I thought long and hard about this post, but after doing my due diligence to get the full drift of your senseless, destructive, undeserving slander of our president, I cannot hold back. Just so you know, this is from a retired Marine colonel who spent nearly as much time in uniform as you. And considering my love of the Corps and my brothers and sisters, it does not bother me one bit to state without any equivocation you are a disgrace to our Marine uniform.
Who do you think you are to speak out in such a disgraceful manner against a sitting president? Do you believe your rank entitles you to talk such trash? By your recent actions and words, you’ve aligned yourself with the Hollywood trash who think anyone with half a brain would take anything they say with a grain of salt. You Mr. Mattis (I will not call you by your rank — you do not deserve it) are a disgrace to my Corps. I believe the only people who genuinely care about what you said are your fellow Marines who are disgusted with your pompous ass.
According to your own words you have over 7,000 books in your library. It’s now obvious to me you have not read any of them. You said, “We must not be distracted by a small number of lawbreakers.” WHAT? Are you kidding me? Where have you been lately, under a rock? Countless people killed and injured including many police officers, millions and millions of dollars’ worth of buildings destroyed and burned to the ground, many privately-owned stores and commercial establishments who had just opened after being closed because of the virus, all gone. Major stores looted; nothing left on the shelves. Yet you call that a small number of lawbreakers?
Then the biggest lie of all is when you state no president in your lifetime has been as divisive as President Trump. Where were you during the eight years of Obama? Oh, that’s right he fired your ass too. It seems the only arena in which you have been able to keep a job is in the military. Hmm, what does that tell me? Remember Mr. Mattis, I was there, well before you.
I always had my doubts about you especially after you fired a great Marine friend of mine whom I had a small hand in shaping his career. He told me things about you that caused me to believe you were nothing more than an egotistical liberal. I was, however, surprised when you took the job offered by President Trump to be our Sec Def. But then he too fired your ass. I have not researched it in detail, but I do believe you are the first general to ever be fired by two sitting presidents, the first a liberal racist and the other a conservative doer. How does that feel? How’s that for a legacy?
You Mr. Mattis are a despicable, egotistical, self-centered person of no value to my country.
Signed; Jim Bathurst, Col, USMC (Ret)
Originally posted 2020-06-05 10:50:12.
I’ll state this up front solely with the hopes that those who see it will read it all the way through: I’m a retired US Marine who fought in Iraq. Son of a Vietnam vet, grandson of a WWII vet.
“Who do you think you are to speak out in such a disgraceful manner against a sitting president?” He’s an American citizen with every right to speak his mind as the next. You posted this on Linked In, Jim, where, by my count, the vast majority of comments, most of whom have a military background, disagree with your emotional screed. Snowflake much?
“I believe the only people who genuinely care about what you said are your fellow Marines who are disgusted with your pompous ass.” Wrong again based on the scores of Linked In vets (many former Marines) who disagree with you.
“I have not researched it in detail, but..” Great way to establish credibility, Jimbo
“I always had my doubts about you especially after you fired a great Marine friend of mine whom I had a small hand in shaping his career.” So clearly this is a personal beef rather than a clear-eyed reason-based argument. Like the one General Mattis laid out.
I’ve had the honor of interacting with General Mattis several times on a personal and professional level and here is what people should know: he is incredibly intelligent, yet humble. He chooses his words carefully and thoughtfully. He does not suffer fools, especially not in combat. Unlike those who were born into wealth and privilege, General Mattis has not had a single thing handed to him.
You, Jim, are the disgrace. As Marine officers, we are taught to rise above the fray and gold above all else, our commitment to the Constitution. That’s why we swear our oath to it rather than to a person or office. Clearly, you have lost sight of that.
Couldn’t have said it better. This guy is a sellout looking to sell books by demonizing a decorated veteran for the attention of a reality game show host.
