Mattis and others had strongly counseled the often-impulsive president against those moves -- and the decorated retired general did little to hide his disagreement with Trump. The announcement that Mattis would leave the administration came just after Trump stunned Washington and allies abroad in declaring that US troops would leave Syria and significantly withdraw from Afghanistan. By AFPMore by this AuthorWASHINGTON,Donald Trump on Sunday announced he will replace Defence Secretary Jim Mattis with his deputy Patrick Shanahan, speeding up the Pentagon chief's planned exit days after he quit, citing key policy differences with the US president. Mattis and others had strongly counselled the often-impulsive president against those moves -- and the decorated retired general did little to hide his disagreement with Trump. Unlike Mattis, Shanahan has never served in the military and has spent most of his career in the private sector.

Source: Daily Nation December 24, 2018 03:56 UTC