Tuesday, December 6, 2016

Incoming U.S. Defense Secretary Ret. General Mattis: The Iraq War Was A 'Strategic Mistake'

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump stands with retired Marine Gen. James Mattis following their meeting at the main clubhouse at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey, U.S., November 19, 2016. REUTERS/Mike Segar

Business Insider: MATTIS: The Iraq war was a 'strategic mistake'

President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for Defence Secretary called the invasion of Iraq a “strategic mistake” at a conference last year, in an audio recording obtained by The Intercept.

In a wide-ranging speech at an ASIS International Conference in Anaheim, California that covered everything from Iran, ISIS, and other national security hotspots, retired Marine Gen. James Mattis told attendees: “We will probably look back on the invasion of Iraq as a mistake, a strategic mistake.”

The assertion is not particularly controversial, given the faulty intelligence that led to the invasion, the many missteps afterward, and the unravelling of a country that eventually gave birth to the terrorist group ISIS.

But it is interesting as it’s the first known instance of Mattis portraying the invasion in a negative light, especially given his leadership of 1st Marine Division in 2003, which he led across the border and, eventually, into Baghdad.

Read more ....

Update #1: Iraq Was Probably a “Mistake,” Said Gen. James Mattis, Trump's Defense Pick (The Intercept)
Update #2: Iraq war a ‘strategic mistake’ – leaked Gen. Mattis audio (RT)

WNU Editor: None of the articles explain why he felt it was a strategic mistake at the time .... because with hindsight it is easy to make the claim. I can only hope that this will be one of the questions raised when he goes through the confirmation process.

9 comments:

Jay Farquharson said...

"www.nytimes.com/...

WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald J. Trump on Tuesday fired one of his transition team’s staff members, Michael G. Flynn, the son of his designated national security adviser, for using Twitter to spread a fake news story about Hillary Clinton that this weekend led to an armed confrontation in a pizza restaurant in Washington.

The uproar over Mr. Flynn’s Twitter post cast a harsh spotlight on the views that he and his father, Lt. Gen. Michael T. Flynn, aired on social mediathroughout the campaign. Both men have shared fake news stories alleging that Mrs. Clinton committed felonies, and have posted their own Twitter messages that at times have crossed into Islamophobia"

http://mobile.nytimes.com/2016/12/06/us/politics/michael-flynn-son-trump.html?_r=1&referer=http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2016/12/6/1608046/-Michael-Flynn-s-Son-Fired-for-Pizzagate-tweets

Anonymous said...

Mattis will hopefully help our military begin the untying of the hands process it so desperately needs

Jay Farquharson said...

LMAO, Mattis won't last 6 months.

http://wonkette.com/609009/trump-could-do-worse-than-secretary-of-defense-james-mattis-in-fact-its-shocking-he-didnt

Anonymous said...

Hahah yea baby, snowflake is triggered decides to paste trash piece via dr zoom, ah the comedy and the desperation all in one very far left hate filled individual, ever thought of taking your shit show to reddit? That would be legendary

Jay Farquharson said...

LMAO,

In a years time, you will be denying you voted for Trump, just like Bush II,

Having voted to "burn the house down", you should have bought Fire and Flood insurance while it was still available.

LMAO.

Anonymous said...

Drain the swamp baby!!!!

Anonymous said...

Many on this site only provide fact based information. jay is an outstanding example of such a contributor. Close to flawless.
You know not what you speak Anon! You give us anons a bad name.

Jay Farquharson said...

Welcome to the swamp, baby

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/when-will-trump-voters-realize-theyve-been-had-2016-12-02?link=sfmw_tw


Unknown said...

Prediction was made.

Now we will see.

"Wonkette is an American online magazine of topical satire and political gossip, established in 2004 by Gawker Media and founding editor Ana Marie Cox, edited by Ken Layne from 2006 to 2012, and owned and edited by Rebecca Schoenkopf since 2012.[2] Prominent U.S. political bloggers including Juli Weiner, Jim Newell and Alex Pareene established their careers at Wonkette. The current editor is Rebecca Schoenkopf, formerly of OC Weekly"

Gawker is going out of business.