We urge the Administration to reconsider its decision to replace General James Mattis as head of CENTCOM. A dissenting viewpoint from a seasoned, imminently capable senior military leader should not be cause for his ouster. This action will hinder critical analysis and stifle information on which to make sound foreign policy decisions, creating a kind of "go along to get along" climate that may have grave implications for our country's future.
General Mattis embodies the values we should cultivate in today's officer corps: honor, integrity, devotion to duty, leadership, and unparalleled military acumen. This is the kind of senior military leader every administration should seek to retain, not silence. He has been done a serious injustice, and America needs his continued service.