'I'm not going to do it': Mattis told Trump that next Pentagon chief would have 'to l
 

'I'm not going to do it': Mattis told Trump that next Pentagon chief would have 'to lose to ISIS'
By: Tim Pearce - Washington Examiner - 8-29-19
RE: https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/n...o-lose-to-isis

Former Secretary of Defense Gen. James Mattis offered his resignation after failing to convince President Trump to walk back a pledge to pull all American troops out of Syria.

The interaction was published in an Atlantic article published Thursday. Mattis requested a meeting with Trump following a December announcement by the president that he would pull troops out of Syria.

Mattis met with Trump for roughly 30 minutes and argued to keep troops in Syria. The president rejected Mattis's arguments and the Defense secretary handed over his resignation letter, saying, "You're going to have to get the next secretary of defense to lose to ISIS. I'm not going to do it."

Mattis believed that pulling troops out of Syria would destabilize the region, allow ISIS to rebuild, and alienate U.S. allies in the region.

Trump had announced in December that he would withdraw troops from Syria after declaring victory against ISIS. Trump eventually did walk back the pledge in February, agreeing to leave 400 troops in Syria.