Anthony H. Cordesman
Secretary Mattis’ resignation, his resignation letter challenging to President Trump, his forced departure, and the resulting uncertainties over the future U.S. role in two ongoing wars – Iraq-Syria and Afghanistan – have been the well-deserved central focus of the U.S. national security community over the past few weeks. They may, however, be only the prelude to a much deeper crisis, and one that will have an impact on every aspect of U.S defense for at least the rest of the Trump Administration.
Secretary Mattis originally resigned effective as of February 28, 2019. This led most of the attention to his actual timing to focus on a key meeting of NATO and the uncertainties remaining after this year’s Ministerial – a meeting where President Trump focused verbally on criticizing allied burden sharing but still signed a strong endorsement of the Alliance along with all the other representatives of member countries.
Firing Mattis at a Critical Point in Shaping Future Defense Spending
The fact that President Trump has now been fired Mattis effective as of January 1st and will […]
The degree of degradation for the totality our entire defense department is staggering to read about here.
Stunning. Chilling. Leaves a feeling of sickness to my stomach.