341452

%&&^*^*%&^%*(^*()&*)*(^ing WSJ paywall.........like we won't get the news ayway.

[Origanalist]

Don't read the replies, your head may explode.

Mattis resignation letter..

1075883059969445896

[RonZeplin]

Is there anything Trump could do that you wouldn't criticize?

That's not criticism. If this all happens it's good. Trump would deserve a Nobel if he gets us out of two wars. A lot more than Carter & Obama who did essentially nothing for peace.

[specsaregood]

%&&^*^*%&^%*(^*()&*)*(^ing WSJ paywall.........like we won't get the news ayway.
Next time, go to outline.com and paste the URL.
Presto.

http://outline.com/UGYzMu

[Origanalist]

Don't read the replies, your head may explode.

Yep, he's getting pilloried hard. See what conviction and principles will get you in the land of intervention.

[Swordsmyth]

Mattis resignation letter..

1075883059969445896
He says we shouldn't be playing World Kop and then he advocates for doing it.:rolleyes:

[oyarde]

If you guys do not get The Wall Street Journal , how are you going to make any money in 'Merica ?

[Origanalist]

Next time, go to outline.com and paste the URL.
Presto.

http://outline.com/UGYzMu

Maybe I'm missing something but I don't get anything more there than the original link.

[Origanalist]

He says we should be playing World Kop and then he advocates for doing it.:rolleyes:

Yep. Goodbye and good riddance.

[Origanalist]

If you guys do not get The Wall Street Journal , how are you going to make any money in 'Merica ?

Working and continually upgrading my equipment?

[kona]

Sorry fellas...

https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-administration-is-considering-substantial-afghan-troop-drawdown-11545341452

Trump Administration Is Considering Substantial Afghan Troop Drawdown

Drawdown could begin in several weeks, officials say





https://images.wsj.net/im-43819?width=620&aspect_ratio=1.5
U.S. troops patrolling at an Afghan National Army base in Afghanistan’s Logar province in August. PHOTO: OMAR SOBHANI/REUTERS



82 COMMENTS (https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-administration-is-considering-substantial-afghan-troop-drawdown-11545341452?cx_testId=16&cx_testVariant=cx&cx_artPos=0&cx_tag=collabctx&cx_navSource=newsReel#comments_sector)
By Gordon Lubold and
Jessica Donati

Updated Dec. 20, 2018 4:48 p.m. ET

WASHINGTON—The Trump administration is actively considering plans for a significant drawdown of American troops in Afghanistan that could begin in as soon as several weeks, multiple officials said, in the start of the conclusion of the 17-year U.S. war effort.
Word of the plans came a day after President Trump ordered the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Syria, an unexpected announcement that surprised many at the Pentagon.

Under the plans being considered, troops could begin to return home from Afghanistan as early as January, officials said.


Officials at the Pentagon and U.S. Central Command declined to comment. There are currently more than 14,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan.
Mr. Trump announced Wednesday that he would pull all of the more than 2,000 American troops from Syria, a decision that wasn’t supported by the Pentagon or the State Department.
“I think it shows how serious the president is about wanting to come out of conflicts,” a senior U.S. official said of how the Syria decision has affected his thinking on Afghanistan. “I think he wants to see viable options about how to bring conflicts to a close.”
—Nancy A. Youssef in Washington and Craig Nelson in Kabul contributed to this article.
Write to Gordon Lubold at Gordon.Lubold@wsj.com and Jessica Donati at jessica.donati@wsj.com

[Anti Globalist]

Wonder who is going to replace him?

[Swordsmyth]

