Too Many Generals In Trump Administration?

Too Many Generals In Trump Administration?
Too Many Generals In Trump Administration?

President Donald Trump named retired Marine Gen. Jim Mattis as Defense Secretary, the highest-ranking civilian position in the Pentagon. Retired Marine Gen. John Kelly was named first to head the Homeland Security Department and then replaced Reince Priebus as White House Chief of Staff. Army Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster replaced Air Force Gen. Mike Flynn…

Trump’s Generals, Part 4: John Kelly vs. The Narco-Terrorists

Trump’s Generals, Part 4: John Kelly vs. The Narco-Terrorists
Trump’s Generals, Part 4: John Kelly vs. The Narco-Terrorists

Who are Trump’s generals? This week, James Kitfield has already told us about James Mattis and Michael Flynn, both men shaped by the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Now we come to John Kelly, whose time in Latin America, ironically, led him to similar conclusions about America’s enemies. As chief of US Southern Command, General…

Trump’s Generals, Part 3: Mike Flynn vs. Al-Qaeda

Trump’s Generals, Part 3: Mike Flynn vs. Al-Qaeda
Trump’s Generals, Part 3: Mike Flynn vs. Al-Qaeda

Who are Trump’s generals? Earlier this week, James Kitfield showed us the common crucible that shaped as a group and then profiled James Mattis, the prospective Secretary of Defense. Today, Kitfield tackles Trump’s most controversial general, intelligence officer turned political firebrand Michael Flynn. “Know your enemy and know yourself, and you will not be defeated in…

Trump’s Generals, Part 2: Jim Mattis vs. Iran

Trump’s Generals, Part 2: Jim Mattis vs. Iran
Trump’s Generals, Part 2: Jim Mattis vs. Iran

Who are Trump’s generals? Yesterday, James Kitfield told us what these retired soldiers have in common as products of our post-9/11 wars. Now we’ll go deep into the formative experiences and geopolitical worldview of each man, starting today with the prospective Secretary of Defense, Gen. Jim Mattis. He’s been nicknamed both “Mad Dog” and “Warrior…

Trump’s Generals: How Wartime Service Shaped Mattis, Kelly, & Flynn

Trump’s Generals: How Wartime Service Shaped Mattis, Kelly, & Flynn
Trump’s Generals: How Wartime Service Shaped Mattis, Kelly, & Flynn

Among the many anxieties inspired by the rise of Trump, one of the most profound is his fondness for generals. Does naming so many retired military men to top positions undermine the principal of civilian control? How might their shared experiences in our post-9/11 conflicts shape the way they govern? This week, award-winning defense reporter…