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| Gen. James 'Mad Dog' Mattis: US Influence ‘At Lowest In 40 Years' |
| 2016-08-29 |
| [Daily Caller] Retired Marine Corps Gen. James Mattis warned the next U.S. president against engaging in isolationism, explaining that maintaining a role in the chaotic Middle East is the only way to fight terrorism. The Middle East is currently "experiencing the most turmoil since the end of the Ottoman Empire -- that’s the World War I time frame -- and it’s getting worse," said the 40-year Marine Corps veteran, while speaking at Washington State University Tuesday. "At the same time, U.S. influence in the region is at its lowest ebb in 40 years." Mattis said that while military experience isn’t necessarily required for the presidency, it is crucial that whoever occupies the White House is able to resist America's "always present appetite for isolationism." If anyone is familiar with the Middle East's problems, it is Mattis. The retired general spent 40 years in the Marines, much of that in the Middle East itself. Mattis' hardened, yet sober, view on the region would eventually earn him the top job at U.S. Central Command. |
| Posted by:Besoeker |
| #6 Without oil, the ticks won't be worth anything to fight over |
| Posted by: Frank G 2016-08-29 11:34 |
| #5 Middle eastern conflicts should be viewed through the lens of hundreds, possibly thousands of years of history. Let them continue to slug it out. If they get out of their lanes, push them back in. The entire region [less Israel] isn't worth a pale of camel piss. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2016-08-29 10:37 |
| #4 Although I respect the General, I really don't understand his message here. In the caffeine induced clarity of this Monday morning...even I realize that we (Obama and Bush) lost this war. We can't jump back in at this point and win it with more "influence", advisers, or strategic air power. However, we can take time, learn our lessons, rebuild a military and intel capability that can win wars in the ME as well as confront and contain the strategic threats...to include our first priority - stopping the clear and present illegal narcotics danger flowing across our southern border. We are not there either in capability or national will. No need to rush back in to the ME at this point. We have fish to fry closer to home. |
| Posted by: Tennessee 2016-08-29 10:15 |
| #3 Mattis said that while military experience isn’t necessarily required for the presidency, it is crucial that whoever occupies the White House is able to resist America's "always present appetite for isolationism." The general seems to forget the principle of war known as 'economy of force'. We no longer have a million man Army to spread around the world. You have to pick your fights and not let others pick them for you. To paraphrase Fredrick the Great - he who defends everything, defends nothing. |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2016-08-29 08:31 |
| #2 Is this the one and same James ""I come in peace. I didn't bring artillery. But I'm pleading with you, with tears in my eyes: If you fuck with me, I'll kill you all"-Mattis? He was sacked in a very chicken $hit manner by the WH; they sent him an unexpected note (no face-to-face) from left field. Apparently he pissed off the civilian warfighters (sarc)contingency, Susan Rice, etc. This was a part of the purge by Obean. |
| Posted by: JohnQC 2016-08-29 08:07 |
| #1 maintaining a role in the chaotic Middle East is the only way to fight terrorism. ME's problem is overpopulation. Since you are not going to solve it, better let the locals solve it for themselves --- as they're doing now in Syria. |
| Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2016-08-29 04:44 |