Gen. James Mattis (Ret.) Sees A Positive Side In The Bowe Bergdahl Release

Photo: U.S. Marine Corps General James Mattis testifies before the Senate Armed Services Committee in Washington March 5, 2013, with regard to the Defense Authorization Request for fiscal year 2014. Credit: Reuters/Gary Cameron

Gen. Mattis: "...We No Longer Have That Concern That They Have This Pawn That They Can Then Play Against Us" On CNN's State Of The Union -- CNN

Today on CNN's State of the Union with Candy Crowley, Gen. James Mattis (Ret.) former commander of the U.S. Central Command, Maj. Gen. Paul Eaton (Ret.) and Lt. Gen Jerry Boykin (Ret.), spoke to Crowley in a panel about their reactions to the Bergdahl swap, concerns over the release of the Guantanamo Bay prisoners, and how the Bergdahl family is handling the death threats they have received.

On the aftermath of the Bergdahl swap, Gen. Mattis said to Crowley, “...we no longer have that concern that they have this pawn that they can then play against us. So there's also a military vulnerability that the Haqqanis now face, that Taliban now faces because they no longer hold one of our U.S. soldiers in their - in captivity.”

A transcript of the discussion is available after the jump.

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My Comment: Blunt as always.

CENTCOM Review: Turmoil In The Mideast And Southwest Asia (Video)

My Comment: It's good to see Former Gen. Mattis again .... and one hour of him unrestrained. His comments and reflections are spot on.

Top U.S. Commander In The Middle East Warns About Syria And Iran

Gen. James Mattis, right, talks with Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Martin Dempsey. Photo: Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

Military’s Mideast Chief Sounds Ready to Aid Syria’s Rebels -- The Danger Room

Marine Gen. James Mattis, the commander of U.S. forces in the Middle East, didn’t come out and endorse U.S. intervention in Syria. But he did everything short of it, playing up the opportunity for the U.S. to bloody the nose of an Iranian proxy. Mattis told a Senate panel that knocking off dictator Bashar Assad would represent “the biggest strategic setback for Iran in 25 years.”

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More News On Marine Gen. James Mattis Comments On U.S. Options In The Middle East

General warns of Syrian bioweapons, Iran threat -- Yahoo News/AP
General warns of Syrian bioweapons, Iran threat -- CBS
Mattis Defends Afghan Strategy, Warns of Iran, Al-Qaida Threats -- US Department of Defense
Gen. Mattis: Iran, Al Qaeda Involved in Syria Violence -- US News And World Report
General: Syrian air defense complicates US options -- FOX News/AP
Military options in Syria 'challenging': US general -- AFP
Few military options for U.S. in Syria, general says -- Kansas City/McClatchy News
Mattis Explains Challenges in Syrian Situation -- US Department of Defense
U.S. general: Syria's Assad likely to stay in power 'for some time' -- L.A. Times
Syria will "get worse before it gets better" -- CNN
Assad’s forces gaining ‘momentum’ in Syria, U.S. general warns -- Washington Post
Commander Of U.S. Forces In the Middle East Tells Senate That Knocking Over Syria Would Hurt Iran -- Business Insider

General Mattis Sworn In As CENTCOM Chief

U.S. Marine Corps Gen. James N. Mattis, incoming commander of U.S. Central Command, takes the flag signifying his assumption of command from outgoing, acting commander Marine Corps Lt. Gen. John R. Allen, center, while Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates looks on during a ceremony at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., Aug. 11, 2010. DoD photo by Cherie Cullen

As Mattis Takes Helm Of CENTCOM, Gates Praises His Leadership -- Stars And Stripes

MacDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. — Marine Corps Gen. James Mattis took the reins of U.S. Central Command on Wednesday evening, capping a major shakeup in military leadership that began with the publication of a sensational Rolling Stone article in June and the ensuing resignation of the Afghanistan war’s top commander.

Mattis succeeds Gen. David Petraeus, perhaps the nation’s most popular man in uniform, who after helping turn around the war in Iraq spent two years building a reputation as a military-diplomat, crisscrossing the Middle East and glad-handing national leaders in an effort to expand the U.S. military footprint and build up a regional strategic partnership.

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More News On General Mattis Being Sworn In As Central Command Chief

Gates: Mattis Brings Experience, Continuity to Centcom -- U.S. Department of Defense
Mattis takes over as CENTCOM chief -- AFP
New CentCom chief vows to work with Mideast allies -- AP
Mattis Sworn In as Central Command Chief -- Wall Street Journal
Wednesday CENTCOM swearing-in for Mattis -- Marine Times
No rest for the warrior -- Politico

A Profile On The New Head Of CENTCOM Gen. James N. Mattis

Petraeus’s Successor Is Known for Impolitic Words -- New York Times

WASHINGTON — To those who have served under him, Gen. James N. Mattis is the consummate Marine commander, a warrior who chooses to lead from the front lines and speaks bluntly rather than concerning himself with political correctness.

But General Mattis, President Obama’s choice to command American forces across the strategic crescent that encompasses Iraq and Afghanistan, has also been occasionally seen by his civilian superiors as too rough-edged at a time when military strategy is as much about winning the allegiance of local populations as it is about firepower.

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My Comment: I know very little about Gen. Mattis, but I do know that many in the media, the political class, and the Pentagon feel uncomfortable with his presentation .... my altitude is so what. But even with this intense focus, I suspect that his Congressional confirmation process will be successful and he will dissuade any doubts on his appointment.

Is General Mattis The Right Man To Head CENTCOM?

The 'Warrior Monk': New CENTCOM Head Is Our Finest Marine -- Ralph Peters, New York Post

Nominated last week to replace Gen. David Petraeus as the head of the US Central Command, the Marine Corps' Gen. Jim Mattis may be the finest four-star on duty in any service today.

He's certainly the humblest. And maybe the smartest -- but he'll let you figure that out for yourself.

If confirmed, Mattis will team with Petraeus on AfPak, but he'll also be responsible for the vast surrounding region. He won't micromanage Petraeus. Instead, he'll support his nominal subordinate every way he can. He'll build the frame, letting Petraeus paint the Afghan canvas.

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Update: What we can expect from James Mattis -- Foreign Policy

Previous Post: Meet The New U.S. Commander For CENTCOM

My Comment: The appointment of General Mattis has been received positively by most members in the media, the military establishment, and in government.

Let us hope that he and General Petraeus can deliver.