As President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to head the Defense Department, General Mattis has the potential to act as a restraint in an administration led by an impulsive and uninformed leader. It’s to Mr. Trump’s credit that he would appoint a strong-minded defense secretary who is likely to challenge assumptions held in the White House. Mr. Trump’s unrestrained praise of President Vladimir Putin of Russia and his disregard for America’s longstanding military alliances have been disconcerting. Pointing to history, General Mattis said that American efforts to engage constructively with Russia have tended to fail. While the seven-year rule exists for a good reason, it makes sense to make an exception for General Mattis.

Source: New York Times January 13, 2017 01:14 UTC