Quote:Black Aeronaut wrote:Just be aware that the fortunes of ex flag officers varied in high government office. Gen Brent Scowcroft did a very good job as national security adviser. General Alexander Haig as SecState didn't do too well. Especially when he tried a mutiny after Reagan's attempted assassination. General Colin Powell was sandbagged by Dubya and Condelezza Rice.
Regarding Retired General Mattis...
Honestly, I don't think I'd mind an exemption being passed for him, so long as it's only an exemption for him, and not some sort of permanent change to the rules. Mattis has that certain something that would be good for dealing with Da-Esh, and he's the perfect sort of bull dog to have on leash in our dealings in the Middle East and Russia - perfectly willing to make allies, but always keeping in mind how to systematically destroy them if they turn out to be an enemy. The man is a warrior, full stop.
Really, I hope that he kicks the DoD back into shape in regards to what we spend our money on. The Joint Strike Fighter Project is a hot, stinking, mess and so is the DDG-1000 project. They are money pits that we should have stopped trying to fill long, long ago.
His problem is going to be waging war on a different battleground where adversaries know the terrain.
Here's an example
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Into terror!, Into valour!
Charge ahead! No! Never turn
Yes, it's into the fire we fly
And the devil will burn!
- Scarlett Pimpernell