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Candice's avatar

This was a phenomenal statement from a phenomenal leader. I think it’s important to just clarify that it was published in June 2020 rather than June 2025; I’ve seen it shared a lot on socials today but nearly all mistakenly identify it as being issued last week.

https://www.npr.org/2020/06/04/869262728/read-the-full-statement-from-jim-mattis

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Nancy Evans's avatar

We need his voice now. We need all the x military leaders to stick their necks out and defend our democracy. We need them NOW!

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Morgaan Sinclair, Ph.D.'s avatar

I think I can clarify a little. (1) NOBODY in this country is supposed to face law enforcement that is masked, is not showing a badge and a force of service, and is traveling around in unmarked cars. That's a secret police force, and we do not tolerate such in our country. This is America, and ICE is not the East German Stazi. (2) Everybody has a right to Miranda rights readings, a lawyer, and a phone call. These people aren't getting any of this. (3) Many people being arrested are here legally, yet they are still being detained for weeks, and there are lots of people "missing". An example is a teen boy dragged out of his school in New Jersey. He's 17 and has been here since he was 5. He has been gone for three weeks. Nobody knows who took him, and the police don't know where he is and can't find him. (4) The National Guard is not to be deployed unless the Governor REQUESTS deployment. (5) The Marines and every other branch of the armed forces is NEVER to be deployed against American citizens except in cases of insurrection (the Insurrection Act). Trump is MANUFACTURING DISSENT by acting illegally from the secret ICE forces to illegal detainments to use of the National Guard and the Marines. (6) This isn't about any threat of insurrection. It's about three things: (1) Musk has mined government data, including court filings and documents and has openly accused Trump of being implicated in the rapes carried out by Jeffrey Epstein or upon his approval. Anthony Scaramucci has now rung up Trump's problem with Putin, saying nobody knows what it is but that it would devastate Trump, and that's on the table now, too. Most threatening to Trump of all is the ruling of the New York Supreme Court last week that there must be a hand recount of all the voting in Rockford County, New York (just to the west of Westchester County) because there is actionable evidence of vote tempering. This is compounding the legal moves already afoot because of what prosecutors say is a clear manipulation of voting machines to bend the election to the Red side, a manipulation that went down two years ago, and people screamed about it then and nobody did anything about it. ... And of course, the lengths that Musk went to in spelling out EXACTLY how he helped Trump steal the election. Musk said that Trump would not be president (meaning he lost the election), that the House would be Blue, and that the Senate would have only a 51-49 majority. That's incredibly specific. Also, mathematicians say that it is a mathematical impossibility that Harris lost all seven swing states as investigators are now finding heavy population counties in Blue states where there was not a single vote for Harris. That, of course, is ridiculous. But now that courts are getting involved, and now that there's going the vaults are going to be opened, witnesses questioned under oath, the voting machines examined, and charges brought if malfeasance is found. TRUMP IS MANUFACTURING DISSENT, and some fools are going for this. Violence is 100% unacceptable. People who loot, burn cars, and attack law enforcement should be PROSECUTED and if found guilty do the maximum sentence. HOWEVER, it is a far, far greater crime for Trump gut the Constitution and break the one inviolable oath of trust with the American people: THOU SHALT NOT USE AMERICAN TROOPS AGAINST THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. ... BTW, I need you to use a calmer tone. I find your tone toward Nancy Evans really aggressive. Please stop that. I don't like banning people, but I will ban a bully any day.

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Nancy Evans's avatar

Defend our democracy against working people being dragged off to gulags without due process, causing businesses to close. If you think trump’s efforts with water management in California were helpful you obviously don’t live here. If you think fire fighters can defend property from a hurricane of embers, you obviously didn’t understand the situation.

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J J Laurenzi's avatar

Yep !!!

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Jan's avatar

Thanks for the correction; I thought it was the 2020 posting but was confused by the June 4 date.

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Pamela Duke's avatar

No one was paying attention when he actually made the statement. Well, some of us were, Obviously not enough

But he’s still a wonderfully courageous man.

The worst part of this is one sentence in that speech that said that this was going to erode the trust of the American people and our loyalty to our military

When you think about that, does that mean that you can’t support your son or your husband your mother your sister your brother?

