In the early hours of 20 December an increasingly unstable US President Donald J. Trump without consulting his own government tweeted; We have defeated ISIS in
Syria, my only reason for being there during the Trump Presidency.
He followed that some some nine hours later with a series of tweets as a surprised world began to react.
Getting out of Syria was
no surprise. I’ve been campaigning on it for years, and six months ago, when I
very publicly wanted to do it, I agreed to stay longer. Russia, Iran, Syria
& others are the local enemy of ISIS. We were doing there work. Time to
come home & rebuild. #MAGA
Does the
USA want to be the Policeman of the Middle East, getting NOTHING but spending
precious lives and trillions of dollars protecting others who, in almost all
cases, do not appreciate what we are doing? Do we want to be there forever?
Time for others to finally fight.....
....Russia, Iran, Syria & many
others are not happy about the U.S. leaving, despite what the Fake News says,
because now they will have to fight ISIS and others, who they hate, without us.
I am building by far the most powerful military in the world. ISIS hits us they
are doomed!
Trump's own Secretary of Defense, former General commanding United States General Command James Norman Mattis, resigned within hours.......
Secretary of Defence
1000 Defense Pentagon
Washington, DC
20301.1000
December 20 2018
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.
James N. Mattis
Two days later
it was reported that Special Presidential Envoy for the Global Coalition to
Counter ISIL Brett H. McGurk had
also resigned in protest.
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