Here are my observations and opinions on James Mattis, who went weak-kneed at the urging of the left to further divide our nation.

TWO RETIRED GENERALS are being used by the left to add fuel to the recent comments by Retired Admiral Mike Mullen, criticizing the leadership of President Trump as he begins his campaign for reelection.

Colin Powell’s joining the war of words was really no surprise.  The media would have you believe he is a Republican, rebuking the actions of a Republican president. Of course, you know that’s not true.

He declared himself a Republican in 1992, after serving as President Reagan’s national security advisor.  He later served as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under George H.W. Bush, and secretary of state under George W. Bush.

He was once referred to as a liberal Republican because of his support of centrist causes; he generally supports the Second Amendment and is pro-choice.

However, Powell supported the candidacy of Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012, and endorsed Hillary Clinton in 2016.  That, in spite of the fact that he once said, “Everything (Clinton) touches she kind of screws up with hubris.  I would rather not have to vote for her, although she is a friend I respect.”  Respect?

Powell has voted Democrat over the past 13 years. He is NOT a Republican.

The “coming out” of James Mattis, who served as secretary of defense to President Trump presents a different story than Powell’s or Mullen’s.

Mullen said he could no longer be silent when he chose to attack the president recently, although he has been vocal of his disapproval of Trump for years.  (See my Special: The pathetic Mike Mullen is no longer relevant, June 2, 2020)

Though Mattis’ dissatisfaction with President Trump was no secret within the Pentagon, when he resigned, he stated that “it would be inappropriate and counterproductive for a former general, and a former cabinet official, to criticize a sitting president. Doing so, he said, would threaten the apolitical nature of the military.”

On June 3, 2020, however, the man who became known as “Mad Dog” Mattis and was admiringly introduced as such by President Trump on a number of occasions, caved to pressure from the left.

Specifically, Jeffrey Goldberg of The Atlantic.  Goldberg originally interviewed Mattis in August 2019, and spoke on NPR about his attempt to get Mattis to open up about Trump.  “(While) he has obligation to this code of silence, I was making the argument that you have an obligation to your fellow citizens.  He knows better than almost anyone alive Trump’s capabilities, Trump’s predispositions, his talents.”

“And I made the argument to him very directly – sometime before November 3, 2020, you ought to tell the American people what actually happened inside,” Goldberg told NPR.

Trying to convince Mattis that he “has an obligation … voters need to know about anybody running for president or who is president, are they fit to command?”  Goldberg even included the concern that Trump is “totally in charge of our nuclear weapons.”

Goldberg finally got his wish last week.  While he took delight in writing that Mattis “has now broken his silence,” Mattis, a four-star general, should be embarrassed that he is now being used.

So, what triggered Mattis?  What event caused him to believe that it was now appropriate and productive to criticize a sitting president?

While he began by saying, “I have watched this week’s unfolding events, angry and appalled,” he failed to present his case.

After siding with the protestors, seeking equal justice under the law, he made the ridiculous statement that “We must not be distracted by a small number of lawbreakers.”  Like the mainstream media, Mattis refuses to see the rioting and looting that has destroyed hundreds of businesses.

Mattis challenged the president’s suggested use of the military to bring order, and was critical of the president’s walk across Lafayette Park to St. John’s Church, but at no time were American warriors ordered to violate anyone’s rights.

During his stint as a Trump cabinet member, we frequently heard of Mattis’ vast book collections, and his reputation of being a prolific reader.  In Red State, Mike Ford, chronicled a long history of the invoking of the Insurrection Act, he published for Mattis’ “must reading” list.  He notes that Mattis, who no doubt still has his security clearance, should read the Park Police/Secret Service after-action reports and review the video.

Perhaps Mattis’ most disingenuous remark was that “Donald Trump is the first president in my lifetime who does not try to unite the American people – does not even pretend to try.  Instead, he tries to divide us.  We are witnessing the consequences of three years of this deliberate effort … without mature leadership.”

Kramerontheright has over the years written that generals, and civilians for that matter, who can no longer faithfully serve a president, owe it to the public to resign their positions.  Of course, this should not be over simple disagreements on issues, but something much deeper.

I simply cannot believe that Mattis and Gen. John Kelly, were unaware of the Deep State attempt to bring down the Trump presidency while they were serving the president under that oath they frequently like to mention.

Why didn’t they speak out on that?  Didn’t they owe that to the commander in chief?  Or were they part of the coup?  Why have they allowed Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, one of their own, to be disrespected?

Yet, Mattis closed his thoughts with “We must reject and hold accountable those in office who would make a mockery of our Constitution.”  We know that Admiral Mullen failed to find Hillary Clinton accountable.

After years of entrusting Mattis with the leadership of our Marine forces, President Trump trusted him to command all military forces as secretary of defense.  I admit that I was at first impressed with Mattis.

Mattis apparently resigned over President Trump’s Syria policy.  Goldberg wasn’t satisfied with that, and he continued to press the general to spill his guts.  Now he has done so.  Not for his country, but for those on the left.  Shameful.

When I began thinking about writing this piece, I was reminded of another Marine general.  A colleague I worked with in my days with Sperry Flight Systems, once told me about a Marine with a real legacy, “Chesty” Puller.

That’s how he was known to members of the Marine Corps.  Later, when I did a bit of research, I learned that his full name was Lt. Gen. Lewis Burwell “Chesty” Puller.

Puller was the most decorated Marine in American history; one of two U.S. servicemen to be awarded five Navy Crosses and one Army Distinguished Cross.

Puller was the subject of much Marine Corps folklore, but the story my friend told me stuck with me.  In boot camp, he said, you would hear “Ga night, Chesty,” when the recruits hit their bunks at night. While doing push-ups, they “did one” for Chesty.

Serving in the Banana Wars, World War II and the Korean War, with nearly four decades of service, he retired in 1955, Puller died in 1971 at age 73.

I wonder what “Chesty” would think of Mattis politically abandoning his integrity.

I do not wish to belittle Mattis’ service to our country, but I am disappointed in how he has allowed the left to use him to divide the nation, while he accuses President Trump of doing so.

May God continue to bless the United States of America.

                             ALL LIVES MATTER