Trump should recall Mattis to active duty—and give him Gen. Dunford’s job

Larry Korb writes that installing Mattis—or any other general—to head the Pentagon would deprive the president of an essential nonmilitary viewpoint.

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Donald Trump’s choice for defense secretary, retired Marine Corps Gen. James Mattis, has been met with near-universal approval from Washington’s foreign policy experts, among others.

The move has been endorsed by Michele Flournoy, a former undersecretary of defense who was expected to be Hillary Clinton’s choice to run the Pentagon; by Republican Sen. John McCain, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Republican Rep. Mack Thornberry, chairman of the House Armed Services Committee; by William Cohen, a Republican who served as President Bill Clinton’s defense secretary; and by Elliot Cohen and Peter Feaver, academics who served in the Bush administration.

Even The New York Times editorial board has backed Mattis.

But while there is no doubt that Mattis is an extremely competent, brave and experienced individual who could provide excellent military advice to the next president, if Trump wants to gain the most from him, he should recall Mattis to active duty.

The above excerpt was originally published in Military Times. Click here to view the full article.

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