Mattis remained on board up until POTUS broke from the status quo military entrenchment in the ME which was basically a carryover from Obama/Kerry/Clinton.

Mattis also had praise in the past for HRC at State for handling of ME relations. Hmmm?

Alice and The Mad Hatter?

So does Mattis have a book deal also?

The one key leverage POTUS always has over the DS is when and when not to be engaged in war.

He put them in their place with NK.

The pullout of Syria was just to ding them at Christmas, for their full neo-con shitshow to be on full display across all media.

Syria decision was just for the lulz.