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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsJim Mattis's sad silence helps no one
Jim Mattiss sad silence helps no one
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/10/13/jim-mattiss-sad-silence-helps-no-one/?wpisrc=nl_rainbow&wpmm=1
Former defense secretary Jim Mattis stopped by NBCs Meet the Press on Sunday as part of the promotional tour for his new memoir. At stop after stop on this tour, Mattis has been asked to comment on whether he disagrees with the president on specific issues, and each time he has ducked. Sunday was no different, and his excuses for not commenting yet again held up poorly.
The first dodge came when host Chuck Todd asked Mattis if he was concerned that, while the country speaks with one voice, on a governmental level, when it comes to Russia, that the political leader is not? Mattis dodged, I wont make political assessments right now. His excuse? Remember that the Defense Department stays outside of politics for a reason. Theres a long-standing tradition, why you do not want the military to be engaged in politics. Thats true for active-duty military. Theres just as much precedent for retired military personnel joining the political sphere, and even becoming president themselves. Besides, Mattis omits the fact that defense secretary is a political appointment. The moment he accepted that position, he entered the political sphere; he cannot now claim to be outside of politics.
Worse yet, Mattis even admits that there are things he is deliberately withholding. When Todd observed to him that you do have more to say. You just dont believe this period of time is appropriate, Mattis would only reply, Well, Chuck, I have a lot of faith in the American people. They know how to vote. They dont need military generals telling them that they think this political assessment is the one they should go with, or the other one is, that sort of thing, especially as corrosive as the political debate has grown in the country.
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To be fair to Mattis, he is far from the only former Trump administration official who has remained unfortunately silent about the president. Former secretary of state Rex Tillerson, former national security adviser H.R. McMaster and former director of national intelligence Daniel Coats, among others, have all remained quiet even as rumors continue to circulate about their dim views of President Trump and/or his policies. Their silence helps no one. Now is the time for Mattis and others to speak out.
Guy Whitey Corngood
(26,505 posts)it comes to defending and ally and the rising fascism at home. Or may he just supports all of this shit.
jrthin
(4,837 posts)Me.
(35,454 posts)or as he calls him, Obama, did he? Not quite so honorable there.
Blue_true
(31,261 posts)There is a term for Mattis, Rat Hypocrit.
dajoki
(10,678 posts)and none of them should get a pass, including all current and former officials. They are all complicit in this destruction.
Blue_true
(31,261 posts)We need to put an end to the belief among republicans that they can lie and betray our national principles, and even committ treason without consequences to them.
Bettie
(16,124 posts)he thinks it is fine if he is unwilling to speak out.
That's what it comes down to. He has his pension, has his money, what does he care who dies?