http://www.city-journal.org/html/bring-mad-dog-14881.html

Bring on the Mad Dog

President-elect Trump makes a sterling pick to head the Pentagon.

Bob McManus is a City Journal contributing editor. Email: bmcmanus@city-journal.org.

Enter Mattis, a Marine Corps legend who was a little too tough on Iran for the outgoing administration’s tastes—hence his premature retirement—but who is now the president-elect’s pick to set things right at the Pentagon. Expect no miracles, of course. A single presidential appointment, however wise, can never be enough. Trump clearly is on the right track with Mattis, but strategic understanding, policy coherence, and depth of commitment are what determine ultimate outcomes—and for the most part, those assets are anchored in the White House. President-elect Trump, to put it mildly, remains untested.

But there seems little doubt that Mattis himself is up to the challenge. His 40-year-plus Marine Corps career stands out even when measured against a 241-year tradition that embraces uncommon courage, personal honor, and a mortal commitment to battlefield success, never mind the odds. Outside the Marines, Mattis is known for a trenchant wit: “Be polite, be professional, but have a plan to kill everybody you meet.” It’s about as acute a prescription for survival on a modern battleground as is likely to be found anywhere, even if it did trigger some nervous tics in Washington—and help inspire his colorful nickname.

But, tactical aphorisms aside, Mattis is seen within the corps—indeed, within America’s military establishment generally—as a deep strategic thinker with the courage to state his views and then stand by them. Troubled early on by the Obama administration’s appeasement of Iran, he said so—respectfully but forcefully. It was an expression of character that cost him his career.

Now he is on the verge of a new one, and that troubles some observers: Is there properly a place for a former general at the top of the Pentagon’s civilian leadership? America’s long tradition of civilian control of the military is not lightly to be cast aside—and, in any event, Mattis cannot take the job without a congressional waiver of a well-considered law restricting such transitions.

But repairing the post-Obama Pentagon demands unconventional measures. Mattis’s character certainly commends him now—along with demonstrated clarity of thought, deep-seated patriotism, profound understanding of the security challenges now facing America, and the experience to set things right. Mad Dog Mattis fills the bill, and Donald Trump is to be commended for selecting him.

Bryan Steffy/Getty Images



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The most telling line in this piece; "repairing the post-Obama Pentagon..." Pulling it up out of the rubble might be more on point. Looking closely at our military leadership today, the current administration has moved it to the far left. True, experienced American warriors like Mattis and McCrystal have been strategically replaced with political hacks and yes men with lot's of fruit salad on their chests ... theatrics. This purge reaches down to field grade officer ranks. Rebuilding it is a critical, monumental task indeed.

I believe Mattis represents a solid return to an American precept; peace through strength. He is, in his own right, a business man like his Commander in Chief. He is intellectual, Conservative and American through and through. History shows him to be anything but a war monger. He is capable of communication with the Commander in Chief on peer level. Misunderstandings are unlikely.

It would be interesting to ponder what the outcome of Benghazi might have been if Mattis had been in the chain of command at that time.

However it's done, you can bet Mattis will not accept the pansy-ass Leftist cadre he is about to inherit. Obama took out about 200 top brass in all branches in the past 60 months; all of whom he and Democrats generally deemed to be unfavorable to the new U.S. military posture (bent over with our pants around our ankles) ... It's not at all unthinkable that Mattis will reactivate a number of them and at the same time provide them with rules of engagement that have something to do with winning!! Suppose we'll see soon enough, eh?