Mattis wouldn't have been my pick for Secretary of Defense. For one, I strongly prefer civilians in that role. The US military has always answered to a civilian government, and it should stay that way. A civilian SecDef can always bounce ideas off the Joint Chiefs of Staff (or take suggestions from them), so it doesn't imply operating in ignorance of how the military actually works.
That said, Mattis was obviously knowledgeable and qualified, and given how important the military (and the principle of civilian leadership, with the military staying out of politics) is, I fought battles on other hills. I found it reassuring that someone like Mattis was in the new Trump Administration; he was clearly one of Trump’s better picks.
But probably so by accident. I think the only reason Trump picked him is that he heard his nickname was “Mad Dog Mattis.” If he had known how well-educated, well-read, appreciative of soft power, and aware of the dangers of blowback Mattis was, he would never have for a second been considered for his role.
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