I don’t care who you are, I cannot support anyone who follows a dictator. He civilian or

And this so breaks my heart, because we have so much respect for them. I can’t believe they’re going to allow that respect to just disappear like a puff of smoke.

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Hanief's avatar

To fucking deranged lunatic orange man tRump cultists like you, your cult master is not a dictator because you are so fucking brainwashed to believe anything that Taco lunatic shoves down your throat. You can

GO FUCK YOURSELF, CULTIST

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Teach84's avatar

Yes, that needs to be corrected and clarified by anyone who reposts the statement!!

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Morgaan Sinclair, Ph.D.'s avatar

MEA CULPA!!! It's fixed now. I do think it applies and thank you and others for pointing this out to me.

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William Sweeney's avatar

Thanks, this correction is needed…but it is not unusual to see undated personal statements or relevant information posted online which can be misinterpreted. I would really like to see a statement from Mattis (and many others) regarding Trump’s misuse today of his CÍC power and all the unconstitutional disruption he has wrought.

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Cindy Abbott's avatar

How history keeps repeating itself -- but is even worse this time around.

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Pamela Duke's avatar

I see you survived. I’m pleased to hear that you were not one of the hundreds of thousands that didn’t.

And I don’t mean to be rude, I have no interest in discussing something that’s been over for three years.

I weathered it pretty well and that isn’t the problem. So we all have our own opinions and you’re certainly welcome to yours.

And I’m happy you made it through without a problem.

Far more concerned about today.

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Victoria Jean Bingham's avatar

I'm glad you clarified the date it was published. Because if he was still pretending there was a pandemic in 2025, that would be the last thing I'd ever listen to him say.

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DEO's avatar

I did not realize, so glad you made us all aware. It was a powerful statement back then, can you imagine what he might say to the public today!

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Gerda Ho's avatar

It’s still so,relevant !

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Joe Kinder's avatar

Correct. Statement from 2020, but very real now.

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Kate's avatar

Thank you, I too found this omission troubling. I doubt that General Mattis has changed his mind, but in a space where lies and half truths are problematic, it is more important than ever to make sure we uphold the credibility of the truth!

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mahesh pherwani's avatar

Gosh! How quickly the time has passed, since Lafayette Square shame!? 😷

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Ruby Lewis's avatar

Brilliant commentary on the use of the military against our citizens.

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Gary D Foster's avatar

Except they are criminal aliens here illegally. And it IS Constitutional. for Trump to send troops.

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Ruby Lewis's avatar

I really don’t have time for this. Do some research.

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Hanief's avatar

The only criminal, a REAL CONVICTED ONE, is your fucking deranged lunatic orange man tRump but you fucking cultists have been programmed and brainwashed to worship that Taco lunatic!

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mari's avatar

Illegals, people who burn property and flag and spit on it, people who riot violently and kill Americans...do not really qualify as citizens do they?

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Hanief's avatar

Time for you to use your eyes and ears and acknowledge that the chief criminal is your fucking deranged lunatic orange man tRump, a fucking convicted criminal! Won’t say anything about rape and sexual assault because you obviously love that!

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John W's avatar

Yes. Were you watching when the Biden handlers revised Posse Comitatus to allow use of military domestically? I don't like it now and I didn't like it then. But the media didn't tell you did they?

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Larry Reina's avatar

You’re the fool if you think you’re smarter than Gen Mattis, Magat!

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Morgaan Sinclair, Ph.D.'s avatar

Because it's Unconstitutional. It was a promise made to the American people that their own military would not turn on them. It was deliberately put in the Constitution because Redcoats fired on Americans who assembled in protest and even rounded a few up, put them in a church, locked all the doors and burned everybody to death. This is a BEDROCK TRUST ISSUE NOW VIOLATED BY TRUMP FOR THE SECOND TIME.

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Ruby Lewis's avatar

So you know more than GENERAL Mattis.

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Brad Barnett's avatar

You’re so blind with hate and delusion you can’t see what’s happening.

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Ruby Lewis's avatar

Are you projecting ?

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John W's avatar

Stephen don't you think a lot of these folks should be on Bluesky? That's where the haters belong along with the folks that think we live in a Democracy. (It's a constitutional Republic - there's a difference).

