Just days after Defense Secretary James Mattis announced his planned
resignation at the end of February, President Trump tweeted on Sunday
that he will be ousting Mattis at the end of the month, two months earlier than planned.
Trump bragged of having given Mattis a “second chance” after he was
fired by President Obama, and announced that Patrick Shanahan will be
taking the role of acting Defense Secretary until a permanent
replacement is found.
Trump praised Shanahan, the current deputy defense secretary, as “very talented.”
Shanahan spent most of his career working for Boeing, and this is the
first administration he has served under. There is no indication he is
under consideration as a permanent replacement for Mattis.
Trump’s decision to
speed up Mattis’ departure is believed to have been the result of
criticism of Trump’s policy in the letter that went public after the
resignation. Trump added in his announcement that he also supports
alliances, but not when they take advantage of the US.
Finally the Pentagon gets a taste of it’s own chaos. Trump’s insanity is the gift that just keeps giving. Fire Pence and replace him with Scott Baio. Fiddle while the empire melts, President Nero. Dance and burn, little piggies, dance and burn.
Comrade,,,Off the meds?
Nope. My meds are just groovy. You?
… Canada legalized merry-juana.
Brock, so did Michigan, now you can dumb down all you want, I’ll be sitting out that party,,,,Dude..
You’d be surprised how many adults can actually use marijuana and still remain functioning, productive human beings. But you probably get your information from watching “Reefer Madness” over and over.
Weed may not be an impediment to intelligence, even during use.
https://www.inc. com/cynthia-than/the-surprising-way-to-be-better-at-brain-teasers-a.html
Marijuana has been suppressed and maligned for so long it will be a
while before the scientific data is as good as that on the damage:health benefits
of other recreationals like alcohol or tobacco.
As with alcohol, moderation and healthy sourcing makes all the difference. Smoking is probably not very good whatever the product, though.
Comrade lives in the states.
More great news! Trump is on a roll.
Uh, message to Trump: neo-cons have been mocking you from the very start. Best to have an old-fashioned purge.
Notice though the next guy in the position is a revolving door hack from Boeing?
At leadt he is someone from engineering field —- not generals who can be imlressed by sales people and sweet talked into signing fat contracts — while ttechnoligy is still non-existent, to be developed by taxpayers money without getting anything in the return for the investment of tazpayers capital. And this type of feudal granting of riches by our sovereign comes with very little responsibility. This will mot be happening in China, as private money and public money are the same color. Investment is an investment — no matter the shareholder. This is why corporations get away with delays, bidding for capabilities they do not have. It will help if a person in charge understands science and engineering. There is a large pile of money to be spent kn development of new technoligies. Hopefully, we do not get someone who knows nothing about the challenges to be faced. Without rosy specks.
But I do not think we can evrr get anyone that is not already in somekne’s pocket.
Merry Christmas, Bianca. Always appreciate your intelligent and — surprisingly/uncommonly — well-informed analysis/commentary. It is among the best here on AW.C. Keep up the good work, and may The Deity smile upon you as she has upon me.
And, yuh know, while I’m at it, Merry Christmas to the rest of the crew here at AW.C, and Justin, get well with all speed.
Merry Christmas, Jeffrey. Thank you for your kind comments. I have learned a great deal by working in many out of the way places on this globe. East Africa, Middle East — like Yemen — Balkans, among others. But spent most of my work life in US, in IT technology field. The habit of being informed and taking personal responsibility for staying informed came with the need to keep my wits about me at all times.
I consider myself blessed and I live in gratitude.
I would like to join you in wishing Merry Christmas to the tireless crew at AW, and express my thanks for years you have worked hard providing a platform for learning and sharing .
Justin is an inspiration, having a fine tuned instinct for underlying forces that slowly but surely bring change. Get well Justin!
And Merry Christmas to all old and new travellers in Antiwar.com realm.
A very Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year to you, Bianca .. I always find your comments here on the AW thread very insightful and well thought out. It shows your high intelligence and knowledge about topics you comment on.
Keep up the good work, and God bless you.
Merry Christmas and Happy New
Year, Eileen. God Bless You.
And may God bless us all, give us the wisdom and dignity to make right choices in trying times ahead.
Yeah, Trump is probably sending “Mad Dog” to a $500K/per year job somewhere, not to the dog pound.