News of Mattis' upcoming departure shocked some lawmakers, who scrambled to decipher the reasoning behind it.
Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., praised Mattis' work ethic, admitting "he will not be easy to replace."
"For the sake of our national security I hope his decision to resign was motivated solely by a desire to enjoy a well deserved retirement," he added in a tweet.
Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., called the announcement "scary."
"Secretary Mattis has been an island of stability amidst the chaos of the Trump administration. As we’ve seen with the President’s haphazard approach to Syria, our national defense is too important to be subjected to the President’s erratic whims," Warner wrote on Twitter, sharing a copy of Mattis' resignation letter.
Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, thanked Mattis for his lifetime of service, which, he said we've "benefitted immensely" from.
"As #SecDef, he has led efforts to rebuild our military, defeat #ISIS & keep the American people safe. He is a patriot and I thank him for his service," he said.
Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La., said Mattis was truly an "American hero."
After reading Mattis' letter to the president, Rep. Don Beyer, D-Va., emphasized Mattis' words.
"In his resignation letter, Mattis wrote that Trump has “the right to have a Secretary of Defense whose views are better aligned with yours on issues including 'treating allies with respect,'" Beyer repeated, calling the letter a "stunning rebuke."
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R- S.C., announced Mattis' departure in "sadness" Thursday, calling him one of the country's greatest military leaders.
"General Mattis is a combination of intellect and integrity. He has been in the fight against radical Islam for decades and provided sound and ethical military advice to President Trump. He is a role model for the concept of Duty, Honor, Country," Graham added.
Graham recently blasted Trump (https://www.foxnews.com/politics/corker-graham-slam-trump-over-decision-to-pull-troops-out-of-syria) for his decision to pull troops out of Syria, calling it an "Obama-like decision." In return, Trump fired back at the politician — who has voiced his support for the administration in the past — in a tweet, saying it was difficult to understand why Graham would be against saving countless lives.
"So hard to believe that Lindsey Graham would be against saving soldier lives & billions of $$$. Why are we fighting for our enemy, Syria, by staying & killing ISIS for them, Russia, Iran & other locals? Time to focus on our Country & bring our youth back home where they belong!" Trump tweeted.
Rep. Joyce Beatty, D-Ohio, suggested it was "safe to assume" Mattis disagrees with Trump's withdrawal of troops from Syria.
Rep. Mike Turner, R-Ohio, credited Mattis for rebuilding the nation's military and his commitment to making the world safer.
"Our military has been rebuilt under Secretary Mattis's leadership. He has been a strong partner in working with Congress as a force of reason to robustly support our troops in grave and perilous times," Turner tweeted.
Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., used the announcement to fire at Trump.
"Old Marines never die, but they do resign after the President ignores their advice, betrays our allies, rewards our enemies, and puts the nation’s security at risk. Turn out the lights when Mattis leaves; we will not see his like again while Trump remains in office," he tweeted, sharing Trump's tweet announcing Mattis' departure.
Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., pointed to potential fallout from Mattis stepping down.
"Just imagine the morale crisis at the Department of Defense right now, having sustained the 1-2 punch of the Syria reversal and Mattis resignation. Devastating," he wrote.
Murphy also called it a "security crisis."
Speaker of the House Paul Ryan said Congress is "indebted" to Mattis for his service.
"With our country’s defense in his hands, we have become a safer America at home, and a more commanding force abroad. His patriotism and grit are matched only by his humility and graciousness," Ryan tweeted.
Trump said Thursday that Mattis' replacement "would be named shortly."
"During Jim’s tenure, tremendous progress has been made, especially with respect to the purchase of new fighting equipment," Trump tweeted. "General Mattis was a great help to me in getting allies and other countries to pay their share of military obligations. A new Secretary of Defense will be named shortly. I greatly thank Jim for his service!"

More at: https://www.foxnews.com/politics/defense-secretary-james-mattis-resignation-stuns-concerns-lawmakers-he-will-not-be-easy-to-replace

[XNavyNuke]

It can't be a coincidence that this happened after Trump ordered the military to pull out of Syria, hopefully this will mean more pullouts coming soon.

Nope. Other deep things going on. It may have weighted the scale but Syria was a rather small weight. Much larger weight was HR 6157, the FY 2019 DOD appropriations. The Administration spent essentially zero political capital to get the fundamental maintenance and manning roadmap funded. SecDef has said repeatedly that he is about keeping the spear point sharp and, coming out of several previous years of Continuing Resolutions rather than appropriations, he expected support for his approach. He got jack sh^t. He waited until after the midterms. His stock price increase in my eyes. YMMV.

XNN

[XNavyNuke]

News of Mattis' upcoming departure shocked some lawmakers, who scrambled to decipher the reasoning behind it.


More horsesh^t from pompous Congresscritters. This is on the 2019 DOD appropriations. They can go rod out main condenser tubes.

XNN

[Swordsmyth]

Nope. Other deep things going on. It may have weighted the scale but Syria was a rather small weight. Much larger weight was HR 6157, the FY 2019 DOD appropriations. The Administration spent essentially zero political capital to get the fundamental maintenance and manning roadmap funded. SecDef has said repeatedly that he is about keeping the spear point sharp and, coming out of several previous years of Continuing Resolutions rather than appropriations, he expected support for his approach. He got jack sh^t. He waited until after the midterms. His stock price increase in my eyes. YMMV.

XNN
His resignation letter talks about how we should be policing the world after giving lip service to not doing so, it doesn't say anything about appropriations and Trump just agreed to a huge increase in military funding.

[AuH20]

The three generals are gone. The three who were supposed to keep him on the path of 'status quo' agenda. Interesting times going forward.

[Swordsmyth]

With Mattis gone it would be much easier for Trump to use military funds to pay for the wall or use troops to secure the border provided he picks a new Defense Secretary that is more cooperative.

[acptulsa]

Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., called the announcement "scary."
"Secretary Mattis has been an island of stability amidst the chaos of the Trump administration. As we’ve seen with the President’s haphazard approach to Syria, our national defense is too important to be subjected to the President’s erratic whims," Warner wrote on Twitter, sharing a copy of Mattis' resignation letter.

After reading Mattis' letter to the president, Rep. Don Beyer, D-Va., emphasized Mattis' words.
"In his resignation letter, Mattis wrote that Trump has “the right to have a Secretary of Defense whose views are better aligned with yours on issues including 'treating allies with respect,'" Beyer repeated, calling the letter a "stunning rebuke."

Rep. Joyce Beatty, D-Ohio, suggested it was "safe to assume" Mattis disagrees with Trump's withdrawal of troops from Syria.

Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., used the announcement to fire at Trump.
"Old Marines never die, but they do resign after the President ignores their advice, betrays our allies, rewards our enemies, and puts the nation’s security at risk. Turn out the lights when Mattis leaves; we will not see his like again while Trump remains in office," he tweeted, sharing Trump's tweet announcing Mattis' departure.

Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., pointed to potential fallout from Mattis stepping down.
"Just imagine the morale crisis at the Department of Defense right now, having sustained the 1-2 punch of the Syria reversal and Mattis resignation. Devastating," he wrote.

