JAMES MATTIS/MILITARY/NATIONAL SECURITY/OBAMA/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “That says it all about [former Secretary of Defense James] Mattis. Obama fired him. I should have fired him sooner. Did best work after he was gone. World’s most overrated general! RT @FoxNews Mattis says he hopes Joe Biden takes ‘America First’ out of national security strategy“ ––Donald Trump, Twitter.com, […]
Category: James Mattis
6/9/2020
JAMES MATTIS/MILITARY: “Mattis was our Country’s most overrated General. He talked a lot, but never ‘brought home the bacon.’ He was terrible! Someday I will tell the real story on him and others – both good and bad! RT @GregJaffe Seb Gorka: “I’m not a Marine, but I know the Marines….Jim Mattis is no Marine.” […]
6/4/2020
JAMES MATTIS/OBAMA: “The problem with asking for someone to give you a letter of resignation, which you do as a courtesy to help them save face, is that it is then harder to say you fired them. I did fire James Mattis. He was no good for Obama, who fired him also, and was no […]
6/4/2020
JAMES MATTIS/JOHN KELLY: “John Kelly didn’t know I was going to fire James Mattis, nor did he have any knowledge of my asking for a letter of resignation. Why would I tell him, he was not… …in my inner-circle, was totally exhausted by the job, and in the end just slinked away into obscurity. They […]
6/3/2020
BARACK OBAMA/JAMES MATTIS/MILITARY: “Probably the only thing Barack Obama & I have in common is that we both had the honor of firing Jim Mattis, the world’s most overrated General. I asked for his letter of resignation, & felt great about it. His nickname was ‘Chaos’, which I didn’t like, & changed to ‘Mad Dog’… […]
2/6/2019
JAMES MATTIS/SYRIA/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “Former Secretary of Defense James Mattis was right to disagree with President Donald Trump over his plan to withdraw US troops from Syria, a top civilian official at the Pentagon told congressional lawmakers on Wednesday [2-6-19]. Appearing before the House Armed Services Committee for a hearing on the Pentagon’s counter terrorism […]
12/26/2018
ISIS/JAMES MATTIS/MILITARY/SYRIA/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “President Donald Trump on Wednesday [12-26-18] restated his position that it was time for U.S. forces to leave Syria and the fight against the Islamic State, saying, ‘We’ve knocked them silly.’ During an unannounced visit to a military base in Iraq, his first to a combat zone as president, Trump also […]
12/26/2018
IRAQ/JAMES MATTIS/MILITARY/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “President Trump visited American military forces on Wednesday [12-26-18] in Iraq, making his first trip to troops stationed in a combat zone only days after announcing his intention to withdraw the United States from foreign wars in Syria and Afghanistan. The trip, shrouded in secrecy, came during a partial government shutdown […]
12/24/2018
JAMES MATTIS/MILITARY/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “….We are substantially subsidizing the Militaries of many VERY rich countries all over the world, while at the same time these countries take total advantage of the U.S., and our TAXPAYERS, on Trade. General Mattis did not see this as a problem. I DO, and it is being fixed!” -Donald Trump, […]
JAMES MATTIS/OBAMA/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “When President Obama ingloriously fired Jim Mattis, I gave him a second chance. Some thought I shouldn’t, I thought I should. Interesting relationship-but I also gave all of the resources that he never really had. Allies are very important-but not when they take advantage of U.S.” -Donald Trump, Twitter.com, December 22, […]
12/21/2018
CHINA/FOREIGN POLICY/JAMES MATTIS/RUSSIA/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “In an extraordinary public battle between a commander-in-chief and defense secretary, President Donald Trump appeared to push back Friday [12-21-18] on Pentagon chief Jim Mattis over policy toward Russia and China. ‘There has never been a president who has been tougher (but fair) on China or Russia,’ Trump said on […]
12/21/2018
ECONOMY/FEDERAL RESERVE/JAMES MATTIS/SYRIA/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “It’s been a wild ride in Washington, D.C., this week and the turmoil has roiled stocks. The Federal Reserve increased a benchmark interest rate again, upsetting investors who fear that higher borrowing costs will crimp corporate growth. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis resigned after President Trump unexpectedly announced the pullout of […]
