Warfighter

General James N "Mad Dog" Mattis

"Men, all this stuff you hear about America not wanting to fight, wanting to stay out of the war is alot of bullshit.  Americans love to fight.  All real Americans love the sting and clash of battle.  When you were kids, you admired the champion marble shooter, the fastest runner, the big leage ball players and the toughest boxers.  Americans love a winner and will not tolerate a loser.  America plays to win all the time.  That's why Americans have never lost and will never will lose a war.  The very thought of losing is hateful to Americans.  Battle is the most significant compettition in which a man can indulge.  It brings out all that is best and removes all that is base."
~General George S. Patton Jr. on the eve of the D Day invasion~

Recently, our headlines have been dominated by the process of president elect Donald Trumps picks for his incoming administration.  One of these picks was a retired Marine Corps general by the name of James "Mad Dog" Mattis.  I find it funny how the media has been twisted into knots by the selection of this self proclaimed warfighter.  However, in my mind this was one of the best selections Mr. Trump could have made.  Traditionaly, the office of secretary of defense has been held by men with some semblence of a military background.  There have been many retired generals and admirals who have ascended the ranks to this office.  However, there have also been a few who, in my opinion, had no business being in that position.  That being said, I agree with Donald Trump on his selection.  For the office of the secretary of defense is above all, a office of war and combat.  As a nation , we must have men in this position who have seen and know the sting of combat.  This is not a position for a wall street executive.  When the proverbial crap hits the fan, it is the warfighter who will provide the leadership and execution needed to protect our nation.  Above all, that is the duty of the secretary of defense, to defend this nation which he serves.  Mattis has been described by some who know him as a throwback to General George Patton, and I applaud this.  As a lifelong Patton admirer, I can think of none better to lead this nations military.  Indeed, there are times when military force is not warranted and diplomacy is necessary.  It is times such as these where diplomats take center stage.  However, in the focus of defending our nation from all enemies, two men shoulder this responsibility, the President and his secretary of defense.

"People sleep peacefully in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf"
George Orwell

James Mattis has been criticized recently due to his comments on killing the enemy.  To enjoy killing his enemy, to relish sending those who would harm us to their doom.  On the basis of these comments alone, I believe that this is the exact right man for this job.  I, for one, will never sleep soundly at night knowing that the defense of our nation is in the hands of one who shows a reluctance in the use of violence against those who would harm us.  To do so would ultimately embolden our enemies.  One need to only look upon the past eight years of our nations history to see this viewpoint in action.  For under a weak president, many of our enemies across the globe have seized each and every opportunity to test our resolve.  Like the bully who has been shamed in his aggression, our nation has become one where we are seen as weak militarily.  You may not like violence, you may despise the death and destruction of war, but to think that this nation can sustain itself on the basis of a anti war stance is a delusion.  Our intents may be for peace, but only amongst those in this world who wish to bring violence to our nation.  If there is one thing I have learned in my lifelong study of military history it is that war will ALWAYS find us no matter how hard we try otherwise.  To be prepared for such a eventuality is our best defense.  This nation was not only born out of war, but it is by conflict which we will survive.  The monicker of "Freedom is not free" has never been more true than today.  How is it that we can expect to live as a free nation when all around us there are those who wish to bring us harm?  Cemetaries from Collevile-Sur-Mur on the beaches of Normandy to Arlington, Virginia bear witness to those who stood not only for our nations defense, but that of freedom everywhere.  To them we owe a debt of eternal gratitude and honor.  For it is with honor which warfighters such as James Mattis stand in defense of this nation.

~Scott~