I’ll start by saying I’m a conservative and while I don’t like Trump’s leadership style and fragile ego I can appreciate what he has ultimately done for this country from an overall policy standpoint.
I don’t agree with Mattis on his personal opinion of Trump nor do I completely agree with his characterization of the riots. However, I also don’t believe the riots, as bad as they are, have reached a point where Trump should have essentially threatened to invoke the insurrection act.
Mattis wasn’t the only one that spoke out against this. By my count there was at least 8 other prior generals and even the current acting DoD leadership at nearly all the higher levels found it necessary to write politically correct letters to the forces letting them know we would not be getting involved with domestic policing at this time.
I’m sure Trump intended to come off as strong but the strong-arm threats really came off as weak and dictatorial.
All this being said, I have no problem with Mattis exercising a right that he has more than earned of criticizing the President. I wish he wouldn’t have made it personal because I think it weakened the part that matters and showed his own fragile ego (I know he has been waiting to get that jab in because even a year ago he said his silence was not eternal). But he was honestly using the same tactics that Trump uses and Trump even returned it in kind by lying (about giving him the name) and attacking back. To be honest the drama of it all reminded me of a couple teenagers…very embarrassing for a President and prior SECDEF. I’d expect more from two grown men who hold/have held positions of prestige in this country.
You saying Mattis is of “no value” to your country. Your right, your blog, but c’mon. He is not a traitor and he has served this country honorably for many years…and quite honestly…gave us the NDS that we truly needed. Don’t let a difference in opinion and the forgivable fragility of the human ego blind you.
All this being said, Trump didn’t invoke the insurrection act. He obviously listened to his advisors. However, I think it goes to show that those leaders that spoke up where not completely out in left field for their swift condemnation of what was suggested…while POTUS certainly had the right… we weren’t/aren’t there yet and even threatening such is concerning. Trump should consider speaking to his advisors BEFORE he makes such statements.
Oh dear, here we go again. Sir, I usually do not reply to comments where folks infer I said something that was posted by someone else in a comment. I never ever called or referred to Mr. Mattis as a traitor, how ludicrous is that! Incredulous!!! Finally you, like many others, do not understand Trump. I have read several oped’s explaining who Trump really is, written by people who know him well and even worked or are working for him commercially. He tweets things that sometimes he doesn’t even believe himself, somethings are thrown out there for the Never-Trumpers and the MSM. He tweet’s things to gin up discussion, and of course his haters glean on to it.. He never said he was going to invoke martial law (the insurrection Act), There is a good chance he isn’t even considering it, but looked what it caused — one helluva hoopla. That’s his style, like it or-not, he is the boss, and he loves doing that. I am sure he gets a big kick out of CNN’s and MSNBC’s response to things he tweets. Of course, he also gets positive feedback from his tweets. I love it. That one tweet caused all these so-called patriotic flag officers to jump through hoops. What is their true mission? It will be interesting to watch them all going forward. Colin Powell, whom I have never had any respect for throughout his shining career, has spoke up and supported Creepy Bernie. R U kidding me, that’s so funny it’s pitiful. He knows something we don’t. But I digress sir. Have a nice day and this is the last time I am going to reply to a comment such as yours, I simply do not have the time. If you’d like to make comments such as yours, you should start your own blog sir.
Thank you for the reply. I do understand you didn’t call him a traitor. I wasn’t meaning to infer you did. I should have been more clear. I was meaning to infer that I’d understand him being of “no value” to our country if he was traitor..which he’s obviously not…as you agree. “No value” is a really a strong statement towards a fellow Marine who has lived a life of honorable service to this nation. I know it’s your opinion which you are more than entitled to. Like I said, your right/your blog. I get that. However, if your bar is set that high for someone to be of “no value” to our country and you were fair and equitable in delivering that judgement then you’d probably be the only person left you’d find of value.