I hope antiwar people who have been clinging to partisanship are paying attention. Democrats cannot be counted on to support peace any more than Republicans can be counted on to support life or fiscal responsibility.

[AuH20]

1075893355123339265

[AuH20]

1075889046726033410

[idiom]

Durex stocks are going to be hosed.

[Warlord]

I told you. The neocons are on the run. This week has been brutal to them

[AuH20]

The empire shudders....

1075929667897565184

[AuH20]

Bolton next?

1075453987120447488

[nbhadja]

Trump is unleashed. The chains are broken.

[dannno]

U.S. Weighs Sharp Pullback of Troops From Afghanistan https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-administration-is-considering-substantial-afghan-troop-drawdown-11545341452

Wow, pulling out of Syria and Afghanistan, who could have predicted Trump would do this in the first two years of his Presidency??

[Champ]

Is this his counter move to his laughably bad bump stock ban and thus far failure to hold a single person lawfully accountable for anything having to do with the rampant unconstitutionality happening every second of every day by every agency/department/branch of government in the District of Criminals?

Either way, keep it coming. Let's work on the other 5-6 wars, then we are talking.

[Origanalist]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Du8yHB2W0AAd8Be.jpg

[William Tell]

Bolton next?

1075453987120447488Yes, please!

[William Tell]

Don't read the replies, your head may explode.
Summary: withdrawing 2,000 troops is a threat to 'democracy'. So says the Left/NeoCons.

[Zippyjuan]

https://www.apnews.com/ec2ed217357048ff998225a31534df12

Turkey will now be free to go after the Kurds. That could expand war and chaos in the region and lead to more refugees fleeing it.


Trump call with Turkish leader led to US pullout from Syria

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw American troops from Syria was made hastily, without consulting his national security team or allies, and over strong objections from virtually everyone involved in the fight against the Islamic State group, according to U.S. and Turkish officials.

Trump stunned his Cabinet, lawmakers and much of the world with the move by rejecting the advice of his top aides and agreeing to a withdrawal in a phone call with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan last week, two U.S. officials and a Turkish official briefed on the matter told The Associated Press.

The Dec. 14 call, described by officials who were not authorized to discuss the decision-making process publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity, provides insight into a consequential Trump decision that prompted the resignation of widely respected Defense Secretary Jim Mattis. It also set off a frantic, four-day scramble to convince the president either to reverse or delay the decision.

The White House rejected the description of the call from the officials but was not specific.

“In no uncertain terms, reporting throughout this story is not true,” National Security Council spokesman Garrett Marquis said. “It is clear from the context that this false version of events is from sources who lack authority on the subject, possibly from unnamed sources in Turkey.”

The State Department and Pentagon declined to comment on the account of the decision to withdraw the troops, which have been in Syria to fight the Islamic State since 2015.

Despite losing the physical caliphate, thousands of IS fighters remain in Iraq and Syria, and the group continues to carry out insurgent attacks and could easily move back into territory it once held if American forces withdraw.

The Dec. 14 call came a day after Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu agreed to have the two presidents discuss Erdogan’s threats to launch a military operation against U.S.-backed Kurdish rebels in northeast Syria, where American forces are based. The NSC then set up the call.

Pompeo, Mattis and other members of the national security team prepared a list of talking points for Trump to tell Erdogan to back off, the officials said.

But the officials said Trump, who had previously accepted such advice and convinced the Turkish leader not to attack the Kurds and put U.S. troops at risk, ignored the script. Instead, the president sided with Erdogan.

In the following days, Trump remained unmoved by those scrambling to convince him to reverse or at least delay the decision to give the military and Kurdish forces time to prepare for an orderly withdrawal.

“The talking points were very firm,” said one of the officials, explaining that Trump was advised to clearly oppose a Turkish incursion into northern Syria and suggest the U.S. and Turkey work together to address security concerns. “Everybody said push back and try to offer (Turkey) something that’s a small win, possibly holding territory on the border, something like that.”

Erdogan, though, quickly put Trump on the defensive, reminding him that he had repeatedly said the only reason for U.S. troops to be in Syria was to defeat the Islamic State and that the group had been 99 percent defeated. “Why are you still there?” the second official said Erdogan asked Trump, telling him that the Turks could deal with the remaining IS militants.

With Erdogan on the line, Trump asked national security adviser John Bolton, who was listening in, why American troops remained in Syria if what the Turkish president was saying was true, according to the officials. Erdogan’s point, Bolton was forced to admit, had been backed up by Mattis, Pompeo, U.S. special envoy for Syria Jim Jeffrey and special envoy for the anti-ISIS coalition Brett McGurk, who have said that IS retains only 1 percent of its territory, the officials said.

Bolton stressed, however, that the entire national security team agreed that victory over IS had to be enduring, which means more than taking away its territory.

Trump was not dissuaded, according to the officials, who said the president quickly capitulated by pledging to withdraw, shocking both Bolton and Erdogan.

Caught off guard, Erdogan cautioned Trump against a hasty withdrawal, according to one official. While Turkey has made incursions into Syria in the past, it does not have the necessary forces mobilized on the border to move in and hold the large swaths of northeastern Syria where U.S. troops are positioned, the official said.

