Point Mattis News Today

So he became very, very worried about all of this we are told. he went to the white house at about 3:00, tried to make another effort to get the president to change his mind about syria, and withdrawing u.s. troops. the president did not, and at that point mattis had his resignation letter ready to go. he would come back to the pentagon, inform his staff and inform the chairman of joint chief of staff that he would be leaving in february. the letter, he says you have a right to a secretary of de...

Troops leaving. these are the fighters the u.s. military had promised to stand by face the kecurds in news reports. he became very, very worried about this were told. he went to the white house at about 3:00, tried to make another effort to get the president to change his mind about syria, and withdrawing u.s. troops. the president did not, and at that point mattis had his resignation letter ready to go. he would come back to the pentagon, inform his staff and inform the chairman of joint chief ...

Our constitution, and with our allies strengthened, with our country strengthened, i look forward to being a civilian leader, as long as the congress gives me the waiver and the senate votes to consent. >> hell get that waiver, right? oh, if he didnt get that waiver, there would be a lot of angry people. >> reporter: two things there, mattis really emphasizing he looks forward to taking over civilian control there of the pentagon if he gets this waiver from congress and is confirmed by the senat...

Trusts. i have to agree with peter, i dont think he switches up his pick. general flynn is someone he has trusted since his first day. people have reported that general mattis can be a balance to general flynn. the public should be a little more comfortable with those picks. >> do you have an issue with flynn? >> certainly not. things he said in the past may have alarmed some people, but the position is one that requires the absolute trust of the president and he has earned that. >> do you think...

Pizzaga pizzagate. the decision to fire him came directly, sources tell cnn, from the president-elect. >> ive spoken to democrats and republican lawmakers who see mattis as balancing general flynn. many ive spoken to note he outranked flynn four stars to three when they were both in the military and don, that kind of stuff matters. >> jim sciutto, thank you very much. could donald trumps choice for defense secretary balance out concerns about general flynn? well talked about it, next.

Sunlen, good evening to you. trump was joined by his choice for defense secretary onstage. what did he say? >> reporter: this is something donald trump casually dropped at his rally last week. certainly tonight it was a little bit of showmanship on the part of the president-elect, formally making the announcement. certainly donald trump likes to drop his nickname as he did many times tonight from the podium, "mad dog" mattis. certainly the crowd responded to that. at one point mattis did come ou...

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