Daniel, you certainly have a knack for taking a word or two and twisting it around to make sense to you but no on else. In my mind and many others on here, he has not value to the country NOW in his capacity as a retired general, especially by making those comments about our country and its leader during this time of extreme strife on two fronts. If his thoughts were to bring the country together he certainly failed in that regard; therefore, I wonder what his real purpose was? Did you by chance read my last post. Do you have children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren by the way? I do. He never had that experience, he never had to do any of the things many Americans had to do, so who is he to advise anyone. That, my friend, was my point of the no value comment, and I still stand by it.
Jim
Thank you for publishing your letter. You renewed my confidence in the USMC. I served 8 years US. army MPC and discharged (honorably) as Staff Sergeant. I did not support Trump in his first election. I didn’t believe what he said or promised. By 100 days of his taking office I was a diehard supporter. I don’t see him as Republican and certainly not Democrat but as a man that loves his country and people. He is no politician, which causes him problems because he doesn’t mince words. He says what’s on his mind. I totally agree with your analysis of Mr Mattis. He doesn’t act or speak like a Marine. He speaks like he has a political office in his sights.
Be well and watch your 6. Hooah
Thank you Jim, Semper Fi, Brother for life
My Dad was a Career Air Force Command Fighter Pilot. When I was a Senior in High School, I was campaigning for a Presidential Candidate in Georgia where we were stationed. I put a sticker on the bumper of my car. My Dad was horrified when he saw the sticker with the candidates name on it. He told me that because I was his daughter, I could not have that sticker and Base Pass Sticker on my car. He said he was of course, allowed to vote, but not allowed to campaign in an election. Said he never even mentioned his party to anyone. He said because of his career he was not allowed to influence anyone to vote any way in any election. I always thought from that time on, that was a rule in the military. Dr. Martin Luther King came to town and there were Military Jeeps all over town announcing that the entire city limits of the town was off limits to all Military. This was a precaution in case of unrest within the city. If there was any trouble they did not want Military caught up in it or be in national news. Were those kinds of rules, “written rules” no longer followed? I have never understood why it should be O.K. for men like Gen. Colin Powell and Gen. Mattis to be disparaging President Trump, their Commander-in Chief. It does no seem right or proper to me!
Thank you for the enlightenment on Gen Mattis. Semper Fi.
Colonel , THANK YOU , SIR , I TOO wrote virtually the same Epistle as you, the day after the illustrious General -(ret ).spit forth his ignorance for all the world to see, and the lib media to ‘feast” on ! It seems the General -(ret).missed a class , or two, at the Academy ( or wherever the Hell he bought his Commission ) – he IS a despicable , politicized FOOL ! How in the Hell can you spend 40 YEARS in the Corp and BUY INTO THE DEMOCRAT PARTY ???? ASTOUNDING ! If you are ever in the York PA area, I’d be happy to buy you an adult beverage or two. WYVFW 8951 Semper Fi !!
Thank you sir. York? My Mom and Dad lived in York County (Delta)
I served with you in 2/7. I was a Platoon Commander in Fox company for CPT Steve Berkheiser. Thank you for your honest analysis of Mattis’ actions. Sadly I agree, he has sold his soul. Semper Fi brother.
Thank you Col, I really appreciate you for your truthful words and courage to speak out against this guy who in my opinion the only marine ever lost his title of marine.
Thank you colonel. I’m a retired SSGT and both him and General Kelley have embarrassed me, the Marine. I understand being frustrated but I learned that my Commander-in-Chief be respected and not necessarily liked.
Thanks for speaking out and speaking” truth to power” as they say.
I am disappointed in Mattis. Why did he even bother to take the position Pres. Trump offered him if he felt this way, but then maybe he took it as part of the Deep State. If it wasn’t for President Trump we would have NEVER know there was a deep state. In the beginning everyone thought he was nuts to say that, seems he was right about that and so much more. I pray he is re-elected. How can Powell, Bush and Mattis vote for a man who doesn’t even know where he is most of the time. It is sad that they put him out there in his condition. I feel bad for him.