The call ended with Trump repeating to Erdogan that the U.S. would pull out, but offering no specifics on how it would be done, the officials said.

Over the weekend, the national security team raced to come up with a plan that would reverse, delay or somehow limit effects of the withdrawal, the officials said.



More at link.

[RJB]

https://www.apnews.com/ec2ed217357048ff998225a31534df12

Turkey will now be free to go after the Kurds. That could expand war and chaos in the region and lead to more refugees fleeing it.



More at link.

Zippy. If their plight so concerns you, grab a rifle, go over there and fight!

[specsaregood]

Zippy. If their plight so concerns you, grab a rifle, go over there and fight!

I think our weapons companies should be free to sell the kurds whatever they want.

[RJB]

I think our weapons companies should be free to sell the kurds whatever they want.
Yes. I also think people who think we should spill American blood should spill their own. I am a former Marine. I would gladly go into combat for liberty rather than send my kids. That ain't happening in the Middle East. 50 + years we've just made it worse. Fuck that!

[specsaregood]

Yes. I also think people who think we should spill American blood should spill their own. I am a former Marine. I would gladly go into combat for liberty rather than send my kids. That ain't happening in the Middle East. 50 + years we've just made it worse. Fuck that!

I'm not too worried about the Kurds, no doubt they saw this coming from the beginning. We've left them hanging twice before, I doubt they were foolish enough to not know it was going to happen again.

[RJB]

I'm not too worried about the Kurds, no doubt they saw this coming from the beginning. We've left them hanging twice before, I doubt they were foolish enough to not know it was going to happen again.
But back to the point: Hey Zippy! Grow some balls, grab a rifle, go over there and defend the Kurds.

[Origanalist]

But back to the point: Hey Zippy! Grow some balls, grab a rifle, go over there and defend the Kurds.

You must spread some peanut butter and jam around, yada yada

[Swordsmyth]

https://www.apnews.com/ec2ed217357048ff998225a31534df12

Turkey will now be free to go after the Kurds. That could expand war and chaos in the region and lead to more refugees fleeing it.
No more than our presence was going to lead to more war, chaos and refugees.

It isn't our problem and we only made things worse, let them fight it out to a conclusion.

[TheCount]

With Mattis gone it would be much easier for Trump to use military funds to pay for the wall or use troops to secure the border provided he picks a new Defense Secretary that is more cooperative.
As usual, that's not how that works.

[Swordsmyth]

As usual, that's not how that works.
Bureaucrats don't always do as they are told.

[TheCount]

Bureaucrats don't always do as they are told.
Who decides how the military budget gets spent?

[Swordsmyth]

Who decides how the military budget gets spent?
That depends on how strict the appropriations bill involved was, lots of money is allocated with vague language.

[TheCount]

That depends on how strict the appropriations bill involved was, lots of money is allocated with vague language.
Lots, huh? So Trump doesn't actually want a wall?

[Swordsmyth]

Lots, huh? So Trump doesn't actually want a wall?
:confused:

How about you analyze the last military appropriations bill and tell me how much money is allocated with vague enough language that it could be used for the wall and how much isn't?

I will leave it to Trump and his team to make their case.

[specsaregood]

:confused:

How about you analyze the last military appropriations bill and tell me how much money is allocated with vague enough language that it could be use d for the wall and how much isn't?

I will leave it to Trump and his team to make their case.

how much was it the pentagon couldn't account for after the recent audit?

[dannno]

Who decides how the military budget gets spent?

I see I have some new fans. Nice sig.

[Swordsmyth]

how much was it the pentagon couldn't account for after the recent audit?
More than enough for the wall, almost enough to pay off the national debt.

[specsaregood]

More than enough for the wall, almost enough to pay off the national debt.

Sounds like finding $5billion in unallocated funds from their budget shouldn't be too much of an issue then.

[TheCount]

I see I have some new fans. Nice sig. You're about six months late.

[dannno]

You're about six months late.

Wrong.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1NGkTSGoxo

[JohnGalt1225]

Good riddance to a neocon Establishment cuck.

[Swordsmyth]

Germany's Defense Minister Ursula Von der Leyen on Friday called for clarity from the United States after the abrupt resignation of U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis."Because the United States has such a prominent role and responsibility in the global security architecture, it is important for everyone to quickly get clarity about succession and the future course," the minister said in a statement.

https://news.yahoo.com/germany-calls-clarity-u-mattis-resignation-112918698.html

[Origanalist]

Germany's Defense Minister Ursula Von der Leyen on Friday called for clarity from the United States after the abrupt resignation of U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis."Because the United States has such a prominent role and responsibility in the global security architecture, it is important for everyone to quickly get clarity about succession and the future course," the minister said in a statement.

https://news.yahoo.com/germany-calls-clarity-u-mattis-resignation-112918698.html

Leave "Defense Minister Ursula" twisting in the wind.

[Swordsmyth]

Leave "Defense Minister Ursula" twisting in the wind.
Or blow her mind with an outspoken critic of NATO.

Pat Buchanan for Secretary of Defense.

[NorthCarolinaLiberty]

Turkey will now be free to go after the Kurds. That could expand war and chaos in the region and lead to more refugees fleeing it.


As usual, that's not how that works.




LOL. The heads of RPF's progressive Obama and Hillary voters are exploding! Tell me how it's going over with your Democratic Underground friends and report back!

