Mattis defends border deployment, likens it to 1916 effort against Pancho Villa

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Defense Secretary James Mattis on Wednesday defended the deployment of active duty troops to the U.S. border with Mexico, arguing that it is providing wartime training, The Associated Press reported.

Mattis pushed back on critics who have said that the 5,800-troop deployment — ordered by President Trump late last month ahead of the Nov. 6 midterm elections — was weighing on the military's combat readiness.

“In terms of readiness, it’s actually, I believe, so far improving our readiness for deployments,” Mattis told reporters en route to visit troops in Texas at the U.S.-Mexico border.

He added that he’s heard from military officers that the deployment has been “very good training,” as it serves as practice for wartime activities such as loading and unloading aircraft.

https://thehill.com/policy/defense/416822-mattis-likens-border-deployment-to-1916-effort-to-counter-pancho-villa

[dameatball]

1. Gen Mattis: There are no aircraft that are not regularly loaded and unloaded. Unless they don't work

[sprinkleeninow]

2. Yes, 😣 double plus.

[shanny]

3. I'm inclined to lay off Mattis.

He's the only semi-sane person in the bunch and if he has to say stuff like this occasionally to stay on the job, so be it.