James Mattis has lost influence in the Trump administration, and his future as US defence secretary is now in question, according to former administration officials and analysts.
His eclipse is a worrying prospect for US allies, whom Mattis has worked hard to reassure by mitigating Donald Trump’s unilateral actions and disparaging remarks with promises of sustained solidarity and cooperation.
In the nervous run-up to July’s Nato summit, European partners in particular view the defence secretary as a talisman of continuity in a capricious US administration.
However, there are signs that he is becoming increasingly adrift from the White House. According to an NBC News report, Mattis was left out of the loop on a number of major Trump decisions, such as the abrogation of the Iran nuclear deal in May, the abrupt suspension of joint military exercises with South Korea and the presidential executive order creating a new “space force”, against Pentagon advice.
Sign up for Guardian Today US edition: the day's must-reads sent directly to you
Read more
For most of his time as defence secretary, Mattis has sought to walk a verbal tightrope, being as supportive as possible to the commander-in-chief while avoiding outright lies. He has managed this to some extent by keeping a low profile. As the months have passed, however, he has found it harder to remain factual and loyal at the same time.
Marginalised Mattis appears closer to exit as Trump's defence se..
A bit troubling as he seems to be the only sane man there and the only man between Trump doing something stupid with the military.
For anyone who understands the working of the upper defence command structure, if Mattis is replaced with a yes man can the JCOS actually do anything to prevent dangerous military actions, or are they bound to take the madman's orders or be replaced themselves?
Mad Dog's gonna be put down :c
They are bound to do what the president says regardless of who the secretary of defense is.
Maybe him leaving will result in reduced support for Trump among servicemen
Legally bound, but I think hope the Republicans listen up if the JCOS start sweating. I'd like to think is Trump does something very stupid they'll mutiny and refuse but we'll see.
Literally the only sane man in the administration, of course hes getting shitcanned
25 years later in the wasteland, Americans are still going to be debating around a spitroasted mutant corpse on the campfire whether or not the JCOS did the right thing simplying following orders from the president. One man will get very angry at the idea that the so-called "rule of law" takes precedence over common sense, while another will reply "kek libcucks getting mad xD"
Not really a surprise that they want to get rid of the only adult in the room.
I thought a good amount of Trump's base respects Mattis?
isnt he hugely popular among the military? I cant imagine shitcanning him or forcing him out would go over very well
Oh god I hope he is.
Not because I disagree with the guy or anything, I just want to see the Administration hurt itself in every way it can.
how to lose the marine vote 101
He's not morally bankrupt nor a yes-man so it's not too surprising unfortunately.
They support anyone Trump tells them to, until he tells them not to. There is no higher loyalty than Trump among his cult.
Mattis recommended banning transgender troops who require or have gone through surgery.
He's not morally bankrupt but he's definitely not a beacon of morality either.
Okay, let me rephrase that then: Compared to the rest of the Trump administration he's not morally bankrupt. To the point where most people who hate Trump seem to consider Mattis like the only person working for him who isn't shit.
I'm really not sure why you felt the need to focus on that anyways. While I disagree with that opinion of his it's more likely a matter of ignorance than moral bankruptcy.
Did he personally recommend that, or was he implementing policy dictated by Trump and his crew?
What good would that do
https://partner-mco-archive.s3.amazonaws.com/client_files/1521897476.pdf
Here's Mattis' February 2018 memo to President Trump.
I quote:
Prior to your election, the previous administration adopted a policy that allowed for the accession and retention in the Armed Forces of trans gender persons who had a history or diagnosis of gender dysphoria. The policy also created a procedure by which such Service members could change their gender. This policy was a departure from decades-long military personnel policy. On June 30, 2017, before the new accession standards \Vere set to take effect. I approved the recommendation of the Services to dday for an additional six months the implementation of these standards to evaluate more carefully their impact on readiness and lethality.
