mattis s call to support our allies. mitch wrote this. quote, i believe it s essential that the united states maintain and strengthen the post world war ii ally yapians that have b carefully built by leaders in both parties. we must also maintain a clear-eyed understanding of our friends and foes and russia are among the latter. so i was sorry to learn that secretary mattis, who shares those clear principals, will soon part the administration. but i am particularly distressed that he is resigning due to his sharp differences with the president on these and other key aspects of america s global leadership. it is regrettable that the president must now choose a new secretary of defense. but i urge him to select a leader who shares secretary mattis s understanding of these vital principles and his total commitment to america s servicemembers. john, it s almost as if