WAAHINGTON – US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis resignation has come as a bigsurprise for many across the World.
Mattis will be “retiring, with distinction,” in February, President DonaldTrump has said, a day after he ordered American troops to rapidly withdrawfrom war-torn Syria in an abrupt decision criticised by many as premature.
In his resignation letter sent on Thursday, Mattis told Trump it was the”right time” for him to step down because the US president deserved adefence secretary “whose views are better aligned with yours on these andother subjects.” “The end date for my tenure is February 28, 2019, a datethat should allow sufficient time for a successor to be nominated andconfirmed as well as to make sure the Department’s interests are properlyarticulated and protected at upcoming events to include Congressionalposture hearings and the NATO Defense Ministerial meeting in February,” hesaid.
The 68-year-old Pentagon chief did not mention if he was resigningspecifically over the troop withdrawal decision, which has surprised USallies and several lawmakers.
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Analysts say the withdrawal of troops will please US enemies by clearingthe way for Syria’s Bashar al-Assad regime, Russia and Iran. Mattis hadwarned that removing ground forces from the Middle Eastern country would bea “strategic blunder”.
After Mattis sent his resignation, Trump announced he will be “retiring” inFebruary.
