Mattis - Day One!

General... er.. pardon, SecDef Mattis [still getting used to it] was smiling at the Pentagon in his first hours of office as a variety of fighters, bombers and UAVs engaged in 31-strike bombing run, which saw 25 strikes in Syria and six in Iraq. In Syria, ISIS units and artillery near the town of Bab were destroyed. ISIS forces in Raqqa, received heavy losses as a dozen units, nine positions, two IED factories and an ISIS HQ were also taken out. There was an additional strike on two ISIS controlled oil wells in Deir ez Zour.

But it wasn't all fun and [war]games for the Warrior Monk. In difference to the POTUS, the SecDef signalled strong support to NATO on his first day on the job, by personally calling three major US allies and confirming that the US had an "'unshakeable commitment to NATO."

As a 4-Star general, Mattis served as the NATO Supreme Allied Commander for Transformation and thus is a staunch supporter of the organisation. He phoned NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg as well as the UK's Secretary of State for Defence Sir Michael Fallon and Minister of National Defence Harjit Sajjan in Canada. Mattis emphasised the US commitment to NATO to the international partners despite POTUS not feeling as White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer put it: "as though it's doing what its mission was set up to do or that it's being particularly effective." Nevertheless the DOD stated that the SecDef "wanted to place the call on his first full day in office to reinforce the importance he places on the alliance."

Stoltenberg noted Mattis was NATO's SACT and therefore "knows the Alliance's value well." With Minister Sajjan the SecDef spoke about the importance of NORAD as well as NATO including a NATO battalion that will be deployed to Latvia along the NATO-Russia frontier. Fallon and Stoltenberg spoke with Mattis addressing some of the issues that POTUS had spoken about, including that NATO is ill-suited to tackle terrorism and that members do not spend enough on defense. Stoltenberg felt Mattis made him feel sure that POTUS will be fully committed to NATO and to the transatlantic partnership.

This week the SecDef will contact some of his other international counterparts and meet NATO partners in person next month during the Meeting of Defence Ministers in Brussels in what will possibly be his first trip abroad in his new position.

Allen to retire instead of taking NATO

Earlier in the week, exonerated Marine General John R. Allen who until recently commanded the International Security Assistance Force and US Forces Afghanistan has submitted his notice to President Obama of his intention to retire.

On February 10th, Allen relinquished command to another Marine 4-Star General Joseph F. Dunford who is expected to be the last commander of the U.S.-led international military coalition. In October last, General Allen was nominated to lead NATO forces as Supreme Allied Commander Europe but this nomination was put on hold in November due to the Pentagon investigation of questionable email exchanges with Jill Kelley, a Florida socialite linked to the sex scandal that led CIA Director David Petraeus to resign.

Allen was completely exonerated of any wrongdoing but there still remained a question whether the While House would re-nominate him for the NATO appointment.

Defence Secretary Leon Panetta wrote: “Gen. Allen’s selfless dedication to our troops and to their mission was a source of inspiration to those who served with him, as well as to those of us here at home.  He has earned the lasting thanks of this nation for carrying the heavy burden of leadership with utmost professionalism and courage.  I wish him and his entire family all the best in the next chapter of their lives.” 

Allen said retiring from the military was “the only choice I could make.” Although he did not explain his reasons in detail, he said “my primary concern is for the health of my wife, who had sacrificed so much for so long.” He served 38 years in the Marine Corps.

U.S. Army General Carter Ham, currently Commander, U.S. Africa Command was speculated this week to be nominated in Allen's place but the Washington Post claims U.S. Air Force General Philip Breedlove, Commander, U.S. Air Forces in Europe will get the nod.

It's a trying time for the Obama administration who are still embattled with the senate on it's nomination of Chuck Hagel for Secretary of Defence and John Brennan as CIA Director.