[RJB]

LOL. The heads of RPF's progressive Obama and Hillary voters are exploding! Tell me how it's going over with your Democratic Underground friends and report back!



They are not responding. These freedom warriors are at the airport, on their way to personally spread freedom in Syria through the barrel of a rifle.

[Swordsmyth]

In one telling detail, it appears Mattis’ resignation letter had already been written when he went to the White House at around 3 p.m. on Thursday with the notice in hand. Fifty copies of his resignation letter already had been printed and were in a folder in his office to be distributed upon his return.

More at: https://www.foxnews.com/politics/behind-the-scenes-of-the-mattis-bombshell-more-resignations-expected-after-protest-exit

[Swordsmyth]

Now he will be leaving Jan 1st.

[Swordsmyth]

As if President Trump's stream of tweets defending his decision to pull US troops from Syria - and his lashing out at the apoplexy of th US military establishment - didn't clearly communicate Trump's anger (https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-12-20/mattis-out-trump-announces-defense-secretary-retire-february) over the resignation of Defense Jim "Mad Dog" Mattis (who said in his resignation letter that the Syria decision was the last straw), President Trump tweeted Sunday that he had appointed Patrick Shanahan, Mattis's deputy and a former Boeing exec, to serve as the acting Secretary of Defense, effectively confirming reports that he was pushing to terminate Mattis immediately, ahead of the Feb. 28 departure date that Mattis had set out in his letter.

I am pleased to announce that our very talented Deputy Secretary of Defense, Patrick Shanahan, will assume the title of Acting Secretary of Defense starting January 1, 2019. Patrick has a long list of accomplishments while serving as Deputy, & previously Boeing. He will be great!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 23, 2018 (https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1076881816462737408?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)



More at: https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-12-23/angry-trump-forces-mattis-out-early-names-former-boeing-exec-acting-secdef

[DamianTV]

Summary: withdrawing 2,000 troops is a threat to 'democracy'. So says the Left/NeoCons.

Yep. Because they are the threat to us, but we are never a threat to them!

[Zippyjuan]

Now he will be leaving Jan 1st.

Former defense contractor head of Boeing is taking over (temporarily at least). More swamp critters.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-46668260


Patrick Shanahan: Trump names acting defence secretary

US President Donald Trump has forced Defence Secretary James Mattis to leave his post early, appointing an acting successor to take over in the new year.

Gen Mattis, 68, strongly hinted at policy differences with Mr Trump when he resigned on Friday.

He offered to stay in the job until February but will now leave on 1 January after Mr Trump reportedly balked at media coverage of his exit.

Deputy Defence Secretary Patrick Shanahan, 56, will take over the role.

Mr Trump has lauded his achievements and described him as "very talented".

Mr Shanahan, a former executive at the aerospace giant Boeing, joined the Pentagon in July 2017 after Mr Trump nominated him.

He was reportedly a vocal supporter of the president's plan to establish a sixth branch of the armed forces, known as the "space force".

Originally from Washington state, Mr Shanahan studied mechanical engineering and business at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and joined Boeing as an engineer in 1986.

Donald Trump had initially framed James Mattis's departure as a "retirement" but his resignation letter - full of implied criticism of the president's foreign policy - showed that was not the case.

The president seldom handles rebukes kindly, so it became increasingly unlikely amid the growing furore that the former general would not be allowed his requested two-month departure timeframe.

On Sunday morning, the hammer came down - as is the new norm - via a presidential tweet.

Mr Mattis's replacement, Deputy Secretary Patrick Shanahan, spent most of his career working for Boeing.

Having a former executive of a major defence contractor running the Pentagon, even on a temporary basis, is unusual, to say the least. It's a job usually held by politicians with military oversight experience.

Meanwhile, the president appears to be trying to douse the fire that started this personnel crisis. He also tweeted on Sunday that the US withdrawal from Syria - abruptly announced last week - would be "slow and highly coordinated".

Given the Mattis news, that may not be enough to calm the nerves of allies and assuage the anger of US foreign policy hands. It is, however, a start.

[Swordsmyth]

Former defense contractor head of Boeing is taking over (temporarily at least). More swamp critters.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-46668260


As if President Trump's stream of tweets defending his decision to pull US troops from Syria - and his lashing out at the apoplexy of th US military establishment - didn't clearly communicate Trump's anger (https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-12-20/mattis-out-trump-announces-defense-secretary-retire-february) over the resignation of Defense Jim "Mad Dog" Mattis (who said in his resignation letter that the Syria decision was the last straw), President Trump tweeted Sunday that he had appointed Patrick Shanahan, Mattis's deputy and a former Boeing exec, to serve as the acting Secretary of Defense, effectively confirming reports that he was pushing to terminate Mattis immediately, ahead of the Feb. 28 departure date that Mattis had set out in his letter.
I am pleased to announce that our very talented Deputy Secretary of Defense, Patrick Shanahan, will assume the title of Acting Secretary of Defense starting January 1, 2019. Patrick has a long list of accomplishments while serving as Deputy, & previously Boeing. He will be great!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 23, 2018 (https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1076881816462737408?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)



More at: https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-12-23/angry-trump-forces-mattis-out-early-names-former-boeing-exec-acting-secdef

It's not exactly shocking that the #2 man is asked to take over while a replacement is found after the #1 man is booted out ahead of schedule.

