Looks like another one bites the dust.  I’m surprised it lasted this long

Sad dog Mattis.

Was he tired of dealing with Trump's crap?

I'm stoked Trump is drawing down. That's the reason I voted against Clinton, because she was most likely to kick of WW3. Mattis has a hard on for murder and I was always a bit concerned about him pulling a Dr. Strangelove with the precious bodily fluids etc.

I'm a Vietnam era Vet.  I went in at age 17.
I was crawling around Nuclear weapons at age 18.
I'm profoundly against conflicts that have not been declared
as a lawful war by Congress.
The president in today's world absolutely has to have the ability to react quickly,
but 17 years in Afghanistan doesn't work for me. Obama lost Iraq after we
won it.  Cronkite lost the Vietnam war after we won it.  I could go on.
Congress is the only way we should get involved in a war and
it has to be a Law, not a resolution.
Arguably every conflict we have been engaged in since
WWII, we have lost, because some politician came along and
pulled the plug, wasting lives.
I certainly agree with Mattis on one quote,
"Be polite, be professional, but have a plan to kill everybody you meet".
 
 

Was he tired of dealing with Trump's crap?

Probably....

I'm a Vietnam era Vet.  I went in at age 17.
I was crawling around Nuclear weapons at age 18.
I'm profoundly against conflicts that have not been declared
as a lawful war by Congress.
The president in today's world absolutely has to have the ability to react quickly,
but 17 years in Afghanistan doesn't work for me. Obama lost Iraq after we
won it.  Cronkite lost the Vietnam war after we won it.  I could go on.
Congress is the only way we should get involved in a war and
it has to be a Law, not a resolution.
Arguably every conflict we have been engaged in since
WWII, we have lost, because some politician came along and
pulled the plug, wasting lives.
I certainly agree with Mattis on one quote,
"Be polite, be professional, but have a plan to kill everybody you meet".

Ditto! I was 18 when I joking the Navy in Jan 68. Went to Nam in 69 after going thru 3 technical schools. Assigned to brown water Navy in Qua Viet on a PBR. After a couple months got disgusted fighting an immoral war that benefitted the military industrial complex. Got wounded about a month short of rotating out. For what? Nothing! Stayed in the Navy for 21 years for the retirement and bennies. Don’t fully agree with Mattis’s quote though......

Ditto! I was 18 when I joking the Navy in Jan 68. Went to Nam in 69 after going thru 3 technical schools. Assigned to brown water Navy in Qua Viet on a PBR. After a couple months got disgusted fighting an immoral war that benefitted the military industrial complex.

You knew all about the military industrial complex at 18?

Spent 19 months in-country and never heard one statement about immorality or anyone benefiting.  But, the Marines are different than navy. 

It's a different world now than in the Vietnam War era. We have the Internet to inform and educate, the lessons of Korea and Vietnam are now recorded history, and we have a 100% volunteer military versus the draft.

Those entering the military have the information they need to make that decision for themselves.  Whether or not you understood the underlying military complex factors during Vietnam, it didn't change your draft number in the "lottery".

You knew all about the military industrial complex at 18?

Spent 19 months in-country and never heard one statement about immorality or anyone benefiting.  But, the Marines are different than navy.

Just what I was told by others.... was a naive dumb ass hippie but slowly realized the war was plain ass wrong and my friends were dying for nothing. The outcome of the conflict (we lost, South Vietnam fell) IMHO was for nothing. Might have been in the navy but us river rats were in the thick of it 90% of the time. I thank Jesus that I was able to get out in one piece....
one Nam vet to another, thank you for your service and Semper Fi, shipmate!

It's a different world now than in the Vietnam War era. We have the Internet to inform and educate, the lessons of Korea and Vietnam are now recorded history, and we have a 100% volunteer military versus the draft.

Those entering the military have the information they need to make that decision for themselves.  Whether or not you understood the underlying military complex factors during Vietnam, it didn't change your draft number in the "lottery".

Joined the Navy figuring the closest I’d get to Nam would be on a ship..... boy was I wrong! 

Joined the Navy figuring the closest I’d get to Nam would be on a ship..... boy was I wrong! 

My uncle joined the Navy to avoid being drafted into the Army, too.

He was on the USS Enterprise.  He was there when "the" fire happened.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Enterprise_fire

Joined the Navy figuring the closest I’d get to Nam would be on a ship..... boy was I wrong! 

