Donald Trump's selections for his Cabinet have been described as "gazillionaires and generals."
Trump is building an Administration where retired generals are being nominated for key departments, including the department of defense, the department of Homeland Security, and National Security Adviser.
Particularly troubling is how Trump is deliberately and foolishly ignoring the long-held precedent of maintaining civilian control over the department of defense.
All of us should be deeply concerned that Trump has nominated retired General James 'Mad Dog" Mattis as secretary of defense.
Mattis retired from the military only three years ago, after a turbulent and confrontational service career. Within the Obama Administration, there was deep concern that Mattis wanted to provoke direct military confrontations with Iran.
With this history, it's critical the U.S. Senate reject the Mattis' nomination for secretary of defense. And after decades of civilian control at the Pentagon, it's troubling and alarming that Trump wants to put a retired general in charge. With Trump's own troubled history of "shooting from the hip" and aggressive posturing, American cannot afford to have a bellicose secretary of defense who will do Trump's bidding.
Please join me in signing our petition urging the Senate to REJECT the nomination of retired general, James "Mad Dog" Mattis for secretary of defense.