[Anti Federalist]

Glad to see that, outside of Zippy, the general consensus is still anti-war/bring the troops home at RPF

[FunkBuddha]

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1213/0222/products/variant_image_a7752183-b755-4db7-af9b-00bd991ec3bf.png?v=1530635351

In high school, me and a buddy were enjoying some Mad Dog 2020 while playing Super Nintendo after my mom went to bed. My mom came out and told us to take whatever it was that we were drinking outside because it smelled so bad she couldn't sleep.

[RJB]

Glad to see that, outside of Zippy, the general consensus is still anti-war/bring the troops home at RPF

Back in the day, that was one of the main reasons I voted for Ron Paul. I haven't forgotten.

[Swordsmyth]

Glad to see that, outside of Zippy, the general consensus is still anti-war/bring the troops home at RPF


Back in the day, that was one of the main reasons I voted for Ron Paul. I haven't forgotten.

There is room for people to have different opinions on many subjects but ending the wars and minding our own business is THE foundation of Dr. Ron's movement.
If you don't believe in it you don't belong here.

[timosman]

https://mailchi.mp/dvorak/hilarious-old-computer-ads-mattis-explained-na-news


Jim Mattis was a bad fit for the Trump administration for numerous reasons, primarily compatibility. Trump indicated that Mattis was first fired by Obama and hints that he was doing Mattis a favor by letting him run the Pentagon. There was some suspicion regarding his recent resignation as old-timers said there was no way he’d ever quit.

Now, it seems that he was told by Pompeo that Trump was about to fire him, thus the resignation.

The resignation note was cited by many in the military as rude and unbecoming a Marine because of it’s lack of charm and tact. Let’s face it, like Kelly, Mattis did not like the President.

Mattis said he wanted to stay through February, but Trump wasn’t taking any chances with him after that resignation note and got him out immediately fearing he’d poison the well or who knows what. A smart move commonly seen in business.

Let’s go over a few of the reasons that Mattis had to go and ask ourselves why none of this is considered by the MSM pundits.


Auditing the Pentagon. Mattis was the boss of it all and failed to implement a working audit strategy and the entire audit failed and there is no indication this will ever get done. The Pentagon spending is out of control and ripping off the American public. Trump has put Boeing executive and MBA Patrick M. Shanahan in his place. There is little discussion of this in the media, but his background might make a much-needed Pentagon audit a possibility.
Mark Milley. Jim Mattis did not want Army Chief of Staff General Mark Milley to become the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Milley is an incredible pragmatist and one of the smartest and best educated Generals with degrees from Princeton and Columbia. He seems like someone who can be trusted. Mattis wanted Air Force Chief of Staff General David Goldfein as chairman. Compare the two bios of these men and Goldfein is decidedly less of a military executive/big thinker and more of a guy in the field taking orders. There is no comparison.
War in Syria. Trump never liked this war or the war in Afghanistan and got votes because of it as he promised to end these wars. “why are we there?” Obama made similar promises about these endless wars but was talked out of any changes in direction by military authorities. The war hawks, in both parties, thus sided with Mattis who was irked that Trump ordered the 2000 troops out of Syria after making a deal with Turkey for them to do the clean up work. Mattis was now working against the President in a big way. The media emphasizes this saying Mattis tried to talk him out of leaving Syria and when the President did not agree, then Mattis quit in protest. It’s ridiculous.
Theranos. Let’s not forget that Mattis did all he could to get himself placed on the board of directors of what appears to be one of the biggest scams and fiascos in the history of Silicon Valley. There was also a conflict of interest as the military was considering using the dubious technology in the field. It’s believed that old-bachelor Mattis, like all the middle-aged males involved in the company, was sweet-talked into stupidity by eye-batting bleached-blonde Elizabeth Holmes who was said to have a sexy and hypnotic influence over older males. This incredibly bad judgement alone should have prevented Mattis from ever getting any position of authority let alone the Secretary of Defense job.
Global Warming. Mattis is all-in for the most egregious beliefs regarding global warming and what to do about it. In his mind, it has something to do with future warfare. This is in stark contrast to the President and others.
Space Force. Mattis is against the whole idea.
Mattis in Afghanistan. His piss-poor work in Afghanistan including abandoning troops struck by our own friendly-fire – a B52 bombing, -- was well documented by those who opposed his Secretary of Defense nomination. This was also highlighted by others in command who felt he was too mission-oriented and never concerned himself with any troops not commanded by him.
His own words. Mattis is known for making a lot of psycho comments such as “Be polite, be professional, but have a plan to kill everybody you meet.” His public comment that “it’s fun to shoot people” stands out. Another good one links to his relation to Trump and how Trump might see Mattis: “Treachery has existed as long as there’s been warfare, and there’s always been a few people that you couldn’t trust.” The last one is not psycho, just true.

--jcd

[enhanced_deficit]

Good, now let's see who he replaces him with.


You seem to applaud everytime a Trump pick exits. Curious, is there anyone Trump has picked for his cabinet you actually like and won't celeberate their departure?

Do you think Bolton, Giuliani, Kushner, Ivanka, Mnuchin are smart choices as advisors?

[Swordsmyth]

You seem to applaud everytime a Trump ick exits. Curious, is there anyone Trump has picked for his cabinet you actually like and won't celeberate their departure?
Mulvaney is reasonably good, Bannon was more good than bad, the current and former EPA picks weren't too bad, there are others but I don't keep track of all of them.


