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The Washington Post says Donald Trump will pick Gen. James Mattis as his Secretary of Defense. I gather Mattis is pretty well respected, though I continue to believe that Trump himself was swayed solely by his “Mad Dog” nickname.
Mattis will need a special exemption from Congress, since he’s only been retired from the military for three years rather than the legally required seven. That will probably sail through, though I sort of hope it runs into at least a few bumps. I don’t have anything against Mattis, but the 7-year rule is a pretty good one. Civilian control of the military is an important tradition.
