On January 25, journalist Thomas Ricks reported that General Mattis, CENTCOM Commander, "was traveling and in a meeting when an aide passed him a note that the Pentagon had announced his replacement as head of Central Command." Of primary concern is the manner in which the Marine was not given the due consideration he has earned after more than forty years of service and leadership in the support and defense of the United States Constitution.
Although NSC & Pentagon spokesmen subsequently exchanged words with Mr. Ricks, neither have offered an explanation for the disregard displayed towards such an iconic and exemplary professional warfighter. This lack of consideration serves only to undermine civil-military relations, which are central to foreign policy.