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Kat Hillsdale's avatar

Semantics. This country has historically functioned as a democracy where the majority has ruled— until Trump and the MAGA Republicans have waged a war to compromise the rights of voters to cast their ballots in free and fair elections, to impose their belief system upon the rest of us by attempting to establish a theocracy, etc.

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John W's avatar

Sorry Kate. You are simply wrong. This country has been a constitutional Republic since the founding. The Democrats and communists (redundant these days) want a democracy because that is mob rule. That's why they talk about abandoning the Electoral College which was designed so that small states get a voice and the leftists in CA and NY don't control everything. The only theocracy you should be worried about is the one Muslims want to establish.

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Kat Hillsdale's avatar

Nonsense. My expertise says otherwise: a strong background in constitutional law and political history. Yours is an ideology (and perception) of our country’s founding, operations, etc. that are simply untrue. But like all Americans, you have a right to your opinion.

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Kat Hillsdale's avatar

Talking to the hand, dude. Talking to the hand. ✋🏻

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Ellen's avatar

Disappointed to learn it is 2020…we need the retired Generals to come together and speak now!

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Morgaan Sinclair, Ph.D.'s avatar

That would be nice!!! I'm so sorry. That was my mistake, but seems so perfectly pertinent now, too.

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Ellen's avatar

Agree! Thank you for responding.

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Dannys's avatar

The Republican Party does not understand, nor approve of:

1. The rule of law

2. Freedom of the press

3. Equal rights

4. Human rights

5. Everything in The constitution of the USA

6. The Magna Carta

7. The New Testament

8. The laws in my town

9. Human decency

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Bud's avatar
19hEdited

The dude whips out the Magna Carta on us! Gosh, he must be a next-level intelligence! Your specious generalizations rank up there with "deplorable".

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Dannys's avatar

Ha ha. Too complex for you i see.

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Bud's avatar

Actually, my beef is that it is completely reductive to a simple minded ideal. No subtleties in this list. Just naked partisanship. A brighter mind would examine all sides... just sayin'

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Dannys's avatar

The constitution, rule of law, equal rights, etc. needs further discussion? Unclear on the concepts are you?

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Stephen Korn's avatar

Really, Danny’s? What stupidity!

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Hanief's avatar

Stupidity is what one associates with fucking deranged lunatic orange 🍊 man tRump cultists, does that make sense? Oh shit, sense and fucking deranged lunatic orange 🍊 man tRump cultism does not go together!

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RickRickRick's avatar

A stirring essay by Jim Mattis.

But here is the media problem we have: they regard former officials, no matter how prominent and respected, as irrelevant. Only those "in power" are worth their time and energy. So whatever nonsense comes out of Pete Hegseth's mouth is more "newsworthy" than this monumental statement by Jim Mattis, simply because he's the current "person in power."

The only way to break through that bias is for people like Mattis to skip the written statements and get in front of the cameras. And stop speaking in lofty generalizations, but speak plainly, naming names. That's the only way to get attention.

This may be anathema to the norms that military men like Mattis have cherished their whole lives. But it is Trump and his mafia who have shattered all norms. This is the only way to fight now.

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John W's avatar

Yes Rick. General Lloyd Austin was the brilliant ..... oh never mind. But he did fit into the Biden circus quite nicely.

And Milley ...... he was the one who promised to warn the CCP if Trump was going to attack.

Don't get mesmerized by the stars. They're not all the same. At least we're no longer having drag shows on military bases. That is an improvement already.

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Kate's avatar

I agree!

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kdsherpa's avatar

This is the only place where I've seen this powerful, magnificent statement by General Mattis. Thank you so much for bringing it to our attention! (Once again, I've posted this. You are becoming my muse!)

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Morgaan Sinclair, Ph.D.'s avatar

OK, two things: I corrected the dating error on this, and I SOOOOOO APOLOGIZE!!!!! Still works for me, though. ... Second, I just blocked Stephen Korn. I find his attitude towards Nancy Evans and others far more than merely condescending, so he doesn't get to talk here.

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Rain Robinson's avatar

I am appalled at the racist, xenophobic rants people have added to comments here.

