Mattis as Defense Secretary: Wartime Experience for a Country at War

By General Jack Keane

General Keane, a four-star general, retired after 37 years of service which culminated in his appointment as acting Chief of Staff and Vice Chief of Staff of the US Army.  General Keane is president of GSI Consulting and serves as chairman of the Institute for the Study of War, and a former and recent member of the Secretary of Defense Policy Board.  In 2018, General Keane was the first military leader to be honored with the Ronald Reagan Peace Through Strength Award and in 2020, he was presented with the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Trump at the White House.

Late Thursday, President-elect Donald Trump announced that he would appoint retired Marine General James Mattis – nicknamed “Mad Dog” – as Secretary of Defense. “They say he’s the closest thing to General George Patton that we have,” stated Trump, continuing, “and it’s about time.”

Known for his extreme dedication to the United States military, and a penchant for blunt, unfettered comments, Mattis’ positions do not always align perfectly with those of the President-elect and his National Security Advisor, retired Lieutenant General Michael Flynn.  While they agree on issues like Iran, Mattis has taken a strong stance on the Russian threat to NATO and stated that Trump’s proposal for a Muslim ban “is causing us great damage right now.” 

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