(10-05-2017, 04:41 PM)FBT Wrote:

(10-04-2017, 12:18 AM)B2hibry Wrote: Gen. Mattis is a smart dude. He knows how to speak tough without backing himself into a corner or disrespecting his boss. In any case, he did not unequivocally state that we should keep the Iran deal. He stated that if all reviewers can agree and that the terms within the agreement can be verified that he thinks it should be renewed. As of right now, Russia and Iran have kept inspectors from verification of section T of the deal.

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-iran-n...SKCN1C821N

Therein lies the rub.  He knows as well as anyone the likelihood that Iran is going to live up to their end of the agreement, as has already been proven out since it was signed.  He also knows that many of the very groups tasked with monitoring compliance have been rebuffed by Iran and their Russian buddies.  All signs point toward withdrawing no matter what he's indicated.

Mattis is a good and thoughtful man.  He's not the hot head many on the left expected him to be, and if they had educated themselves in the slightest, they would have understood this from the beginning, but the politicization of every appointment allowed them to portray him as a war hawk.  That's never been his MO in the past, but let's not allow facts to get in the way of a good old political hit job.

He's tough as nails, and he fully understands how to use rhetoric to project strength, an there's absolutely nothing wrong with that.  He's not afraid to use the military if called upon.  I just don't think that's his first preference in any situation.