Legendary Marine General James Mattis may be tapped to be Trump's defense secretary

[irpat54]

Paul Szoldra
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This would be outstanding, IMO
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Marine Corps Gen. James Mattis listens during his confirmation hearing July 27, 2010 on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. Alex Wong/Getty Images
Retired Marine Gen. James Mattis is in the running to lead the Pentagon for President-elect Donald Trump, according to reports.

Trump's transition team announced on Friday that Mattis would be meeting with the President-elect on Saturday. A person involved with the transition told Bloomberg that Mattis was being considered, along with retired Army Gen. Jack Keane, who met with Trump on Thursday.

Mattis declined to comment when reached by Business Insider.

The former four-star general retired in 2013 after leading Marines for 44 years. His last post was with US Central Command, the Tampa, Florida-based unified command tasked with operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as more than two-dozen other countries.

Mattis, 66, is something of a legendary figure in the US military. Looked at as a warrior among Marines and well-respected by members of other services, he's been at the forefront of a number of engagements.

He led his battalion of Marines in the assault during the first Gulf war in 1991 and commanded the task force charging into Afghanistan in 2001. In 2003, as a Major General, he once again took up the task of motivating his young Marines to go into battle, penning a must-read letter to his troops before they crossed the border into Iraq.

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Though he's beloved by troops for his straight talk and strategic genius, he's dealt with some controversy outside of the military for some of his more colorful quotes. He asserted in 2005, for example, that it was "fun to shoot some people" — though he was talking about fundamentalists who "slap women around" in Afghanistan for not wearing veils. Still, the Marine commandant at the time said he was counseled and told to "choose his words more carefully," according to Fox News.

If he were tapped to be defense secretary, Mattis would need a waiver from Congress to take the position, since it requires a military officer to have been off active duty for at least seven years. Mattis retired in 2013.

Whoever is ultimately picked, the next head of the Pentagon will oversee roughly 3 million military and civilian personnel and face myriad challenges, from the ongoing fight against ISIS and China's moves in the South China Sea to the ongoing stress on the military imposed by sequestration.

A number of defense secretaries who served under President Barack Obama have criticized him for his supposed "micromanagement." Even Mattis himself was reportedly forced into early retirement by the Obama administration due to his hawkish views on Iran, according to Tom Ricks at Foreign Policy.

To some of his supporters, Trump appears to be more of a delegator who will let the Pentagon chief take the reins of the military.

"He will empower his SecDef to lead the way," Joe Kasper, chief of staff for Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.), told Business Insider.

The next defense secretary may also end up dealing with a nuclear-armed North Korea, and Russia is very likely to test limits in eastern Europe. The secretary will also need to reinvigorate a military plagued by low morale.

Mattis currently splits his time between Stanford and Dartmouth as a distinguished fellow, conducting research and giving lectures on leadership and strategy.

Other names that have been floated for the position include former Sen. Jim Talent of Missouri and Stephen Hadley, the former national security adviser to President George W. Bush.

A spokesperson for Trump did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

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[Hammer]

Personally; the US Military needs a leader like General Mattis! He's exactly what we need. He would put the queers, lessies, and tranny's on th run.

[madsox]

General Mattis would be about the best SecDef I think we could ever have, I'll just leave it at that!

[FoxtrotOscar]

The article is straight forward and direct, as it should be...

I think it would also be a wise and sound choice, again, the problem will be those left leaning so called "RINO's" that need to (1) waive his time out of service (7 years) and (2) his actual confirmation...

That being said, this is now the time that we shall see what they really do...

Excellent post Pat...

[Haddock]

There is a completely unsubstantiated rumor his nickname was derived from the UMSC (enlisted) wine of choice in the late 60s/early 70s at MCRD San Diego: Mad Dog 20-20.

I am proud to be a graduate of the same class (1969) of his enlistment in the USMC.

When he was appointed CMC, he stated “This policy that doesn’t allow sleeve tattoos is a bunch of horse****,” said Mattis, as he showed off his own full-sleeve tattoos running down both arms. “So that’s the first thing to go.”

http://www.duffelblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/mattis-sleeve-tattoo-800x600.jpg

Note he is carrying his own pack.

As SecDef, he just might have the drag to carry that promise off.

[madinfidel]

This new administration needs a good dose of the OLD CORPS....

[irpat54]

he is a bit of a throwback to the Chesty Puller days,, which is just what we need now..

[FoxtrotOscar]

he is a bit of a throwback to the Chesty Puller days,, which is just what we need now..

His best quote in regards to the condition of the Country:

“Our Country won’t go on forever, if we stay soft as we are now. There won’t be any AMERICA because some foreign soldiery will invade us and take our women and breed a hardier race!”

– Lt. Gen. Lewis B. “Chesty” Puller, USMC

[Tennessee Top]

Will believe it when I see it. This nation is not ready for Mad Dog Mattis. Not sure if Trump is either. Democrats would $hit their skivvies.

[Haddock]

Oh, good!

A photo op!

My takeaway is the US does not have to be ready for General Mattis. ISIS are the ones that need to stand by to get their family jewels ripped out their nostrils bilaterally.....

[advanced]

I think he'd be a good choice even though he's a little 2 pc for me.

[oldtop]

Mattis would be a GREAT choice for Sec Def, if so, you can likely say GOODBYE to the "transsexual, transgender "free sex change" offers of the current idiot in charge. He would also be GREAT for MORALE of the troops. The dumbrats can definitely get clean skivvies piled up, I think they will be needing to change several times a day with the upcoming appointments to the Cabinet and to Federal Departments and agencies... I'm hearing that the wusses and wimps, tree huggers and greanpeacers in the EPA are so upset that they are all applying for "grief counseling" pending the upcoming inauguration of The Donald as HMFIC...

[FoxtrotOscar]

The Marine Corps and all the Services have no place for PC Bull...

Great reply Top..

[03GyRene]

Does anyone know where Mattis served as a Captain? I read his bio and it said he was a rifle company and weapons company commander at 1st Marine Brigade Hawaii. That would have been about the time I was in 2/3 but I don't remember him. Maybe he was in 1/3 or 3/3...do any of you guys know?

[03GyRene]

Disregard, I found it. The General was with Kilo 3/3 when he was a Captain. How did we survive before Google??

http://www.taskforcetrinity.com/arch...amesmattis1978