Thanks for your service!
A good proportion of my family and extended  family was in the military.
Mostly Navy.  I'm the only Air force guy.
I spent 10 months in tech school, and regular updates
there after.  American tax payers spent  a lot of money on me.
So I could fix Aircraft Avionics systems on what I guess you could call
exotic aircraft.
I did not stay in much over 5+ years,  and I stayed in aero space
and outer space industries afterwards for most of my working life.
I don't agree with you about the MIC.
I am sure Democrats and their obsession of controlling other
peoples lives is the real problem.

After 20+ years of military service I’m glad I left when I did.  Having been to Iraq a few times, Afghanistan and a whole lot of other “interesting “ places and seeing firsthand the corruption and wastefulness can be disheartening.  I support the decision to bring our troops home but this must be done with “sense” and when the times “right” herein lies the problem though.  There is no right time especially when we have our hands so deep in the cookie jar supplying the first group that supports the current administrations agenda.  In a irrational world I would think it behoves you to have people in your corner who steer you in the right direction vesrsus the ones who agrees with every dumb ass decision you make.  At this rate let’s keep going to the dentist for open heart surgery and see where that gets us🤷🏽‍♀️

Thanks for your service!
A good proportion of my family and extended  family was in the military.
Mostly Navy.  I'm the only Air force guy.
I spent 10 months in tech school, and regular updates
there after.  American tax payers spent  a lot of money on me.
So I could fix Aircraft Avionics systems on what I guess you could call
exotic aircraft.
I did not stay in much over 5+ years,  and I stayed in aero space
and outer space industries afterwards for most of my working life.
I don't agree with you about the MIC.
I am sure Democrats and their obsession of controlling other
peoples lives is the real problem.

“I don't agree with you about the MIC.”
Yea maybe so.... wouldn’t be surprised about what you said about the dumborats one bit. Know what I had to do there was part of my duty and therefore had to be done but there are things I had to do there that I’m not proud of and, at times, very sad. Thank God the memories are fading....
Thank you for your service as well!

After 20+ years of military service I’m glad I left when I did.  Having been to Iraq a few times, Afghanistan and a whole lot of other “interesting “ places and seeing firsthand the corruption and wastefulness can be disheartening.  I support the decision to bring our troops home but this must be done with “sense” and when the times “right” herein lies the problem though.  There is no right time especially when we have our hands so deep in the cookie jar supplying the first group that supports the current administrations agenda.  In a irrational world I would think it behoves you to have people in your corner who steer you in the right direction vesrsus the ones who agrees with every dumb ass decision you make.  At this rate let’s keep going to the dentist for open heart surgery and see where that gets us🤷🏽‍♀️

+1
And thank you for you service as well.....

Speaking of retirement, do you think many will leave the services with the new blended retirement program?

https://www.military.com/benefits/military-pay/upcoming-changes-to-military-retirement-system-explained.html

Speaking of retirement, do you think many will leave the services with the new blended retirement program?

https://www.military.com/benefits/military-pay/upcoming-changes-to-military-retirement-system-explained.html

I think so many hold on after 12 years because you’re more than half way there to just get nothing.

Buh Bye! Don't let the door hit you on the way out...

https://theconservativetreehouse.com/2018/12/23/president-trump-makes-mattis-departure-effective-immediately/

President Trump Makes Mattis Departure Effective Immediately…

Defense Secretary James Mattis wanted us to stay in Paris accord. Trump said no. Mattis wanted us to stay in the Iran deal. Trump said no. Mattis wanted less pressure on NATO. Trump said no. Mattis wanted to keep soldiers in Syria. Trump said no.  Mattis wanted to hang around until February… Trump said no.

…President Donald Trump on Sunday pushed the Pentagon chief out the door two months earlier than planned...

Buh Bye! Don't let the door hit you on the way out...

https://theconservativetreehouse.com/2018/12/23/president-trump-makes-mattis-departure-effective-immediately/

President Trump Makes Mattis Departure Effective Immediately…

Defense Secretary James Mattis wanted us to stay in Paris accord. Trump said no. Mattis wanted us to stay in the Iran deal. Trump said no. Mattis wanted less pressure on NATO. Trump said no. Mattis wanted to keep soldiers in Syria. Trump said no.  Mattis wanted to hang around until February… Trump said no.

…President Donald Trump on Sunday pushed the Pentagon chief out the door two months earlier than planned...

Maybe he's just giving the new SECDEF some overlap with Mattis .... for a smoother turnover/transition?