Translating General James Mattis’ Resignation Letter

By now you’ve already read General Mattis’ letter of resignation to President Trump. And if you haven’t, do it now because it’s a doozy. Now, in reading the letter, you may have gotten the impression that there was some unsaid subtext hidden within the letter. And that impression would be 100% spot on. We here at Rudin Writes had the opportunity to read General Mattis’ first draft of the resignation and are publishing it here. Below is the letter given to the President with the first draft language in bold. Enjoy.

Dear Mr. President:

Attention Jerkface:



I have been privileged to serve as our country’s 26th Secretary of Defense which has allowed me to serve alongside our men and women of the Department in defense of our citizens and our ideals. I am proud of the progress that has been made over the past two years on some of the key goals articulated in our National Defense Strategy: putting the Department on a more sound budgetary footing, improving readiness and lethality in our forces, and reforming the Department’s business practices for greater performance.

I was hired to do a job and I did it well. I have always served my  country with distinction and this job was no different. The Department of Defense is better  off for having had me at the helm.

Our troops continue to provide the capabilities needed to prevail in conflict and sustain strong U.S. global influence. One core belief I have always held is that our strength as a nation is inextricably linked to the strength of our unique and comprehensive system of alliances and partnerships.

You have no clue what an ally is. Or maybe you do have a clue and you just don’t care  because you’ve sold out to our enemies *cough* Putin *cough*.

While the US remains the indispensable nation in the free world, we cannot protect our interests or serve that role effectively without maintaining strong alliances and showing respect to those allies.

You know what’d be nice Mr.Trump? If you stopped treating our allies  like shit. That would be nice.

Like you, I have said from the beginning that the armed forces of the United States should not be the policeman of the world.

Here’s the one nice thing I’m going to say about you so don’t get too  excited.

Instead, we must use all tools of American power to provide for the common defense, including providing effective leadership to our alliances. NATO’s 29 democracies demonstrated that strength in their commitment to fighting alongside us following the 9-11 attack on America.

This is one of those paragraphs that makes you tune out because it has facts and numbers, two things that you are allergic to.

The Defeat-ISIS coalition of 74 nations is further proof. Similarly, I believe we must be resolute and unambiguous in our approach to those countries whose strategic interests are increasingly in tension with ours.

When we bail on these nations, they won’t forget it. You’re a damned  fool.

It is clear that China and Russia, for example, want to shape a world consistent with their authoritarian model – gaining veto authority over other nations’ economic, diplomatic, and security decisions – to promote their own interests at the expense of their neighbors, America and our allies.

Let’s make this simple for you: China and Russia = Bad; Our Allies = Good. Now do you get  it?

That is why we must use all the tools of American power to provide for the common defense. My views on treating allies with respect and also being clear-eyed about both malign actors and strategic competitors are strongly held and informed by over four decades of immersion in these issues. We must do everything possible to advance an international order that is most conducive to our security, prosperity and values, and we are strengthened in this effort by the solidarity of our alliances.

It is mind-boggling the extent to which you sell out our nation. And you’re the freaking President. How could our electorate  have been conned into making you Commander In Chief? Electing you will go down as one of the most regressive acts in world history.

Because you have the right to have a Secretary of Defense whose views are better aligned with yours on these and other subjects, I believe it is right for me to step down from my position.

I’m out. Go find a treasonous piece of crap like yourself to take my  place. Or get a lap dog. I don’t really care at this point.

The end date for my tenure is February 28, 2019, a date that should allow sufficient time for a successor to be nominated and confirmed as well as to make sure the Department’s interests are properly articulated and protected at upcoming events to include Congressional posture hearings and the NATO Defense Ministerial meeting in February.

I talked with my staff, literally every member of my staff, and February 28, 2019 was the earliest date that anyone came up with as acceptable for my  resignation. The very thought of you  makes me want to puke.

Further, that a full transition to a new Secretary of Defense occurs well in advance of the transition of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in September in order to ensure stability Within the Department. I pledge my full effort to a smooth transition that ensures the needs and interests of the 2.15 million Service Members and 732,079 DoD civilians receive undistracted attention of the Department at all times so that they can fulfill their critical, round-the-clock mission to protect the American people. I very much appreciate this opportunity to serve the nation and our men and women in uniform.

Thank you to those of you patriots with whom I’ve had the honor of  serving. As for you, Mr. President, I hope that you spend the rest of your days in prison.

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