And The Wheels Continue To Come Off...

[Lord Jim]

Not good news for the country, but certainly understandable:

Mattis Resigns as Defense Chief, Citing Differences With Trump

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis announced his resignation on Thursday, citing differences over policy with Donald Trump, a day after the president abruptly called for the withdrawal of American forces from Syria.

In a two-page letter to the president, Mattis laid out his convictions on the value of U.S. leadership in strategic alliances, including the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the 74-nation coalition to defeat Islamic State.

“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,” Mattis said in the letter to Trump released by the Pentagon.

Moments earlier, Trump announced the news on Twitter, saying that Mattis would be the latest senior official to leave his Cabinet and that the former Marine general would be “retiring, with distinction, at the end of February, after having served my Administration as Secretary of Defense for the past two years.” Trump said he would name a new Pentagon chief “shortly.”

More:

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles ... trump-says

[ex-khobar Andy]

Thanks - missed that. For those of us who were thankful that there was a grown up or two in the Administration - no matter how much we might disagree with each of them on policy - there is one fewer now.

I'd like for someone to ask Sarah 'Lying Sack of Shit' Huckabee Sanders how the search for the anonymous op-ed writer is going. It's been three months already. That must be enough time to find her or him.

[Lord Jim]

Here's a link to the full text of his resignation letter:

https://news.usni.org/2018/12/20/docume ... ion-letter


Mattis makes pretty clear where he differs with Trump:

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.

[Lord Jim]

It really is quite an extraordinary letter...

What we have here, (though Mattis says it in such a polite way that it probably flew right over Trump's head) is a Secretary Of Defense telling the President Of The United States that he can no longer serve as Sec. of Defense, because he (the President) does not believe in the basic values and principles that have served as the pillars of American security for more than 70 years...

That's pretty amazing and yet another sign of what a terrible place we have come to in our history...

The immediate "last straw" cause for his resignation was Trump's abandonment of our commitments in Syria, but Mattis wanted to make absolutely (and publicly) clear that it ran much deeper than that...

[Econoline]

HO. LEE. SHIT.

This is a really, REALLY big deal...not just one more Another One Bites the Dust moment. (And yes, that letter of resignation was amazing. I only wish Trump was capable of comprehending it.)

[Lord Jim]

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.

When Trump read that, his reaction was probably:

"Gee, he says that like it's a Bad Thing. Where's the problem?"

[Lord Jim]

Gee, it looks like even Mitch McConnell has grown a little bit of spine:

Mitch McConnell piles onto Defense Secretary James Mattis' rebuke of Trump

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican of Kentucky, issued a strong statement following the resignation of Defense Secretary James Mattis, saying he is "particularly distressed that he is resigning due to sharp differences with the president on these and other key aspects of America's global leadership."

His statement echoes Mattis' resignation letter when stressing the importance of maintaining US alliances.

"I believe it's essential that the United States maintain and strengthen the post-World War II alliances that have been carefully built by leaders in both parties," McConnell said in his statement. "We must also maintain a clear-eyed understanding of our friends and foes, and recognize that nations like Russia are among the latter."

"So I was sorry to learn that Secretary Mattis, who shares those clear principles, will soon depart the administration," McConnell continued.

“It is regrettable that the president must now choose a new Secretary of Defense. But I urge him to select a leader who shares Secretary Mattis’s understanding of these vital principles and his total commitment to America’s servicemembers," McConnell said.

https://www.businessinsider.com/mitch-m ... mp-2018-12

[liberty]

It really is quite an extraordinary letter...

What we have here, (though Mattis says it in such a polite way that it probably flew right over Trump's head) is a Secretary Of Defense telling the President Of The United States that he can no longer serve as Sec. of Defense, because he (the President) does not believe in the basic values and principles that have served as the pillars of American security for more than 70 years...

That's pretty amazing and yet another sign of what a terrible place we have come to in our history...

The immediate "last straw" cause for his resignation was Trump's abandonment of our commitments in Syria, but Mattis wanted to make absolutely (and publicly) clear that it ran much deeper than that...

That is a very bad idea. One should never give an enemy a victory; if they are going take it any way you should make them pay a highest price as possible. To pull US troops out Syria is to give the Iranians a victory. And that just means more trouble in the future.

Perhaps Trump is concerned about getting into a fight with the Russians. That could be expensive in lives and material, but if the US military has to fight the Russians the Middle East is a good place; the US could win there.