Do you think Bolton, Giuliani, Kushner, Ivanka, Mnuchin are smart choices as advisors?
No.

[AZJoe]

https://scontent-sjc3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/48417973_10155699368166493_864111196201025536_o.jp g?_nc_cat=110&_nc_ht=scontent-sjc3-1.xx&oh=d3379dbe94b22c91b951c007dfbdc596&oe=5CCE4578

[Pauls' Revere]

Don't read the replies, your head may explode.

Wow, just absolutely bonkers... I read some of the replies and I seriously am questioning what planet am I on.

Trump could unify Korea and still the left would not be happy. I did not vote him in 2016, but if he keeps this up (ending wars, bringing troops home) , I just might in 2020.

[shakey1]

Wonder who is going to replace him?

Anybody's guess... likely another neocon.

https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/omaha.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/6/bc/6bc8442c-7705-11e7-9e42-0f5311a0e375/5980fafa7ebf3.image.jpg?resize=1200%2C847

[Warlord]

Down with Zippy! Long Live Ron Paul

[Todd]

https://www.apnews.com/ec2ed217357048ff998225a31534df12

Turkey will now be free to go after the Kurds. That could expand war and chaos in the region and lead to more refugees fleeing it.
.

Neo Con's - We must use the troops to establish Democracy for world security and the children

Neo Liberals - We must use the troops to stabilize the genocide, and (insert minority ethnic group) for world security and the children.


Not one dimes bit of difference.

[Swordsmyth]

Former Defense Secretary General James Mattis and some White House employees were directly aware of and monitoring a team working to launch a Mattis Republican primary campaign against President Donald Trump in the 2020 election, according to documents obtained by Big League Politics and statements from the organizers who put the team together.
“My job was to see what his pathway to the White House would look like,” Travis Snyder told Big League Politics in a series of interviews, referring to General Mattis. “There was a very small team.”
Snyder, a twenty-five year-old Indiana-based political consultant whom insiders say is close to Vice President Mike Pence, ran point on the operation, which Mattis and others were keeping track of.
Snyder also confirmed that the group polled Mike Pence’s chances to run against Trump, and found that Pence had no chance.


“I oversaw early states polling, putting together possible running mates,” Snyder said.
“I did not work with the fundraising team. I solely looked at what his path to the nomination would look like, and then his pathway to the White House,” Snyder said, declining to name the donors to the effort or the main person organizing it.
Running mate prospects included Nikki Haley and Dan Crenshaw.
“Nikki Haley was polled. Jackie Walorski, Mitch Daniels. There were regional smaller named people like Staff Sergeant Johnny Joe Jones” but Jones did not have the name ID, Snyder said.

“Dan Crenshaw was polled as a VP nominee in the event that Mattis” ran, Snyder said.
“General Mattis was aware of the effort,” Snyder confirmed. “He knew of the team, who exactly brought the team together.”
“There are people who currently serve in the White House who knew that the team was coming together,” Snyder said, noting that “This group is no longer active.”
Snyder tried to put together a team of consultants to assist in the effort.
Alex Rountree, a conservative consultant, was approached about being part of the team, but wanted nothing to do with it. Rountree identifies Snyder as being “good family friends with Pence” and being an adviser to Jackie Walorski, the congresswoman in Pence’s old district.


Rountree signed a Non-Disclosure Agreement with Travis Snyder regarding the effort. The NDA is now expired. Rountree never had any intention of helping Snyder, only in exposing the establishment plot to betray President Trump.
https://bigleaguepolitics.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/unnamed-675x1200.jpg
Rountree took copious notes on his conversations with Snyder:
https://bigleaguepolitics.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/unnamed-2-900x1200.jpg
https://bigleaguepolitics.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/unnamed-1-900x1200.jpg
When Rountree talked to Snyder, Snyder made it appear that Pence was supportive of the primary challenge to Trump.
“He was fluffing around a little bit about Pence, saying, ‘Pence wouldn’t be upset if Mattis ran.’ Somebody who knew the President’s every move all the time was working with Mattis: that turned out to be (John) Kelly,” Rountree told Big League Politics.
“They were hoping for Nikki Haley on the ticket,” Rountree said, stating that Snyder was trying to put together “15 consultants or operatives in 15 different states.”
“He (Snyder) said he had a polling firm that just signed an NDA that worked for the Cruz campaign,” Rountree said. KellyAnne Conway’s The Polling Company served as Ted Cruz’s pollster during the 2016 election. Snyder did not deny KellyAnne Conway’s possible involvement, considering Conway’s The Polling Company was Ted Cruz’s 2016 pollster.
Snyder kicked off his Mattis whisper campaign by planting an article with Andrew Feinberg, who wrote an August 2018 piece for Beltway Breakfast headlined, “Defense Secretary Mattis Weighing 2020 Bid, Predicts He’d ‘Kick Trump’s Ass.'” (https://www.beltwaybreakfast.com/whitehouse/2018/08/07/defense-secretary-mattis-weighing-2020-bid-predicts-hed-kick-trumps-ass/)
Snyder told Rountree that the Mattis team had representatives in Arizona, Michigan, Virginia and Florida.
Derek Utley of X Strategies was also contacted about being part of the Mattis campaign.
“My firm is regularly contacted by candidates who are seeking to run for public office. Because a non-disclosure agreement was signed prior to my firm receiving information about this candidate who was seeking to run for public office, I can neither confirm nor deny who the candidate was. I will say however, my firm will automatically decline any candidate who is seeking to primary President Donald J. Trump,” Utley told Big League Politics.
Mattis resigned from his position as Defense Secretary, with President Donald Trump maintaining that Mattis was fired. (https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2019/01/02/trump-insists-he-fired-mattis-says-former-defense-secretary-was-not-too-good-at-the-job/)


https://bigleaguepolitics.com/exclusive-general-mattis-planned-primary-run-against-trump-pence-was-also-considered-nikki-haley-was-tested-as-running-mate/