12/20/2018
FOREIGN POLICY/JAMES MATTIS/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “Defense Secretary Jim Mattis resigned on Thursday [12-20-18] while delivering a stunning rebuke to President Donald Trump, expressing differences on issues including the president’s treatment of U.S. allies and the need for a ‘resolute’ approach to Russia…The highly public end to Mattis’ two years as Pentagon leader came a day […]
12/20/2018
AFGHANISTAN/JAMES MATTIS/MILITARY/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “President Donald Trump is considering a major withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan, the latest in a series of abrupt changes to U.S. military policy the president is either eyeing or has executed over the past 24 hours. Trump is weighing the decision to pull back from the 17-year-old conflict, a senior […]
12/20/2018
DEFENSE/JAMES MATTIS/MILITARY/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “….equipment. 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!” –Donald Trump, Twitter.com, December 20, 2018 5:21 pm […]
12/20/2018
DEFENSE/JAMES MATTIS/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “General Jim Mattis will be retiring, with distinction, at the end of February, after having served my Administration as Secretary of Defense for the past two years. During Jim’s tenure, tremendous progress has been made, especially with respect to the purchase of new fighting….” -Donald Trump, Twitter.com, December 20, 2018 5:21 […]
12/20/2018
JAMES MATTIS/MILITARY/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “Secretary of Defense James Mattis submitted his resignation on Thursday [12-20-18]. It was an honorable thing to do. But it wasn’t much of a choice. He did exactly what military tradition demands when one can’t ethically or morally support the boss anymore. It’s a wonder, quite frankly, that it took this […]
12/20/2018
JAMES MATTIS/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “James Mattis just cut the world’s safety net. The defense secretary’s decision to quit Thursday [12-20-18] was a warning that will ring through history about an impulsive President who spurns advice, disdains America’s friends and proudly repudiates the codes of US leadership that have endured since World War II. Mattis stopped […]
12/20/2018
AFGHANISTAN/JAMES MATTIS/MILITARY/SYRIA/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “By plainly stating his policy differences in his resignation letter, U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis has sparked an incipient challenge to President Donald Trump’s foreign and security agenda that sets his departure apart from scores of others that preceded him. Mattis, a retired Marine general who was highly regarded by Republicans […]
12/20/2018
JAMES MATTIS/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, whose experience and stability were widely seen as a balance to an unpredictable president, resigned Thursday [12-20-18] in protest of President Trump’s decision to withdraw American forces from Syria and his rejection of international alliances. Mr. Mattis had repeatedly told friends and aides over recent months that […]
11/28/2018
CABINET/CIA/JAMES MATTIS/MEDIA/MIKE POMPEO/SAUDI ARABIA/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “Two senior U.S. Cabinet members urged senators on Wednesday [11-28-18] not to downgrade ties with Saudi Arabia over the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, but lawmakers from both parties said they could not turn a blind eye to reports that the country’s de facto ruler was involved in last […]
11/21/2018
BORDER/IMMIGRATION/JAMES MATTIS/MILITARY/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “The White House has authorized active-duty military troops stationed along the southwest border to use lethal force, if necessary, a significant escalation of the support role they had been tasked with that may run afoul of a 140-year-old law that generally bars the military from operating within U.S. boundaries. White House […]
10/29/2018
BORDER/IMMIGRATION/JAMES MATTIS/MILITARY/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “President Donald Trump characterized a group of migrants headed toward the United States as an invading force, adding that the U.S military would meet them at the border…Trump’s tweet refers to a large ‘caravan’ of migrants fleeing poverty and violence in Honduras that set off more than two weeks ago and […]
10/20/2018
