The Salem News: Moulton Backs Mattis for Defense Secretary
SALEM — Seth Moulton and Donald Trump don’t agree on much. But the 6th District congressman and the president-elect find themselves on rare common ground when it comes to retired Gen. James Mattis.
Moulton, D-Salem, said Friday that he supports Trump’s selection of Mattis for U.S. Secretary of Defense. Moulton, a former Marine, served under Mattis when Mattis commanded the First Marine Division in Iraq.
“I think he would be fantastic,” Moulton said. “He has led one of the most significant commands of our nation (Central Command overseeing the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan). He is a deep thinker and a student of history. He has a library of something like 6,000 books. That’s precisely the kind of thoughtfulness and perspective we need in our secretary of defense.”
“I think Mr. Trump believes this is just some tough-guy general,” he said. “He just doesn’t know Gen. Mattis well enough to realize he’s one of the smartest, most thoughtful, best strategic thinkers that we have. (Trump) doesn’t know any better. His ignorance is a blessing for sanity.”
Moulton sent out a tweet Friday morning making fun of Trump’s comment during the campaign that he knows “more about ISIS than the generals do, believe me ...!”
“How long till Trump gets the knife hand from Gen Mattis?” Moulton tweeted.
Moulton said he was a “mere lieutenant” when he served under Mattis, so he didn’t have much interaction with him. But, he said, Mattis gave a “moving speech” to his troops in Kuwait just before the Iraq invasion.
“He was an inspiring leader,” Moulton said.
Mattis has been criticized by some for his blunt talk. He has been quoted as saying to a local Iraqi, “I come in peace. I didn’t bring artillery. But I’m pleading with you, with tears in my eyes, if you (mess) with me, I’ll kill you all.”
“If there’s one thing we need in today’s world, I think it’s leaders who can speak the truth, who aren’t just constrained by the politics of the moment,” Moulton said. “And so to have a leader who has this reputation for not being politically correct, for speaking his mind and telling the truth about what’s really going on on the ground, that means a lot. That means a lot when you’re following someone like that into battle.”
Moulton has advocated for a political as well as a military strategy in Iraq, saying the United States needs to take steps to ensure the Middle Eastern country’s long-term stability. Mattis has also advocated for more diplomacy, once telling the Armed Services Committee, “If you don’t fully fund the State Department, then I need to buy more ammunition.”
Moulton hasn’t spoken with Mattis about his Iraq strategy, “but from what he’s said, I believe we’re very much on the same page. You have to have a comprehensive strategy, not just a military strategy,” he said.
Moulton said he is concerned with the federal law that requires a member of the military to be out of uniform for seven years before becoming defense secretary. The provision is meant to assure civilian control over the military. Mattis, who retired in 2013, would need a waiver to be appointed.
“I expect I will be (in favor of a waiver), but we have to examine it carefully,” said Moulton. “My plan is to work with members of both sides of the aisle to fully consider when and how to make a statutory exemption and have that passed by Congress.”
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