I think Mattis' views are representative of a big bloc in the military that thinks about the Middle East in terms of US ability to project power without becoming bogged down in fighting. They want a return to the Nixon Doctrine of building up proxies and realize that most of the plausible proxies keep the US at an arm's length because of America's deep support for an Israel that refuses to negotiate seriously with the Palestinians.
Of course Trump's national security advisor, Michael Flynn, represents the other bloc in the military, of true believer Christian evangelicals who think the US is in a war with Islamic fundamentalism/terrorism and therefore must stand with Netanyahu.
At present the weight of the nationals security establishment is closer to Mattis than Flynn, and probably Trump doesn't give a rat's ass one way or the other. Of course, many in the Republican establishment are closer to Flynn's views than Mattis'. The choice for Secretary of state will be a first indication of which way the new Administration will lean.
I think Mattis' views are representative of a big bloc in the military that thinks about the Middle East in terms of US ability to project power without becoming bogged down in fighting. They want a return to the Nixon Doctrine of building up proxies and realize that most of the plausible proxies keep the US at an arm's length because of America's deep support for an Israel that refuses to negotiate seriously with the Palestinians.
Of course Trump's national security advisor, Michael Flynn, represents the other bloc in the military, of true believer Christian evangelicals who think the US is in a war with Islamic fundamentalism/terrorism and therefore must stand with Netanyahu.
At present the weight of the nationals security establishment is closer to Mattis than Flynn, and probably Trump doesn't give a rat's ass one way or the other. Of course, many in the Republican establishment are closer to Flynn's views than Mattis'. The choice for Secretary of state will be a first indication of which way the new Administration will lean.