DEFENSE/JAMES MATTIS/NATIONAL SECURITY/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “National security leaders fear that Defense Secretary Jim Mattis is on his way out — and that Donald Trump’s next Pentagon chief will be far more subservient to the president’s unilateral and bombastic whims. Mattis was instrumental in pulling back on Trump’s vow to ‘carpet bomb’ ISIS or pull troops […]
10/17/2018
ASIA/CHINA/DEFENSE/JAMES MATTIS/MILITARY/TRUMP PEOPLE: “U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis held high-profile talks with his Chinese counterpart on Thursday [10-18-18], as the United States seeks to forge to more resilient military ties that can withstand mounting pressure between the world’s two largest economies. Mattis saw first hand last month how growing Sino-U.S. friction can undermine military contacts […]
10/15/2018
DEFENSE/JAMES MATTIS/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “US Secretary of Defense James Mattis said Monday [10-15-16] he has ‘never talked’ with President Donald Trump about leaving the administration despite the President’s calling him ‘sort of a Democrat’ who ‘may leave’ his position…Mattis also dismissed the President’s remark suggesting he had affiliation with the Democratic Party. ‘I’ve never registered […]
9/18/2018
DEFENSE/JAMES MATTIS/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “Defense Secretary Jim Mattis on Tuesday [9-18-18] dismissed recent news reports that tensions between him and President Donald Trump point to his exit soon. Asked by a reporter whether such reports should be taken seriously, he replied, ‘No. I wouldn’t take it seriously at all. It’s like most of those kind […]
9/18/2018
JAMES MATTIS/TRUMP PEOPLE: “U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis on Tuesday [9-18-18] flatly dismissed reports suggesting he may be leaving President Donald Trump’s administration in the coming months, saying flatly: ‘I wouldn’t take it seriously at all’…The remarks were the most direct by Mattis to date about intensifying rumors about his future as Trump approaches the […]
9/6/2018
DEFENSE/JAMES MATTIS/MILITARY/TRUMP PEOPLE: “US Secretary of Defense James Mattis made an unexpected trip to Afghanistan Friday [9-7-18], his visit coming as the US tries to make headway in the country after 17 years of war. Mattis met with Army Gen. Scott Miller, the new Commander of Resolute Support and US Forces-Afghanistan, who assumed the role […]
9/6/2018
JAMES MATTIS/MEDIA/MILITARY/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “Damaging portraits of President Donald Trump are drawing new attention to the options available to military commanders who feel they have been given an illegal or seriously ill-advised order by their commander in chief. A New York Times op-ed penned by a ‘senior official’ and excerpts from a new book by […]
9/6/2018
JAMES MATTIS/MEDIA/MIKE PENCE/MIKE POMPEO/TRUMP PEOPLE: “Top aides to Donald Trump scrambled on Thursday [9-6-18] to deny authorship of an anonymous New York Times opinion column that slammed the U.S. president’s leadership style and described ‘a quiet resistance’ to him within his own administration. By early afternoon, eight senior officials had disavowed the piece, including Vice […]
9/5/2018
JAMES MATTIS/MEDIA/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “U.S President Donald Trump said on Wednesday [9-5-18] Defense Secretary James Mattis will remain in his job, a day after a report, denied by Mattis, that he had made disparaging remarks about the president. Asked by reporters at the White House whether he was considering replacing Mattis, Trump said: ‘He’ll stay […]
9/5/2018
JAMES MATTIS/MEDIA/SYRIA/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday [9-5-18] said he did not discuss assassinating Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad, disputing an account in a forthcoming book by journalist Bob Woodward. Trump, speaking to reporters during a visit with Kuwaiti ruler Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah, said a possible assassination was ‘never even discussed’…Trump […]
9/5/2018
JAMES MATTIS/MEDIA/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “Thank you General Mattis, book is boring & untrue! https://t.co/Bq79ZjF3Dk“ -Donald Trump, Twitter.com, September 5, 2018 8:54 am […]
9/4/2018
DEMS/GOP/JAMES MATTIS/MEDIA/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “President Donald Trump has hurled numerous insults at Democrats, the news media and even those in his own party. But the president has also been on the receiving end, including from people who work in his administration. ‘Fear: Trump in the White House,’ by Bob Woodward, is the latest book to […]
9/4/2018
