The latest issue of the magazine Foreign Affairs contains a review by Max Boot of four books about “the generals” appointed by Trump. One of the books is by General Mattis himself. I won’t list all four books, but I want to quote from the review.
In July 2017 a briefing was held for Trump in a Pentagon conference room used by the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Three of the books are in agreement as to what happened. General Mattis explained why the U.S.-led system of security alliances and trade relationships still benefited the U.S.
It did not go well. The president lashed out, telling the generals: “We are owed money you haven’t been collecting!” Mattis interjected, “This is what keeps us safe,” but Trump predictably wasn’t buying it. “You’re all losers,” he spat. “You don’t know how to win anymore.” A few minutes later, the president–who had cited bone spurs to evade service in the Vietnam War–told a roomful of decorated generals. “I wouldn’t go to war with you people. You’re a bunch of dopes and babies.”
The generals, conditioned not to question the commander in chief’s authority, sat in stunned silence. It was left to then Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to speak up. “No, that’s just wrong,” he retorted. “Mr. President, you’re totally wrong. None of that is true.” After the meeting, standing with a few people he trusted, Tillerson called the president “a fucking moron.”
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