Why Donald Trump Needs a Realist Secretary of Defense

The National Interest ^ | December 26, 2018 | Daniel L. Davis

[trebb]

Mattis thought he was the CINC and openly belied/defied his boss - I bet he would have never taken that from any of his subordinates w/o serious repercussions...

[PhilCollins]

Whom should the next secretary of defense be? I hope Trump will nominate a conservative who has been a cabinet member and an elected official. That’s why I emailed Trump and asked him to choose Dirk Kempthorne. He’s a conservative who was a senator from Idaho, (with service in the Senate Armed Services Committee) 1993-’99; governor, 1999-2006l and secretary of the interior, 2006-’09.

[vette6387]

I'm not sure why I was copied on this post, but I certainly understand your logic. I don't think that a former military officer necessarily makes for a good Sec Def. But as important as I think a civilian Sec. Def. is, it is probably equally important there be little or no disagreement on National Security Policy, and loyalty to the President. President Trump is going a different way in most policy areas, as he sees that the “conventional direction” has been flawed ever since WWII. Trump's ideas deserve the unwavering support of those who head his departments and agencies. He has been ill-served by any number of people in whom he placed his trust. These positions cannot be places where the occupants can feel free to "freelance" their own preferred ideas. Mattis, Kelly, Tillerson, Sessions, Rosenstein, Wray and a few others should be ashamed of their behavior, and if they are not gone already, they need to resign January 2nd! The idea that you are there to insure the failure of the President is a disgrace.