My disappointment in Mr. Mattis” comments is that I always believed the protocol and etiquette of a Marine was NEVER to speak out against a President – better to say nothing against the Commander in Chief.
What a frggn hypocrite. You wrote “Who do you think you are to speak out in such a disgraceful manner against a sitting president?” Go back to 2015 and 2016 and see how you smeared and slandered our last true, elected by majority, sitting President. Go back to your hole you hateful creature.
Yes I did because he was a muslin loving racist, BUT, and here is the key Jayne, I did not do so publicly. This is my blog, it is not the Atlantic magazine. I would never speak out publicly against a duly elected sitting president. Get your stuff together. Okay go back to sleep under your rock.
Nice, level, polite response. Would have been honored to serve under your command.
You sir are the disgrace not Mr.Mattis. How can you call mr. Obama a racist and not Trump? Is it because Trump only likes White people?
What????????????????????????? Get a life lady!
As I recall it was Obama who chastised business owners with “You didn’t make that”. He was at the public trough his entire life, from community organizer, through 2 years in the Senate hardly casting a vote, right through the Presidency, and now on pension, with some huge speaking engagements and book revenue for good measure! Never had to sweat paying a rent, making a payroll……Well, most of us deplorables get the picture.
Yes we do Doug, hang in there shipmate, and thanks
Loretta that’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard. “Trump only likes white people”.
What do you base that on other than your own sheer stupidity?
Loretta, I hope you served in the military because if you didn’t, XXXX you!!! Obama was a racist. Remember Ferguson, Mo.??? He brought Browns’ mother to the White house and called her a hero!!! Her son was a THUG!!!
OBAMA WAS AGAINST THE POLICE AND MADE IT KNOWN IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS. Did you happen to see the book he took his oath of allegiance on for his second term??? It was a Koran!!! So help me God my ass. Obama reduced our military to a third rate military.
Loretta, you don’t know shit so shut your pie hole sewer!!! Don’t you ever talk like that to a high ranking military officer while you sat and relished the freedom he provided for you!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you for your service, Colonel. Semper Fi!!!!!
Loretta, what has Trump done to be a racist? I know when he was listed as a Dim back in the 90’s he was given award after award by Jesse and Al for his contributions to the black community in various areas. Then he ran as a Pub and became a racist. I have noticed he has been meeting with black leaders since he came to office and his approval rating just approached 40 percent in the last Rasmussen poll. He also moved forward a long overdue idea of jail reform. Obama is a racist and anti semite and those are easy to trace, but I still wonder how Trump is a racist. Is it one of those favorite liberal pastimes which is to repeat the same lie often enough that they hope it becomes the truth?
Loretta! That is a lie spread by the traitor Democrats. Funny how the King family has been friends with the Trumps for a long time. Stop spreading lies and take some time to look for the truth.
Jayne Natzel, how dare you defend the last sitting president when he was ruining our country and laying in bed with and giving billions of dollars to our enemies. You are disgusting and a worthless person with crap values. Go look in a mirror b4 you criticize any retired Marine Colonel who has the courage to bring forth the truth
Elected by majority? You mean a fake and fraudulent election. Care to explain a 113% turnout in multiple counties? How about multiple people claiming to have voted for Obama in several different counties. Obama did nothing for this country, nothing for black Americans, nothing for Americans at all. He divided us, lied to us, encouraged racial tensions, apologized to countries that benefit from us while hating us, did all sorts of favors for our enemies, gave them money and weapons, just about tried to give the US to the muslims. Obama is the absolute worst president I have ever seen in my lifetime, and I am thankful that I did not serve under his piss poor leadership.