DEMS/JAMES MATTIS/JOHN KELLY/MEDIA/TRUMP PEOPLE: “The Woodward book has already been refuted and discredited by General (Secretary of Defense) James Mattis and General (Chief of Staff) John Kelly. Their quotes were made up frauds, a con on the public. Likewise other stories and quotes. Woodward is a Dem operative? Notice timing?” –Donald Trump, Twitter.com, September 4, […]
9/4/2018
JAMES MATTIS: “Statement from Secretary of Defense, James Mattis: https://t.co/OneaxKCneV“ –Donald Trump, Twitter.com, September 4, 2018 5:37 pm […]
9/4/2018
JAMES MATTIS/MEDIA/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT/TRUMP PEOPLE: “President Trump so alarmed his defense secretary, Jim Mattis, during a discussion last January of the nuclear standoff with North Korea that an exasperated Mr. Mattis told colleagues ‘the president acted like — and had the understanding of — a ‘fifth or sixth grader.’’ At another moment, Mr. Trump’s aides […]
7/17/2018
2016 ELECTION/JAMES MATTIS/RUSSIA/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis is open to the possibility of the first talks since 2015 between the defense chiefs of the United States and Russia, a move that would deepen communication between Washington and Moscow, U.S. officials said. The possibility of talks surfaced after Monday’s [7-16-18] controversial summit in […]
5/10/2018
IRAN/JAMES MATTIS/NUCLEAR/RUDY GIULIANI/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT/TRUMP PEOPLE: “Defense Secretary James Mattis may have come to terms with President Donald Trump’s decision to quit the Iran nuclear deal, but he suggested the administration is still grappling with how to define US policy on countering Tehran following public calls for regime change from national security adviser John Bolton […]
4/12/2018
JAMES MATTIS/SYRIA/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT/TRUMP PEOPLE: “Nikki Haley, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, on Thursday [4-12-18] said the U.S. has enough proof to act in response to an alleged chemical attack in Syria, and President Donald Trump is looking at all his options…The Syrian government allegedly used chemical weapons on civilians in a suburb […]
3/28/2018
CIA/DEFENSE/FOREIGN POLICY/JAMES MATTIS/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT/TRUMP PEOPLE: “Defense Secretary James Mattis is doing his best to downplay notions that he is concerned about working with President Donald Trump’s hawkish new national security adviser John Bolton despite signs of a shifting power dynamic at the highest levels of the administration and strong indications that the two men […]
3/12/2018
AFGHANISTAN/DEFENSE/FOREIGN POLICY/JAMES MATTIS/MILITARY: “The United States is picking up signs of interest from Taliban elements in exploring the possibility of talks with Kabul to end the more than 16-year-old war, U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said on Tuesday [3-13-18] as he made an unannounced visit to Afghanistan… Afghan President Ashraf Ghani offered talks without preconditions […]
2/23/2018
DEFENSE/JAMES MATTIS/LGBTQ: “U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis has made his recommendations to the White House on transgender individuals and military service, the Pentagon said on Friday [2-23-18]. Major David Eastburn, a Pentagon spokesman, said the recommendations had been made earlier on Friday and the White House would make any policy decisions. In September, the Pentagon […]
2/7/2018
BUDGET/JAMES MATTIS/MILITARY: “The Budget Agreement today is so important for our great Military. It ends the dangerous sequester and gives Secretary Mattis what he needs to keep America Great. Republicans and Democrats must support our troops and support this Bill!” -Donald Trump, Twitter.com, Feb. 7, 2018 05:36pm […]
2/5/2018
DEFENSE/GUANTANAMO/JAMES MATTIS: “Secretary of Defense James Mattis fired two top Guantanamo Bay officials on Monday [2-5-18] over a ‘loss of confidence,’ a senior defense official tells CNN… Crosson said that Mattis has appointed Jim Coyne, who currently serves as the general counsel at the Defense Logistics Agency, as the acting convening authority. There are several […]
1/25/2018
CHINA/FOREIGN POLICY/JAMES MATTIS/NAVY/VIETNAM: “In a move likely to irritate China, a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier will probably visit Vietnam in March for the first time since the war, U.S. and Vietnamese officials said Thursday [1-25-18]. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and his Vietnamese counterpart discussed a plan for a carrier visit to Da Nang in March, […]
1/23/2018