Great move, can the threat to our Republic!!
Ho, ho, ho…Xmas has come early. Ciao, general.
Good riddance, now Mattis can reap his reward – no doubt a high-six-figure salary from a defense contractor whose interests he served – while serving up scores of human sacrifices to the defense industry’s profits.
But is replacing him with yet another whore – this time a former Boeing executive – really going to change our profit-driven policy of genocide?
Mattis is a good marine; not so good a businessman. Syria was his chance to be for Syria what Petreus was to Afghanistan, that is, the ‘hero’ who set up a stable occupation-stalemate. That means, set up a viable economy of the white or black nature. Preferably both and deferentially black.
We’ll see if he goes Smedley D. in retirement. Not likely, though, if only because Mattis knows where too many bodies are buried and would be in no hurry to join them.
Mattis never did stand a chance of turning Syria around. Afghanistan had opium to build a shadow economy upon. Syria has Kurdish smugglers with little to smuggle of their own, except maybe oil. The present oil price downturn kaboshes American Kurdistan more surely than the last oil downturn crippled the former IS economy a few years earlier.
Assuming this withdrawal actually happens, its a testament to Mattis’ military skills that American Kurdistan lasted as long as it has, with few reported casualties, since Obama first infiltrated marines into Syria. Also a study of the limits of military power, open or in shadow, without a viable economy to prop local collaborators.
Is it possible that Mattis did not get the job to stabilise Syria, but to finish ISIS and get out of Syria? I am not sure of anythjng here. But I know ONE thjng fir sure — CENTCOM failed, and the noise of crashing doctrine for Muddle East and Southwest Asia, is deafening. The truth is — these commands are the architects of fireign policy dictated from Washington. But since Trump arrival — what is actually “Washington” became debatable. Trump was saying one thing — Centcom’s Vottel gave an entirely different, global dominance based presentation to Congress. Centcom is about Iran — and to that end, the region should have been all united behind that goal. But high sounding words of dominance played well on Capitol Hill, but failed spectacularly.
Let us start with Syria and Iraq. In Syria, US was in untennable position, facing red lines with its NATO ally Turkey, unable to either cooperate with Russia nor impede its military or diplomatic efforts in the region. Kurds are weak — as Kurds cannot control vast areas of restive Syrian Arab population from Deir Azzor, along Euphrates valley to Turkish border. Kurds are merely 5% of population or less in those areas. Turkey occupied Afrin in the West, and after removing YPG from power managed to work with Kurds there without difficulties. This is almost a model of transition from YPG rule, to working with Turkey as peacekeeping force.
Actions of Israel only added tensions, and vrought in more Russian hardware.
Due to change of political winds in Saudi Arabia — region has rediscovered Assad. Kuwait sent a media personality to interview Assad, calling him a brave man. Visit by the President of Sudan was a nessage from MbS, and the most stunning change occured in Bahrain of all places. How come this was not noticed before is a mystery. Foreign minister reached out to Damascuss in a stunning reversal of policy. From country blaming Shia Iran for its domestic problems, it is now announcing its intent of working with Syria, and supports Syria in regaining control over its entire territory. A solud message to US and UK supported White Helmets and Al -Qaeda in Idlib. Bahrain is making nice to Assad government refusing to call it regime, and will gain goodwill at home among its Shia population. Iraq is now in a strong positions vs US — as after elections a system of gioverning was set up to control corruption. US has not been instrumental to Iraq’s land war against ISIS, so it cannot claim much credit. Saudi Arabia and Qatar have settled in comfortable frenemy posture — not to US liking. In Qatar, US airforce has to share supermarkets with visiting Iranian military advisors, and Turkish military forces, aling with military base. Saudi Arabia is a compmex story that started in June 2017. A year and half ago, MbS took power as Crown Prince, and changes started. From foreign policy, energy and investments towards Russia to changes to Wahhabi proselitizing thtough armed Islamic cults. Funding was cut resultjng in rapid dissapearance of many groups. There is a tension between US and Saudi interests in Yemen — and based on US veto of ceasefire resolution, it is quite murky what exactly US wants out of Temeni conflict. I would say — US is not happy with Saudi Arabia. Let us add to that the loss of Pakistan, and pucture is complete. Trump had to bail out from Syria, and has thrown in half Afghan troops in the bargain at Taliban peace negotiations in Abu Dhabi. But it did the trick — Taliban agreeing to talk to Kabul, and Pakistan supporting.