Based on the work of the Panel and the Department's best military judgment, the Department of Defense concludes that there are substantial risks associated with allowing the accession and retention of individuals with a history or diagnosis of gender dysphoria and require, or have already undertaken, a course of treatment to change their gender. Furthermore, the Department also finds that exempting such persons from well-established mental health, physical health, and sex-based standards, which apply to all Service members, including transgender Service members without gender dysphoria, could undermine readiness, disrupt unit cohesion, and impose an unreasonable burden on the military that is not conducive to military effectiveness and lethality.
Transgender persons with a history or diagnosis of gender dysphoria are disqualified
from military service, except under the following limited circumstances:
( 1) if they
have been stable for 36 consecutive months in their biological sex prior to accession;
(2) Service members diagnosed with gender dysphoria after entering into service may
be retained if they do not require a change of gender and remain deployable within
applicable retention standards; and
(3) currently serving Service members who have been diagnosed with gender dysphoria since
the previous administration's policy took
effect and prior to the effective date of this new policy, may continue to serve in their
preferred gender and receive medically necessary treatment for gender dysphoria.
(4) Transgender persons who require or have undergone gender transition are disqualified
from military service.
Reduced support for Trump is always a good thing, it makes the impeachment process smoother
Considering DADT has not long been gone from the rulebook compared to its longevity, I'm not exactly surprised that the military has still concluded that transgender persons could be harmful or be unduly harmed by service, to be honest. I'm not defending the policy as I haven't read through their reported extensive assessment and analysis, which I hope exists. But I don't think it's that unexpected that an organisation that was until recently super-conservative regarding LGB, hasn't embraced Trans people.
It would be sad to see him go, but remember that his appointment was likely just another PR move by Trump to begin with. He knew how popular he was among the servicemen/women and veterans, but whether or not his removal will have any lasting repercussions is hard to say at this point, because nothing about Trumps' support-base makes sense anymore.
This is something I definitely didn't want to hear.
Here the memo from Mattis;
https://partner-mco-archive.s3.amazonaws.com/client_files/1521897476.pdf
It definitely wasn't based on some prejudice that people who oppose have, literally an educated and from what appears to be a well discussed or at the very least meaning group opinion. But the bigger reason I can see behind is the fact the US Military already has enough issues with people who have mental or psychological issues. It's why there's been more deaths via suicide than combat deaths, hell even newer joins have ended up committing suicide before they even hit their first unit.
Personally I don't care if you're trans and want to serve, by all means. However I can see the hesitation for them to want to allowed for a minority group that not only is disliked by other minorities but has a history of unstable mental faculties. One guy I knew way back in MCT was removed from beging a mortar-man or machine gunner because he has anxiety, just from him saying that they swapped his MOS and placed him in the holding platoon. Now associate said group that's prone to getting unwarranted hate from people around them, isolation, and the sense of being unable to trust their fellow Soldiers,Marines and Sailors and you have an incident waiting to happen.
Dear God, imagine if the NK situation flairs up again with Mattis out the door...
Don't worry, it'll take all of a day for Trump retards to flip on him and decide he's a deep state DEMONCRAT or whatever. Before that happens we still have to go through the patented "these rumors are false" cycle before he submits his resignation.
Eh, I think Iran's a more likely target at the moment. Don't think Trump will go ham on Kim right now after basically becoming butt-buddies with him.
Why should the military pay for people's gender reassignment surgery? And I can kinda see where he's coming from, having troops in the field actively experiencing gender dysphoria doesn't sound at all efficient or productive to the goals of the military. I don't think it's a hateful decision, it's just a ton of liability.
By that logic, why should the military pay as much as it does for Viagra?
With this administration , as long as he's keeping us from being blow the fuck up I'm fine.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whataboutism
the military shouldn't be stocking up on viagra but these are two completely separate issues
quality of life vs force readiness/ensuring standards are met
Sorry, you need to Log In to post a reply to this thread.