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Robin Gilmartin's avatar

Here’s the link to the House Armed Services Committee members. Reach them through the Capitol Switchboard 202-224-3121. Tell them the Committee must investigate Trump’s deployment.

https://armedservices.house.gov/about/members.htm

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Everybody's Mamá's avatar

Thank you General James Mattis. By now we should all know that everything the tRump does is illegal. He's a treasonous dictator. Please someone tell me why their isn't a single person in this country with the balls and authority to slap a pair of handcuffs on this true homegrown demented criminal terror? It's up to us, the people of the USA, clearly no one else is going to do it. Sadly, we no longer have a Democracy. The constitution and the laws of the land are no longer relevant. The tRump regime is above the law. Führer tRump is a fuckin trouble making idiotic terror! Let's Ruin the tRump's Birthday and join the largest Civil Rights Movement in history. Stay away far away from his Military/Birthday parade in DC and attend any other Global Anti-tRump Mass Protest Saturday, June 14, 2025 instead.

We are currently losing the war against this criminal Dick Traitor. He's ended our democracy, is rapidly stealing our civil rights and is now threatening America citizens. We are no where near the numbers needed to save our democracy. We need just 3.5% (11 million American protesters and boycotters) of the US population to effectively end the reign of the tRump, his regime of Nazi Musk Rats and MAGAts,  the ICE Gestapo, the Billionaire Oligarchs who hog the money you earn and the Administration from Hell!

We the People are the only ones with the power to restore our civil rights, rebuild our democracy and elect a real President!

The last two mass protests had an estimated 3-5 million participates each. That means we all need to encourage at least three more people to support the resistance and attend a protest with us. Learn more at BernieSanders.com.

In the meantime use 5calls.org (24 hours) to tell your representatives to stop the Big Beautiful Bill that could end our Medical Research and Services to give more money to the greedy rich oligarchs who need the money to invent robots to replace humans at work, sent rich people to space for ten minutes or send people to Mars. I don't know about you but I can live without all of that stuff. I would rather our children grow up in affordable homes, attend good schools, we all get quality medical care and our elders get proper care without bankrupting themselves. Wouldn't you?

Check your social media or Mobilize.us for a protest events near you (or to list your upcoming events). Please forward, share and talk about this message with your family, friends, colleagues even strangers to if given the opportunity. Post and repost it on your social media accounts! It's going to take ALL of us woke Americans to end this nightmare! Show the world that good Americans far outnumber the un-woke, greedy, racist MAGAts!

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Beverly Vaillancourt's avatar

Yes an excellent post, but perhaps this knowledge should have been stated BEFORE the election and not postmortem. The silence of well respected generals who well understood Trump’s first term as president was disheartening. So, now PLEASE speak out loud and clear and OFTEN.

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Jocelyn Millis's avatar

This was first issued in June 2020. That is why there is the reference of three years of resisting the efforts led by Trump to Divide and Conquer.

During the years of the Biden Presidency the people were given a reprieve from the goals to divide and conquer, but in January of 2025 the dictatorial efforts to destroy the unity of Americans began in earnest. Day One as dictator he promised and he hasn’t stopped since.

Only the people can hold onto the shreds of unity that have become torn and tattered in their hearts.

Let freedom ring in America I pray. 🇨🇦

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Bryan's avatar

This is a REAL PATRIOT, unlike the TREASONOUS TRAITORS trying to destroy OUR country. WE WILL BEAT THE MAGA 🤡!!

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Lisa Houck's avatar

This statement has aged brilliantly, unlike most from the orange turd and the stunted, mean, ignorant people with whom he surrounds himself.

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Paul's avatar

But you are not there.

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Common sense's avatar

And neither are you

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Paul's avatar

I am not a stunted, mean ignorant person like her. Are you?

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Noelani's avatar

Excellent post

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Alexander Scipio's avatar

LOL. You probably believed Gen Westmoreland’s nonsense that we were “winning,” along with his inflated body counts.

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Matt Smelley's avatar

Yes, Gen Westmoreland was probably gaslighting LBJ who said " I just can't be the architect of surrender" and Robert Macnamara who was gaslighting to the extreme LBJ and others....but the people I have concern for are all the 58,272 names on the Vietnam wall that I have ealked along in DC

and those wounded in battle and otherwise suffering such as my 2 friends AECS KIRBY JOHNSON usn 58-88 (agent Orange) and WAYNE Beard (both deceased)

usn 87-93

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Betty's avatar

Another woke coward

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