CHINA/INDONESIA/JAMES MATTIS/NATIONAL SECURITY: “U.S. Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis pushed for more extensive security ties Tuesday [1-23-18] with strategically located Indonesia, part of new drive to shore up Southeast Asian countries against intimidation by China in the South China Sea. Mr. Mattis is making a short tour that will also take him to Vietnam, days […]
1/19/2018
CHINA/DEFENSE/JAMES MATTIS/MILITARY/RUSSIA: “The United States is switching its priority to countering Chinese and Russian military might after almost two decades of focusing on the fight against terrorism, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said Friday [1-19-18], unveiling a national defense strategy that Pentagon officials say will provide a blueprint for years to come. The new strategy echoes […]
12/21/2017
DEFENSE/JAMES MATTIS/MILITARY: “Defense Secretary Jim Mattis left Washington Wednesday [12-20-17] on an unannounced trip to visit U.S. troops for the holidays, officials said. Mr. Mattis will visit American forces stationed at the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; Camp Lejeune, N.C.; Ft. Bragg, N.C.; and the Mayport naval base in Jacksonville, Fla., Defense officials […]
10/29/2017
DEFENSE/JAMES MATTIS/MILITARY/REX TILLERSON/STATE: “U.S. lawmakers will grill top Trump administration officials on Monday [10-30-17] about a new authorization for the use of military force in the campaign against Islamic State and other militant groups, Congress’ most significant step in years toward taking back control of its constitutional right to authorize war. Secretary of State Rex […]
10/27/2017
DEFENSE/JAMES MATTIS/NORTH KOREA: “Defense Secretary Jim Mattis denounced North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un’s regime as a threat to regional security during a visit to the demilitarized zone that divides the two Koreas, even as he reaffirmed the U.S.’s commitment to diplomacy. ‘North Korean provocations continue to threaten regional and global security despite unanimous condemnation […]
10/22/2017
DEFENSE/JAMES MATTIS/NATIONAL SECURITY/NORTH KOREA: “Defense Secretary Jim Mattis arrived here to meet with regional counterparts as the U.S. attempts to coordinate efforts to counter North Korean belligerence. The Pentagon chief is scheduled to meet Monday with Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera, Philippine Defense Minister Delfin Lorenzana and South Korean Defense Minister Song Young-moo during a […]
10/18/2017
CYBERWAR/FOREIGN POLICY/JAMES MATTIS/MILITARY: “U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis this week asked Congress to halt pending legislation that would compel the U.S. to alert foreign governments when the Pentagon has decided to combat certain cyber attacks, according to a letter sent to lawmakers. The letter, sent to members of Congress on Tuesday and seen by […]
10/3/2017
DEFENSE/FOREIGN POLICY/IRAN/JAMES MATTIS/NATIONAL SECURITY/NUCLEAR: “Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis told lawmakers Tuesday [10-3-17] that he supports the 2015 international nuclear deal with Iran, even though President Donald Trump has called it ‘one of the worst and most one-sided’ agreements ever made by the U.S… Mr. Trump must certify to Congress whether Iran remains in compliance […]
9/18/2017
DEFENSE/JAMES MATTIS/MILITARY/NORTH KOREA/SOUTH KOREA/UN: “The U.S. has military options available for North Korea that won’t put South Korea at grave risk of counterattack, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said Monday [9-18-17], but he refused to spell out what those are. Mr. Mattis also said in an impromptu meeting with reporters at the Pentagon that the U.S. […]
9/13/2017
CRISIS/DEFENSE/JAMES MATTIS/MEXICO: “Defense Secretary Jim Mattis will resume his role as the reassurer for American allies this week when he heads to Mexico, where he will try to mend relations after President Trump failed to quickly offer condolences for the earthquake on Friday [9-15-17] that killed at least 96 people and severely damaged thousands of […]
9/12/2017
BUDGET/DEFENSE/JAMES MATTIS/MILITARY: “Defense Secretary James Mattis is warning Congress that a long-term continuing resolution to fund the government will lead to irrecoverable lost training time, delayed ship maintenance and critical personnel gaps. In a letter to defense committee leaders obtained by CNN, Mattis detailed the effects of a continuing resolution, which Congress frequently uses to […]
9/3/2017