Jayne, I’m just a guy who served Honorably in the United States Navy. I spent some time at Gitmo, you know that dump that’s only 90 miles from Miami? If you have any kind of a Brain how can you support an idiot like Obama the Con Man who wanted to open relations with the Castro regime? If you remember or studied your History which you probably never did you would know that Castro along with the Soviet Union (Russia) if you don’t understand wanted to make an ashtray out of our great country in October of 1961. But Obama the Apologist instead wanted to kis Castro’s Ass and beg for forgiveness just like he bowed to the Japs to ask for forgiveness for dumping a couple of A-Bombs on them but never mind reminding the Japs that they hit us with a sneak attack on 7 December 1941 killing almost 3,000 Americans. Learn your History! Oh I forgot, those Liberal educators don’t teach History anymore. Pleasant dreams under that Rock you sleep under.
Thank You Jim for speaking out from an old Sailor,
Richie Simonetti
Jayne, I must apologize to you as my comments were not meant for you. I made a mistake as my comment was for Loretta. So sorry as I should have followed the golden rule that haste makes waste! Be Well!
Richie Simonetti
Can you give facts how is Pres Trump is a traitor?
To Colonel Bathurst,
Sir, it is hard for me to agree with your method of an open letter to General Mattis without you saying you had a private conversation with him and it fell on deaf ears. Nevertheless, I respect your views However Sir, I see you doing the same thing as you accuse him off…….”conduct unbecoming”
I only served a Lt. General when I was in the Marine Corps.
I respond to you to merely say, we Marines handled matters in a different manner as we treated all those with the title of “Marine” as Marines. Even when we disagree with one another.
….only those without sin” should be the first to cast the first stone.
Semper Fidelis Sir
What? Excuse me sir. I will cast the first stone. I have never spoken out in public against a sitting president and he should have known better. What is his ulterior motivation? Is he thinking of a political run for which he is totally unqualified to start with. All he knows is how to be a warrior, he has never experienced any of the things we fathers in today’s horrible society have experienced over the past decade. Worried about their daughters being raped, beaten up by thugs, joining gangs, captured for sex slavery, etc. All Mr. Mattis knows is Marine Corps. I have not made any disparaging comments about his role as a Marine General, except to say I have questioned some of his tactical decisions, which BTW are now being studied at military academies and some believe he made some wrong decisions. But I don’t even condemn him for that. I have been there and know what it is like when under the stress of combat. I made some myself, one in particular for which I will live with the rest of my life. My problem is with Mr. Mattis trying to tell me as a citizen (not as a Marine) what I should believe and do. Sorry, but that’s my stand. And no I have never had a private conversation with Mr. or General Mattis, and do not care to for I do know from where he comes, and I am not on that side. And I have learned through my 79 years of life to not try and logically discuss those things with a liberal, they are always right. It’s a waste of my time; so I speak and say my part here on MY blog, and if you can’t handle it, don’t come here sir. It’s that plain and simple.
I am a retired Air Force Major (Enlisted for 9 years first)
I agree with you Colonel. I think Mattis is politically motivated in his actions…Expect him to seek office.
Mattis has disgraced him self by pandering to the looters and rioters. He fired the first shot and now what all the other marines who have ever lived have to be silent because a MADE DOG attacked a sitting president with out any facts to back up his attack?
I AGREE SIMER FI
👍🇺🇸
To LtGen Martino,
Sir,
Sorry, not even close.
Articles in the Atlantic Magazine are not published without compensation. So, Gen Mattis has his thirty pieces of silver. Nice, eh?
Gen Mattis derogatory public remarks about a sitting Commander in Chief are an embarrassment to all who understand the rules.
Casting “first stones” has nothing to do with it. Nothing at all.
Semper Fidelis, Sir.
MY AMERICA- UNITED States of America. 50 States UNITED, under ONE GOD, INDIVISIBLE and Justice for ALL.. United we STAND, (American ) their goal= Divided we fall ! (UnAmerican) Wake up America🇱🇷 🇺🇸
You my friend is more the traitor than President Trump! No other President in history has work to fix the econemy, despite being hounded by the likes of Pelosi, Scheff and adler. We were headed to the shitter until President Trump took hold and brought the country from disaster!! Your Mr. Mattis was fired for his actions, or lack there of!
