Short thread on Mattis: Here’s all I’ll say about this. General Mattis made his reputation on 2 things: 1) the skill to surprise an enemy and his peers with swift and decisive action 2) the audacity to know it and say it in a nonconformist Soundbyte. Ironically...
That’s what he has most in common with Trump. Mattis had the tactical skill to win a battle, region or time frame, but his entire era of leadership in the Middle East conflict couldn’t win the war. That’s his pitfall across the board.
In his world, and in his mind, you do things a certain way, a proven way, even when politics advise against it. Trump on the other hand is less calculated and more reactive to populist sentiment and current events. Neither are right or wrong but certain to clash.
I admire James Mattis in a way I’ll never look at Trump. In a fox hole, or by my hospital bed I want the General. But it takes more than principled leadership and proven strategy to win over a country now, it takes bombastic personality, Over-generalizations and pointed innuendo.
That’s why I voted for Trump, he plays a role, but in doing so he backs up policies and fights political fights a well balanced tactician wouldn’t dare engage. For that reason Trump is an effective disruptor, for those same reasons, Mattis would never.
It’ll be easy for Trump loyalists to clap back at Mattis, let me be the first to tell you, he ain’t listening. He is no god, no legend and no hero in his own mind. He does have a set of ideals and he’s adhering to them... to a fault.
For those of you struggling to balance your appreciation for a man in uniform who was a generation’s plain spoken voice while at war, with your adoration for a POTUS seeming to do the same for politics. Don’t.
They each play(ed) a pivotal role in voicing loudly the belief that Americans are proud, capable and special. In the world, and on the battlefield, And I appreciate each of them for it.
I hated seeing Trump tweet about irrelevant things and spew personal insults... I hate seeing Mattis take now to politics. What’s the lesson? Know what YOU believe and WHY, and don’t let any one person overshadow it or represent it for you. After all, they’re just people