JAMES MATTIS/JOHN KELLY/NORTH KOREA/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “I will be meeting General Kelly, General Mattis and other military leaders at the White House to discuss North Korea. Thank you.” -Donald Trump, Twitter.com, September 3, 2017 11:07am […]
8/30/2017
JAMES MATTIS/LGBTQ/MILITARY: “Defense Secretary Jim Mattis plans to convene a panel of experts to help implement a ban on transgender service in the military, but there are still too few top defense officials to adequately conduct the review, a top Pentagon spokeswoman said Wednesday [8-30-17]. Like other federal agencies, the Defense Department has dozens of […]
8/29/2017
JAMES MATTIS/LGBTQ/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “Defense Secretary Jim Mattis kicked President Trump’s proposed ban on transgender people serving in the military down the road, announcing that transgender service members will continue to be allowed to serve pending the results of a study. In a statement on Tuesday [8-29-17] evening, Mr. Mattis said that he was establishing […]
8/24/2017
DEFENSE/JAMES MATTIS/RUSSIA/UKRAINE: “Defense Secretary Jim Mattis vowed on Thursday [8-24-17] to help Ukraine stand up to Russian violations of its sovereignty and signaled that the Trump administration was considering providing defensive weapons to the Ukrainian military. President Barack Obama had resisted such a step, fearing it would be seen as a provocation by Russia. In […]
8/23/2017
JAMES MATTIS/LGBTQ/MILITARY/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “The White House is expected to send guidance to the Pentagon in coming days on how to implement a new administration ban on transgender people in the military, issuing a policy that will allow Defense Secretary Jim Mattis to consider a service member’s ability to deploy in deciding whether to kick […]
8/23/2017
EGYPT/PALESTINE/TRUMP FAMILY/JARED KUSHNER: “In his first solo trip to the broader Middle East as President Trump’s designated peacemaker, Jared Kushner has found both cause for optimism and reminders of just what a daunting task his father-in-law has given him. Over the course of two days, he met with leaders from several influential Arab countries and […]
8/14/2017
JAMES MATTIS/NORTH KOREA/REX TILLERSON: “Defense Secretary Jim Mattis was wrapping up a talk a few days ago to sailors of the submarine Kentucky, which carries two dozen nuclear-tipped intercontinental ballistic missiles, when he sent them off with this sober message: ‘If we’ve got to turn something off in a hurry,’ he said, ‘we’re counting on […]
8/2/2017
DEFENSE/JAMES MATTIS/MILITARY/UAE: “Defense Secretary James Mattis received permission from the US military after retiring from the Marine Corps to work as a military adviser to the United Arab Emirates, newly disclosed Pentagon records show. Mattis, a retired Marine general, was not paid for the advising work, according to the Pentagon, and the advising role was […]
7/24/2017
BUDGET/DEFENSE/JAMES MATTIS/MILITARY: “Defense Secretary Jim Mattis blasted the Pentagon bureaucracy for ‘cavalier’ spending in light of a recent report that showed as much as $28 million had been wasted in buying uniforms for the Afghan army, according to a memo obtained by USA TODAY. The report found that U.S. military officials have purchased the forest-camouflage […]
7/6/2017
DEFENSE/NATIONAL SECURITY/NORTH KOREA/NUCLEAR/TRUMP PEOPLE/JAMES MATTIS: “The Trump administration said it would give diplomacy more time to resolve a gathering crisis over North Korea’s efforts to build a nuclear weapon that can reach U.S. shores. On Thursday [7-6-17], Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said the U.S. wasn’t closer to war, in his first remarks since North Korea […]
6/30/2017
DEFENSE/TRUMP PEOPLE/JAMES MATTIS: “A plan to allow transgender recruits to join the United States military beginning on Saturday [7-2-17] has been delayed for six months by Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, a Pentagon spokeswoman said on Friday. The 11th-hour decision byMr. Mattis will allow service leaders to ‘review their accession plans and provide input’ as they […]
6/28/2017
DEFENSE/SYRIA/TRUMP PEOPLE/JAMES MATTIS: “U.S. Defence Secretary Jim Mattis said on Wednesday [6-28-17] that the Syrian government of President Bashar al-Assad appeared so far to have heeded a warning this week from Washington not to carry out a chemical weapons attack. But Russia, the Syrian government’s main backer, said the U.S. assertions that Assad’s forces may […]
6/23/2017
DEFENSE/TRUMP PEOPLE/JAMES MATTIS: “The top Republican and Democrat on the Senate armed services committee are asking Defense Secretary James Mattis to investigate accusations of torture at prisons in Yemen run by United Arab Emirates forces where US forces were also interrogating prisoners. Sens. John McCain of Arizona and Jack Reed of Rhode Island sent a […]