[Scooter]

Perhaps Trump is concerned about getting into a fight with the Russians. That could be expensive in lives and material

It will be harmful to him, because the Russians own him. Whether because of business loans, or the pee tape(s), he can't do anything to piss them off.

[ex-khobar Andy]

I just saw a crawler on CNN that Schumer and Kushner were in a closed door meeting with Pence. Discussing Amendment 25????? A man can dream.

[RayThom]

Trump Named Man of the Year by ISIS
https://www.newyorker.com/humor/borowit ... ar-by-isis

[Lord Jim]

Looks like somebody finally explained the meaning of Mattis' resignation letter to the Moron-In-Chief:

Trump says Mattis to leave by end of year, announces new acting secretary of defense

Washington (CNN)President Donald Trump announced on Sunday he would replace Defense Secretary James Mattis at the start of the new year, two months earlier than Mattis' planned departure.

"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!" Trump tweeted.

Mattis announced his resignation on Thursday with a letter saying his views were not aligned with Trump, who said Mattis would retire at the end of February.

Mattis' last day is expected to be Jan. 1, according to a source familiar with the matter. He is not expected to have a big, public farewell ceremony to try to prevent further exacerbating tensions between himself and Trump, the source said.

A source familiar with the matter said Trump was mad at the extensive coverage given to Mattis' resignation and therefore was forcing him to leave earlier than he originally planned.

Pentagon spokesman Col. Rob Manning said in a statement that "the secretary of defense serves at the pleasure of the President. The department remains focused on national security."

Mattis' retirement announcement on Thursday led much of Washington, including key Republicans, to express alarm about the change in leadership at the Pentagon. The announcement itself followed Trump's decision to call for a full withdrawal of troops from Syria and consideration of a drawdown in Afghanistan.

https://www.cnn.com/2018/12/23/politics ... index.html

This actually makes sense to me...

In the wake of that letter, I was having a hard time seeing how these two could possibly continue to work together for two more months...

The Secretary of Defense had just basically said, "Mr. President, I'm quitting because you don't share our basic American values, and by the way, I have no thanks to offer you and nothing positive to say about you"...

Tough to keep working together after that...

I suspect that Mattis offered to make his resignation effective at the end of February out of consideration for the good of the country and to give Trump the option of having an orderly transition at the DoD, but I seriously doubt that he's surprised (or upset) that Trump has decided to go this way instead...

[ex-khobar Andy]

Mattis specifically noted that the end of Feb would give time for both Senate confirmation and an orderly transition. Obviously end December is not time for Senate consideration and confirmation; and I have no doubt that Mattis would have helped his successor to figure out the ropes of how to get things done and that he would have done this with integrity and effectiveness. His statement that Trump has the right to a SoD who shares his views meant what it said at face value.

As usual Trump, when offered a means of making a bad situation a little bearable, has succeeded in making it worse. I'm no fan of Mattis, but the contrast between his doing the honorable thing and Trump being his usual ineffective inane self is very illustrative of the mess we're in.

Hell, I'm beginning to think well of Nixon.

[Bicycle Bill]

Hell, I'm beginning to think well of Nixon.

If I compare him to Trump, I could start to think well of Benedict Arnold.

-"BB"-

[Lord Jim]

If I compare him to Trump, I could start to think well of Benedict Arnold.

That's a fair point...

Arnold may have sold out his country for money, (just like Trump) but at least nobody can accuse Benedict Arnold of being a physical coward like Trump...

Trump makes me start thinking better of James Buchanan...

Buchanan may have stood by and done nothing while his country disintegrated; Trump would have tried to figure out a way to make a buck off of it...

[ex-khobar Andy]

And in other news, half an hour into the trading day, the Dow is down 315 points.

I just went back to Morningstar to check. In the 4 minutes since I last looked and typed this, it's now down by 354.

And one minute later (10:05) it's 369. I'll stop looking now.

10:07 down 435. Really, I'll stop looking.

[Big RR]

10:25, back up to a decrease of "only" 313 and change; but his trade "policies" will make us prosperous.

[Lord Jim]

Down 403 at 11:38 EST...

The good news is it's a short trading day...

[Big RR]

It don't mean a thing, if it ain't got that swing. But thankful for the short trading day.

[Burning Petard]

On the other hand, volume is up pretty good and sales are flowing quickly--lots of places are willing to buy. I look for panic when volume drops way off because few ready to buy

snailgate