Add to that an unhappy experience by General Vottel in Persian gulf, suicide by the head of Fifth Fleet — and much has gone wrong in Centcom’s arhitecture of neocon foreign policy. Which places Iran “containment” in question. General Mattis was a Centcom man, and his favored policy has not a single success story in the entire region of their command area.
Mattis was popularized as hot for Iran; IS was just the pretext. The CIA could pull the plug on IS ratlines at any time. What perhaps Mattis didn’t count on, was having the Kurdish blade splinter so easily so quickly.
The PKK appears to be essentially a Turkish Kurdish elite. Like every other national Kurdish elite from Syria to Iran, they would be more than happy to form the nucleus of pan-Kurdistan ruling elite.
Just by themselves, lording over syncophantic affiliates and getting rid of any local rivals.
It may be a reflection of Kurdish hill culture; every community is its own little citadel with unfounded aspirations to be the centre of Kurdistan.
CENTCOM didn’t fail; they won every war and lost every peace. Given the choice many would have preferred not fight the Seven in Five plan (as described by ret. General Wesley Clarke), and especially not without the right political leadership.
The U.S. military was never designed to win the peace; dogs of war break stuff and kill things; nation-building dog-and-pony shows need a different kind of dog. The postwar successes of Europe and Japan were the products of a different army from a different America, one that didn’t see imperialism as an entitlement.
The MIC predated the neocons and will live to bury the political upstarts, hopefully.
Otherwise, its like a toxic virus jacking into the DNA of an already dangerous animal. Sort of like how zombie fungi can take over even an army ant to reproduce itself, only more aggressive about sharing the pain. I’d swear the DOOM video game was prophetic of the U.S., or at least highly culturally reflective.
Assad is still dead man walking and his family probably shouldn’t leave the country for a couple of generations. All is far from forgiven; he’s unfinished business to most of the Gulf monarchies.
The KSA standard nowadays is to attack during peace talks; for some of them to praise Assad now sounds a lot like calling a wayward animal to slaughter.
This is the best analysis of Kurdish dillema on Antiwar. Indeed, it has much to do with mountain culture, the need for indelendence that goes too far. It comes hard for them to cooperate, and at the same time, by indulging in separatism, they cut the ties and create anymosities within the very states that provide them with the framework of statecraft. Not knowing how to fight politically for their rights within states they live in, but unable to meaningfully cooperate across borders — even economically or culturally — they were easy target of foreign political designs.
I agree that Mattis was seen as Iran man, and promoted as such. What nobody could foresee the Iran card crumbling so quickly. As a result, many actors found themselves in a strange territory. Syrian Kurds, in particular.
Even though I never underestimate neocons and their ability to create and reinsert themselves into new conflicts — I am hopefull that ME is moving away from the self-destructive, ideological obsessions. Which is in fact so deliciously ironic. Arabs of Saudi Arabia and Gulf were really never ideological, and nearly soulless in their pecuniary pragmatism. The unnaturally ideological transfirmation was thus possible only under the religious umbrella. The change Kingdom adopted under US influence during Iraq-Iran war, injected the ideological-Sunni sectarian ideology It was to become a fight of Arabs against Persians, Sunni against Shia. Kingdom was scared by Iranian revolution led by religious establishment, and in fear, swung into Wahhabi extremism. This ideology/Sunni religious fervor became the foundation of US Middle East policy for decades to come. It took a while to break down nationalism in Iraq. It was Oetreaus who invented Sunni Awakening, armed defeated Hussein followers into a core anti-Shia movement. And the long hoped for sectarianism arrived finally in Iraq. From neocon point of view — pan-Sunni religious globalism was preferred to Arab nationalism and strong nation states.
The era was marked by the arrival of Mubarak to rule Egypt for decades, transition from strong to weak Hashemite King in Jordan, string of elderly, weak and subservient Kings in Saudi Arabia, and the washed up loser of war with Iran, the last nationalist standing in the Middle East, Saddam Hussein. I feel that the era played itself out, its core elements exausted. The military victories in the hands of political ideologues in Washington — no matter their destructive power, never translated into anything transformative. The reason I separate neocon brand from generic MIC — is its distinctive ideology. Globalist institutions, open borders, destruction or watering down of nation-state institutions, the only defence left for the exercise of democracy or even leadership — democratic or not. If the more developed states hollow out their institutions of governance on their territory — the outcome will be complete powerlessness to transnational strings. The future is pauperism and elitism. With elite claiming to be preordaned by their excellence, not by the system rigged to prop then up. Such systems then cannot evolve naturally, but atrophy.