Jim, The most dishonorable thing a person can do is excuse bad behavior in the name of protecting allegiance. It is ultimately dangerous as silence is a form of collusion. Name any dictator and I’ll show you such blind loyalty. No, Trump is not a dictator but these qualities should sound familiar: ego, narcissism, systematic intimidation of the media, using state power to punish an opponent, fear mongering, demonizing the opposition, stacking the courts… It actually takes courage to speak out like Jim Mattis, and most recently Colin Powell. There will be more patriotic dissenters.
And yes you are obviously one of the allegedly patriotic dissenters yourself sir. Colin Powell? Now there is a joke if I ever heard one. He supports Creepy Joe, LOL, That’s hilarious. Just like he supported Hillary. LOL Go ahead follow them all to hell, which is where they are headed. Get your head out of tour arse son
It takes no courage at all to jump in the same side as Hollywood and the main stream media that’s called safety in desertion. Mattis is not my Marine leader my Marine corps would never allow this kind of public Lynching of a sitting or retired President. Mad Dog – hell I think something softer like an Indian name “speaking bull” comes to mind. From a Vietnam Nam era Marine (real Marine).
Bryan, let me address a few of your points.
Intimidation of the media, are you kidding? What do you call what the media has done to President Trump for the last 4-5 years? Harassment 24/7/365.
Using state power to punish an opponent, huh? Let’s ask Lt. Gen. Flynn, Carter Page, and George Papadopoulos (and many others) about that.
Fear mongering? Was it President Trump who wanted to lock everyone up in their houses until the election, making people think they were going to die if they stepped outside? Also… We’re going to war with Iran! North Korea is going to bomb us!
Demonizing the opposition…first of all, they are demons. Second, that is politics. They all do it.
Stacking the courts? Is he supposed to nominate liberal judges? Sorry, but the previous president should have filled those positions if he didn’t want the courts stacked. But then again, he thought the other person would win. I guess it wasn’t her turn. She should’ve tried harder and not just expect to win.
You know, if everyone would just get off the President’s ass, maybe things would be a lot different. He wouldn’t have to fight back and defend every word, move and decision he makes.
Sure you would because you ate up all his bravado perfectly aimed at you young troops, but more mature folks saw through it for what it was and ignored it and actually watched what he did, it wasn’t all good, but as a young Marine you were too enamored by him to see it. Now that you are older and maturer, I would expect you’d look back at history and make a logical decision, but obviously you cannot. Sorry for that. Furthermore, while I did not agree with some of his tactical decisions that got Marines killed and wounded, I do believe he was an adequate general. My problem is not about his generalship, but his actions as Mr. Mattis — disgraceful. But you are entitled to your opinion. Remember what they are like? Everyone has at least one. LOL
Oh dear me, here we go again. “Flamed out as an 0-6.” I wonder what you “flamed out as?” A PFC? Really you are not worth the trouble to explain anything you could have vetted yourselves, but as a useful idiot, you allow others to do your thinking for you. So, give it a break son. No more from you, you are blocked, you are too funny and this is not a comical site..
Over 30 years Army here (active and reserve, enlisted and commissioned). One can sense this great republic is being brought down from within by domestic enemies. It is the duty of those who took the oath to fight to defend our republic. Mattis has shown he sides with those who intend to bring us down. Shame. At least the present crisis is removing the facades so we can see who is patriot and who is an enemy within. God save the republic.
Well said! When quitter Mattis left the White House, the writing became apparent and the plan was already in place!! GW has followed suite, colon libtard Powell is sucking off the liberal tit! So none of this surprises me, I’m just glad to know who the patriots are and what justifiable homicide will be as well!!!
Thank you Col. Bathurst! Well said! Retired Marine, 1883-2003…