[enhanced_deficit]

Former Defense Secretary General James Mattis and some White House employees were directly aware of and monitoring a team working to launch a Mattis Republican primary campaign against President Donald Trump in the 2020 election, according to documents obtained by Big League Politics and statements from the organizers who put the team together.
“My job was to see what his pathway to the White House would look like,” Travis Snyder told Big League Politics in a series of interviews, referring to General Mattis. “There was a very small team.”
Snyder, a twenty-five year-old Indiana-based political consultant whom insiders say is close to Vice President Mike Pence, ran point on the operation, which Mattis and others were keeping track of.
Snyder also confirmed that the group polled Mike Pence’s chances to run against Trump, and found that Pence had no chance.


“I oversaw early states polling, putting together possible running mates,” Snyder said.
“I did not work with the fundraising team. I solely looked at what his path to the nomination would look like, and then his pathway to the White House,” Snyder said, declining to name the donors to the effort or the main person organizing it.
Running mate prospects included Nikki Haley and Dan Crenshaw.
“Nikki Haley was polled. Jackie Walorski, Mitch Daniels. There were regional smaller named people like Staff Sergeant Johnny Joe Jones” but Jones did not have the name ID, Snyder said.

“Dan Crenshaw was polled as a VP nominee in the event that Mattis” ran, Snyder said.
“General Mattis was aware of the effort,” Snyder confirmed. “He knew of the team, who exactly brought the team together.”
“There are people who currently serve in the White House who knew that the team was coming together,” Snyder said, noting that “This group is no longer active.”
Snyder tried to put together a team of consultants to assist in the effort.
Alex Rountree, a conservative consultant, was approached about being part of the team, but wanted nothing to do with it. Rountree identifies Snyder as being “good family friends with Pence” and being an adviser to Jackie Walorski, the congresswoman in Pence’s old district.


Rountree signed a Non-Disclosure Agreement with Travis Snyder regarding the effort. The NDA is now expired. Rountree never had any intention of helping Snyder, only in exposing the establishment plot to betray President Trump.

Rountree took copious notes on his conversations with Snyder:
https://bigleaguepolitics.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/unnamed-2-900x1200.jpg
https://bigleaguepolitics.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/unnamed-1-900x1200.jpg
When Rountree talked to Snyder, Snyder made it appear that Pence was supportive of the primary challenge to Trump.
“He was fluffing around a little bit about Pence, saying, ‘Pence wouldn’t be upset if Mattis ran.’ Somebody who knew the President’s every move all the time was working with Mattis: that turned out to be (John) Kelly,” Rountree told Big League Politics.
“They were hoping for Nikki Haley on the ticket,” Rountree said, stating that Snyder was trying to put together “15 consultants or operatives in 15 different states.”
“He (Snyder) said he had a polling firm that just signed an NDA that worked for the Cruz campaign,” Rountree said. KellyAnne Conway’s The Polling Company served as Ted Cruz’s pollster during the 2016 election. Snyder did not deny KellyAnne Conway’s possible involvement, considering Conway’s The Polling Company was Ted Cruz’s 2016 pollster.
Snyder kicked off his Mattis whisper campaign by planting an article with Andrew Feinberg, who wrote an August 2018 piece for Beltway Breakfast headlined, “Defense Secretary Mattis Weighing 2020 Bid, Predicts He’d ‘Kick Trump’s Ass.'” (https://www.beltwaybreakfast.com/whitehouse/2018/08/07/defense-secretary-mattis-weighing-2020-bid-predicts-hed-kick-trumps-ass/)
Snyder told Rountree that the Mattis team had representatives in Arizona, Michigan, Virginia and Florida.
Derek Utley of X Strategies was also contacted about being part of the Mattis campaign.
“My firm is regularly contacted by candidates who are seeking to run for public office. Because a non-disclosure agreement was signed prior to my firm receiving information about this candidate who was seeking to run for public office, I can neither confirm nor deny who the candidate was. I will say however, my firm will automatically decline any candidate who is seeking to primary President Donald J. Trump,” Utley told Big League Politics.
Mattis resigned from his position as Defense Secretary, with President Donald Trump maintaining that Mattis was fired.


https://bigleaguepolitics.com/exclusive-general-mattis-planned-primary-run-against-trump-pence-was-also-considered-nikki-haley-was-tested-as-running-mate/


Does this mean Mattis is getting ready to primary MAGA in 2020?

[Swordsmyth]

Does this mean Mattis is getting ready to primary MAGA in 2020?
It means he was, I don't know if he will still try after he was fired.