Quote Originally Posted by Azor View Post
I would disagree that Mattis has a specific foreign policy that he is executing. However, Mattis is an obviously good interlocutor with the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Combatant Commanders. What we are observing is a continuation of Obama's policies with regard to Syria, albeit with the military empowered tactically.

Where Trump and Obama differ is on Iran. I doubt that Trump will unilaterally abrogate the JCPOA, given the advice of the foreign policy, intelligence and defense communities, however, he will not kowtow to Iran's adventures in Iraq and Syria merely to ensure that Iran upholds it.
Mattis is effectively now driving Syrian FP tactically speaking just as Trump has given DoD the authority to drive the new changes in AFG...WHY because if it goes south he can claim DoD was the cause not Trump.....

Definitely not following the Obama model...