6/21/2017
DEFENSE/MILITARY/TRUMP PEOPLE/JAMES MATTIS: “Congress is considering placing new limits on the Trump administration’s war-making powers as the White House delegates key decisions on military action to the Pentagon. Democrats and some key Republicans say they’re alarmed that President Donald Trump has delegated the decision to set troop levels in Afghanistan to his defense secretary, James […]
5/23/2017
CABINET/DEFENSE/MILITARY/TRUMP PEOPLE/JAMES MATTIS: “Defense Secretary James Mattis was taken by surprise when the US Air Force dropped a Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb, also known as the ‘Mother of All Bombs,’ on Islamic State targets in Afghanistan in April, according to a recent report in The New Yorker. The decision to use the largest nonnuclear […]
5/19/2017
CABINET/DEFENSE/TRUMP PEOPLE/JAMES MATTIS: “U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said on Friday [5-19-17] the U.S.-led coalition was now encircling Islamic State fighters in their strongholds in a tactical shift before starting a military campaign to destroy them. Also speaking at the Pentagon on Friday, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Joseph Dunford, said […]
5/11/2017
CABINET/DEFENSE/FOREIGN POLICY/TRUMP PEOPLE/JAMES MATTIS/TURKEY: “U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis voiced strong support for Turkey’s fight against PKK militants after talks with Turkey’s prime minister on Thursday [5-11-17], as Ankara fumes over a U.S. decision to arm Kurdish fighters in Syria it equates to PKK allies. Mattis expressed optimism that Washington and Ankara would work through […]
5/10/2017
CABINET/DEFENSE/FOREIGN POLICY/NATO/TRUMP PEOPLE/JAMES MATTIS: “Defense Secretary Jim Mattis traveled to the eastern edge of the NATO alliance on Wednesday [5-10-17] to pledge American solidarity with the Baltic nations, but he stopped short of giving his hosts in Lithuania what they wanted: a commitment to base Patriot missile-defense systems in the region. With Russia adopting an […]
4/24/2017
AFGHANISTAN/CABINET/DEFENSE/FOREIGN POLICY/TRUMP PEOPLE/JAMES MATTIS: “Defense Secretary Jim Mattis made an unannounced trip to Afghanistan to meet with Afghan leaders and U.S. military officials Monday [4-24-17], taking a fresh look at a 15-year war where he served during its first optimistic months. Mattis’ visit capped a six-country tour through the Middle East, his first as secretary […]
4/21/2017
BUDGET/DEFENSE/MILITARY/TRUMP PEOPLE/JAMES MATTIS: “Defense Secretary James Mattis has privately told Congress the Trump administration’s Pentagon budget request isn’t sufficient to cover the cost of rebuilding the military as President Donald Trump has vowed to do, four sources familiar with the conversations told CNN. Trump has repeatedly said he would rebuild the military with a massive […]
4/21/2017
CABINET/DEFENSE/FOREIGN POLICY/SYRIA/TRUMP PEOPLE/JAMES MATTIS: “U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said Friday there was ‘no doubt’ that the Syrian government has chemical weapons, following a U.S. strike earlier this month on a Syrian air base that targeted a stockpile believed to have been used on a rebel-held town. ‘The bottom line is there can be no […]
3/19/2017
CABINET/DEFENSE/EPA/TRUMP PEOPLE/JAMES MATTIS/SCOTT PRUITT: “The political appointee charged with keeping watch over Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt and his aides has offered unsolicited advice so often that after just four weeks on the job, Pruitt has shut him out of many staff meetings, according to two senior administration officials. At the Pentagon, they’re privately […]
2/21/2017
CABINET/DEFENSE/TRUMP PEOPLE/JAMES MATTIS: “Defense Secretary Jim Mattis appears to be at odds with President Donald Trump on Russia and other key issues, setting up potential discord but also helping to nudge the White House toward more conventional policy stances. In recent days, other top administration officials have aired foreign-policy views that don’t align perfectly with […]
2/3/2017
CABINET/FOREIGN POLICY/JAMES MATTIS/NORTH KOREA: “U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis promised an ‘effective and overwhelming’ response to any use of nuclear weapons against America or its allies, delivering a firm message to North Korea during his first overseas trip. Mr. Mattis said during a meeting Friday with South Korean Defense Minister Han Min-koo that the U.S.’s […]