The Savior We’ve Been Waiting For CPT (r) Tyler Merritt November 19, 2016 Veteran Inspired 542 So it’s finally happened. Military circles the world over have whispered his name from one to another as his larger-than-life personality is always infectious. Retired General James “Mad Dog” Mattis has been circulating around the news for the past day or so as a prospect for the Secretary of Defense according to the Marine Corps Times, which is a big deal — and seems to be very likely. At Nine Line News, we like to keep it specifically to news about veterans and first responders. If there’s one thing we know, it’s our following of loyal readers. As such, here’s the scoop and what it could mean for the future of the most incredible military force on God’s green Earth. Who is General Mattis? In short, if you speak to many Marines, he’s the modern incarnation of Chesty Puller. In any case, General Mattis retired as the 11th commander of CENTCOM, but he has served in many essential posts, to include replacing General Petraeus in that role at the end of his command term. He has been well known throughout the Marine Corps for many years, uttering some of the most quotable and relevant statements of our time for the military. Known for being upfront, speaking his mind and taking decisive action, he’s been a fan of veterans for quite a while. Some of His More Notable Quotes It’s been colorful, that’s for sure. Here is a quick recap of remarks that have made him something of a cult icon among the military and veteran community: “You cannot allow any of your people to avoid the brutal facts. If they start living in a dream world, it’s going to be bad.” No one in a position of authority can afford to have sugar-coated facts. In combat, that can get everyone killed. Living in an echo-chamber is going to be a bad result for leaders. So General Mattis knows first hand the importance of being brutally honest and encouraging it from his subordinates. “Be polite, be professional, but have a plan to kill everybody you meet.” Not one to be bashful in the spotlight, this line he dropped is in line with his reputation for always being ready for anything. Although often taken with levity, it’s the result of a career Marine’s service to his country and the understanding that our enemies would love to destroy us at any cost. Incidents like 9/11 taught us that we always had to be vigilant and at the ready. “I come in peace. I didn’t bring artillery. But I’m pleading with you, with tears in my eyes: If you fuck with me, I’ll kill you all.” The best leaders are the ones who want to achieve without bloodshed — if it’s at all possible. General Mattis let this be known to all of the tribal leaders in Iraq after the invasion in order to show them that he wanted the best for them and their nation — but he wasn’t going to do so at the expense of his Marines. Thus, he ended it with a simple threat. If you fuck with us, we will kill you all; plain spoken and honest, the best in leadership. “PowerPoint makes us stupid.” Hopefully, this is self explanatory. If not, well, give it time… What This Means For Us There’s been a lot of controversy in the Defense Department in the past few years. Some leaders believe that the uncertainty generated has potentially affected our readiness and ability to react to threats at home and abroad. Someone like General Mattis as the Secretary of Defense could bring a little more clarity and better security to an administration facing a great deal of security threats all over. One thing is for sure — it means that the average Soldier, Marine, Airman and Sailor will be at the top of the DOD’s priority list. And that is absolutely a great thing indeed.
