James Mattis to depart Pentagon by January 1; [Title shortened for length]

CNBC.com ^ | December 23, 2018 | Javier E. David

[gwjack]

President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that Defense Secretary James Mattis will depart the Pentagon by January 1, a date earlier than anticipated, and will appoint Patrick Shanahan as acting Secretary.

The president’s announcement, made via Twitter, comes days after Mattis stunned Washington by announcing his resignation, prompted by what the former marine said were policy differences with Trump. Shanahan is the Pentagon’s number 2 official.

[JWNM]

Good thing we didn’t have that type of military leaders during WW II. Could you imagine them talking the President, “well, we can fight the Germans or the Japanese, but not both”?

[a little elbow grease]

Mulvaney said today that news about the Syria withdrawal was leaked from the DoD, and Trump had to go public with it. I’m guessing the same happened with the Afghanistan draw down. The Swamp Creatures that got us into the Middle East quagmire under Clinton, GWB, and Obama are continuing to make it worse, and Trump’s not having any more of it. ---

____________________

Sounds reasonable.

[Tijeras_Slim]

House of Representatives is my guess.

[lodi90]

Look s like someone is working this weekend.
I wonder why the accelerated departure, although I think it is always good to separate as soon as possible.

---

Given that he was to leave in February until POTUS tweeted over the matter; I think it’s safe to say Twinkle Toes Mattis got his panties in a bunch over POTUS tweeting that the community organizer fired him ignominiously. He’s intentionally harming POTUS politically.

The “Trump’s Generals” experiment can’t end soon enough. I’ve never seen a bigger bunch of ingrates in my life. Trump massively increases DOD budget even after Democrats hold it hostage to increased domestic spending. End result = trillion dollar deficients. POTUS ends micromanaging of military from WH.

[lodi90]

Mulvaney said today that news about the Syria withdrawal was leaked from the DoD, and Trump had to go public with it. I’m guessing the same happened with the Afghanistan draw down. The Swamp Creatures that got us into the Middle East quagmire under Clinton, GWB, and Obama are continuing to make it worse, and Trump’s not having any more of it.

---

And all the military brass prostrated themselves before the community organizer from Chicago no matter how much dirt he kicked in their faces (”All this for a flag”, slashed budgets, etc.) or Soldiers/Sailors/Marines he sent home in body bags due to restrictive ROE. Never forget, never forgive.

[kempster]

Look for Mattis to sign a contract with CNN or MSNBC soon.

[lodi90]

Look for Mattis to sign a contract with CNN or MSNBC soon.

---

He has to be the favorite for Dem VP slot in 2020 at this point. Mattis being single (wink, wink) will check an identity politics box for the Dems, too.

[Zhang Fei]

[This is a sudden and shockingly bold (and risky) shift in strategy.]

---

For a Democrat, not all that risky, because if the Kurds get slaughtered, or Afghanistan falls, the media will paint it as inevitable. For Trump or any generic Republican, the media will depict it as the result of incompetence and a general unfitness for office. So the President will need to have a contingency plan just to salvage the optics as 2020 rolls around.

[grania]

HOR...House of Representatives

[M. Thatcher]

Thank u, next.

[central_va]

AMF gloBULList tranny loving fatso.

[BeauBo]

“the President will need to have a contingency plan just to salvage the optics as 2020 rolls around.”

If the substance is covered, the optics should take of itself.

If this is really a capricious and ill-conceived reaction by the President (which I doubt), then there will be a real optics problem.

The results will be the determinant.

[GOPJ]

If people don’t want to help President Trump, then by all means, they should leave.

Ding, ding, ding - we have a thread winnah!

[GOPJ]

The media hates Trump AND us - so we should just do what we think is right. We have nothing to lose. Whatever the choice - whatever the outcome - they’ll hate us for it anyhow.

[va22030]

Good riddence. The lowlife mad dog was supporter of all social experiments in military.

This creature of military industrial complex should have been fired long back,

[af_vet_1981]

wonder why the accelerated departure,

He publicly criticized, and undermined, his Commander In Chief.

[nikos1121]

Can you imagine the message this sends to our allies and foes around the world... In essence.. Trump is in charge. Trump is in charge... He basically moves on after his most aggressive General goes public and tries to stand him up.

Trump will squish anyone who is not on board like a grape, and that includes China, Iran, NK, Venezuela and all the other piss ant countries and politicians out there.

We have a leader in the WH... a true leader....

[lonevoice]

Look for Mattis to sign a contract with CNN or MSNBC soon.

I'm fully expecting and dreading this.

[lgjhn23]

“....Wish I knew what HOR meant.....”

PeeLouzy, Occasional Kotex, etc. and all their smelly evil ilk.

[freepersup]

HOR = House of Representatives