Unfortunatelly, neocons are in all possible ways signalling their oreffered direction — and backing off is not an option.
But I cannot see the circumstances working jn their favor. Middle East is re-nationalizing. I realize that our neocon owned media has made the word itself sound menacing — but many accross the globe are starting to see the value of making decisions closer home.
I am of opinion that Gulf states are stepping back from Iranian dogma. Based on all I hear and all thst is transpiring. Nationalism is back in Saudi Arabia, and that is the real cause of fit in Washington.
Somebody made a big blunder by seating MBS next to Putin for dinner. That was supposed to be the doghouse corner. Instead, the two high fived, and looked positively victorious. With amount of investments Saudis are making in Russia, with strong Chinese ties, switching if buying grains from Canada to Russia, exploring Russian defence weapons, and nuclear power generation. With massive presence by both Chinese and Russian companies in supposedly failed Saudi Davos — it is more then clear that Saudi Srabia is turning to Asia. And what does it mean for Iran agenda? In the light of Russian and Chinese support of Iran — it means Iranian agenda will remain increasingly verbal crutch when talking to US, but nothing more.
The fact that Bahrain, Saudi protectorate, took a lead in standing up for Assad’s Syria, is telling. Bahrain was a poster child of “Iranian” influence in the rebellion of Shia majority against its Sunni royals. It appears this is being dropped in favor of rapprochement with Shia Assad, creating opening for internal reconciliation. And penny-pinching MBS can bring Saudi tanks home.
Mattis represents an era that may be ending. The new person — not in hurry to be confirmed — is a science person, an engineer experienced in weapons systems. Looks like a person to out in charge before spending piles of Pentagon cash on technologies that enrich MIC and and deliver little.
I like your optimism, however like Ron White said, “You can’t fix stupid” (2006). Stupid tries to fix you, with astonishing cleverness and outrageous luck. Something Trump seems well aware of in his dealings with the Deep State not on his side. His opponents say the same thing about him…
The ‘ideological obsessions’ are unlikely to go away. They’ve been bubbling in the West and ME centuries before the modern era.
Wahhibis don’t see themselves as pawns of the Deep State; they see their opportunities to inflict mayhem as gifts from Allah. It was Allah that made the CIA form and feed their ratlines, etc.. Likewise, even before the modern trinity of Mahon, Mackinder and Spykman, the West was pursuing its ‘Great Game’ crusade against Eurasia.
As the U.S. and the West are indeed wrecking themselves, its hard to present a rational argument against the Wahhibists except to step back and take note of the processes. Wahhibism will likely persist, and the MIC’s various agencies will likely not give up trying to use them. One could personify almost any natural phenomenon as a deity, including patterns of human political psychology.
The regional rivalry that set the Gulf States against Iran has not gone away either. That some may work with Iran at all, is only reflective of the compromised position the U.S. has placed Iran in; they can cut better deals with a heavily sanctioned Iran.
The U.S. by virtue of being their leverage against Iran, can oversee those deals and ensure they work for the U.S./Israel, or at least not against their shared Empire.
If Mattis represents an era that is ending, the danger is that what is ending is an ideal loyalty and discipline and appearances thereof. Virtue is the most materially visible aspect of the trinity of morals, ethics and virtue. When the morals and ethics are consistently no good, virtue is wasted and wastes away.
Patrick Shanahan is a Boeing exec; he may be a corporate mercenary far more flexible with the optics of morality, ethics and virtue that is not necessarily an improvement over Mattis.
Shanahan may represent the worst in the revolving-door nature of government-corporate relations. Or, Shanahan might work out really well and do intelligent pragmatic things. Hard to say what level of rational he works at. Actions and results over time are the only proof of anything.
And inded actions are the only proof — over time.
This is why I watch for qualitative changes that are the markers of incremental results over time.
Nothing happens out of nowhere, and many indications of change are present way before we face up to it. Roman Empire fell 476 AD, while many people hundreds of years later still thought it was doing just fine.
