MATTIS: Didn't sell out

In his resignation letter, former defense secretary James Mattis clearly distanced himself from Donald Trump.

“My views on treating allies with respect and also being clear eyed about both malign actors and strategic competitors are strongly held. Because you have the right to have a Secretary of Defense whose views are better aligned with yours on these and other subjects, I believe it is right for me to step down.”

Apparently Donald Trump prefers to “govern” our beloved country like Putin governs Russia, Kim runs North Korea, Ping rules China, Erdogan controls Turkey, and really, like any dictator controls “their” country.

In the process of appeasing our adversaries, this president has consistently sold out the interests of the United States of America. As Andy Borowitz joked, “I was never this blatant, says Benedict Arnold in hell.”

DAVID COHEN

Coeur d’Alene