Great Game may look like it never left us — yet it is definitely shaping into a brand new reality.
Ideologies may have always existed, but as exist today, fortunes of many players will rise or fall on their ebbs and flows. May be the Great Game, yet nothing is the same.
Take Wahhabis. Some iin the leadership knew exactly how the religion was weaponized through cult-like group ideology. Others just followed. Wars in ME created plentiful material of young, unemployed males, and such projects kept the poor paid.
Before Iranian revolution, Wahhabis were stagnant religious sect under contract with House of Saud. Way back in its hay day Wahhabis attacked Karbala and Najaff in Iraq, leaving nothing alive. That was to prove to Ottoman empire that it could not protect its Shia population. However, now, out of necessity — Wahhabi wings are being clipped, by cutting down religious police, and funds for Salafi movements worldwide. Including funding for Syrian Islamists.
We live in times of different dillemas and undelying causes and consequences are very different. Great game may still live in the minds of strategists, yet real world is constantly intruding. So, a bit of a shock to the system occurs when Astana becomes a place to negotiate Syrian peace process. And by guarantors, such ss Turkey, Russia and Iran?
Why, this belongs to Geneva, Paris, or London. So, while the Great Game spirit lingers, it has been transformed into less of a national rivalry, and into a new globalist, liberal concept of cosmopolitan humanity, led by the invisible hand of financial flows that reward or punish, according to a perceived maleability. So, by necessity— the deep state and its true owners, as well as new caste of enablers, emerged. We are living in a hybrid era of Great Game illusionsists trying to make a mark on the global geography— while at the same time undermining their own ability to control their own purse!
Thus, conflicts with deep state, be that Brexit, or anything else called “populism”.
Naturally, Deep State has a way to coopt and subvert — like just how little Brexit can be done and still call it Brexit!
But the energy that now goes into controlling the ramifications of failed policies — takes away from necessary changes.
The world is changing and two global trends are afoot. One, Western — believes in block loyalty, and using the principle of an old computer game – Packman — block is swallowing gradually all in its path. No matter what the agreements, tactics or other zig-zags, the swallowing process is supposed to digest all different peoples, traditions and system into a uniform, global whole. Second, Eastern — believes in open relationship, based on mutual benefit, no coercion and no agreements among parties with explicit goals of harming third party. These are basically principles called Shanghai Spirit, and embedded into SCO Charter.
Thus, Turkey is SCO member, even though it is a member of NATO. The net result of open assiciations is the right of members to promote cooperation and economy without having to sign up to any obligations up front.
Over 18 years of existence, the track record is a good one in promoting commerce and development, while committing to fight terrorism, extremism and secessionism in their own countries.
As for the anti-Iranian fervor — I am noticing clear signs of CHANGE OF NARATIVE. Bahrain is reaching out to Shia Assad, and expect will soon start mending fences internally. It will be hard for Bahrain to maintain narrative of bad Iran causing uprising of Shia population. Narratives or ideologies must be maintained to be credible. Let us see if following the reopening of Embassies of Jordan, Sudan, UAE and Bahrain, Saudis follow the suit.
It already is affecting Israeli narrative. Why bombing Iranian targets in Syria — if Israeli Gulf anti-Iran allies do not seem to either find any Iranians in Syria, or are not bothered by their presence. Something is changing, and it is worth watching the results.
As far as honor and loyalty go — Mattis is a general, and acted professionally by resigning. HOWEVER it was not HONORABLE to comment on the impact in US allies in the letter he published. I am not sure which allies were affected — but certainly all US allies in the Gulf and ME reacted very positively to the news of US withdrawal.
You are right on Shannahan, he can turn out to be an asset, as an engineer with major weapons development experience — he cannot be sold fog of different color.
And he cannot favor Boeing too obviously.
But with corporate background, who knows.
Pac-Man; OK, so Trump must be the little orange ghost named Otoboke, a.k.a. Pokey, whose special power is “feigned ignorance”.
Yes, good riddance Mad Dog. But as mad of a dog as Mattis was/is, I’m now reading where he had to talk Trump out of re-introducing torture. Trump was joined by Bolton and Pompeo in the pro-torture corner. I’ll gladly jump on the bandwagon any time Trump decides to draw down our forces anywhere but it still takes a sick individual to condone torture.